#3 Textual Analysis - Lost & Not Found (Abstract)

Chase &  Status - Lost & Not Found

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Mise-en-scene:

At the start of the video we are shown a 'Missing' poster on a lamp post. This could be used as an introduction to the narrative of the video, relating to what is perhaps 'Lost & Not Found'. Her appearance reoccurs throughout the video, this form of repetition could be used for emphasis of her importance. We are also shown a young boy on a bike located on a side walk in an American street setting. We know nothing of him and he doesn't seem to have any significance at that particular moment. However, as he begins to move, the camera follows and he becomes a vehicle in which the audience latch onto as we are shown to different parts of the surroundings. This role of vehicle is passed around through different types of characters as the video goes on. In this way we are also getting a feel of what kind of people potentially live in the area. These characters include a range of people in different costumes, showing different habits (smoking), different status', different occupations and different emotions. As this isn't a particularly clear cast, it could be a second interpretation of the title in that those in the video are lost or do not fit in with society.The have been deindividuated as people. Moving on we are shown a number of situations, including a car accident and consumption of drugs, after which the police turn up. This could lead the audience into a feel of confusion in terms of what is to come next and why the police have arrived considering the number of situations. As we are lead into small apartments we are introduced to more characters, one of which is a man crying in a bath tub. This is another example of the audience potentially being confused of the storyline, are there many story lines, is the video exaggerating how we do not give people enough time and highlighting our judgement. After the male character crying in the bath, the camera focuses on a television showing a news channels, this shots lasts loner than the rest which suggests significance in the character. As an audience we are likely to remember him. Although, we do not have to for long as he appears in shot while the police bring him down . This makes the moment more real as it is what we have just seen on the television. What has he done? As the video comes to a close we get the opportunity to become clear of what the relevance of the song name is in terms of the video. This is because we are once again shown the female that appeared on the lost poster at the start of the video. This suggests that after al this time and throughout the video we have potentially been on a journey to find her, which turns out to be a success when she appears on screen. Just as the whole thin starts to make sense and the 'lost' female is led from the apartment while the male on the news is arrested, there is a small twist that adds more confusion. At this point we are under the impression that he has kidnapped her, however, she take a turn for the worst and helps the protagonist. This brings in another argument as to whether she is still the victim and what were we looking for to being with. The police wrap her up in a blanket making her appear vulnerable, adding to her 'missing' story. There is a contrast in the shot as we exit the apartment as she is being comforted by the police officer as the male in the background struggles.  Adding another meaning to the title. At this point the couple are our vehicle and we become a part of the crime. Finally, we are passed back to the young boy on his bike, in the same way as the begginning. This creates a loop effects in that it seems as though we are going round and round in circles as this is the way we started. Throughout the whole  video, not once are Chase & Status shown.

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Camera:

As mentioned before, we are constantly in motion. This is done with the use of a Dolly within a tracking shot. Differently from most other music videos, this particular one completes the whole course of the video in one shot. Even though there are no cuts or transitions due to the single shot the video ranges with camera angles and shot types. These include, close up that identify significant characters and moments (i.e.. the news on television, missing poster), medium close ups for the majority of the sceneries giving them equal significance. As the video is filmed as one, the storyline is revealed in one go.

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Sound:

Just before the track starts the video is introduced with a number of dieetic and non-dieetic sounds.