Ill Manors Music Video Analysis

How is it typical of a music video?

Plan B’s music video was used as a tool to promote his debut directed film Ill Manors. There are many things that could make this extract a typical music video or another way of saying it, conventional. The first thing it uses which is typical is that the video is around 4 minute long; this is the case for most of the mainstream music videos. In this duration the clips that were included were very short and snappy which is very common. Fast paced editing works in synergy with the short clips to follow the up beat nature of the song as well as to add to the meaning and pleasure of the extract. Action set pieces were present in the music video this is because the image on screen reflects to what the words are saying. There is a multitude of performance elements showcased in this music video, match on action moments, rapping to the camera, breaking things. All of those elements allow the viewer to be engaged and fascinated with the extract, which may convince them to tune in to watch the film, or even buy a DVD.

How does it represent the London riots/rioters?

Ben drews views on the rioters is that they are the true victims at the end of the day. He feels like the under class, urban teenagers were abandoned by society due to the fact they don’t seem to fit in it. In simpler terms, the reckless people of the riot were forced to make that statement because of the general society view on them. However, this is not the way when it comes to the clips of the music video. The rioters and teenagers reinforced the upper classes thoughts of them as they explore the emotional side of things rather they show the violence. This is why some people feel the music video contradicts the concept as not enough of the protest was involved to show.

What audience pleasures does the music video offer?

There are all sorts of pleasures in this 4-minute extract, one of which is a sense of personal identificated as explored by Blumler and Katz. The concept is applied to the already existing fans of Ben Drew (Plan B), this is seen because he targets the urban teenagers and young adults of rough upbringings, typically in council estates. They can easily identify to what his message is in the music video. Another pleasure that perhaps can be applied is the sense of diversion. This is because there are many action set-pieces in the music video alone, showing the gritty side of the victims of society. A normal viewer could see this as entertainment due to the action codes applied from Barthes theory.

How does the music video help to promote the film of the same name?

The film and the music video provided to promote the film intertwine to provide synergy between the two media types. There are actors from the film featured in the music video too, maybe sparking a sense of recognition.  This idea allows the viewer to be atheistically happy due to the fact he spotted the characters in the music video too. The Characters involved in the music video too were the characters of Ed, Chris and Riz Ahmed’s character. The audio track is a promotional stand too, this is because the sound track performed by the same directors could be just enough to make someone who already is interest in Plan B’s work watch the film.

The record companies/institutions behind Plan B
Labels:

679
Atlantic
Mercury
Pet Cemetery
Warner Bros.
Asylum

Sales/downloads for the soundtrack

Chart (2012)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)	89
Scotland (Official Charts Company)	9
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)	3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	6
UK Official Streaming Chart Top 100	89

Music reviews

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	83/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Drowned in Sound	8/10
The Guardian
MusicOMH
NME	8/10[
The Observer
Spin	8/10[
The Telegraph	[

Plan B's fans' reviews and comments
The Guardian comments:
"Drew's a talent and a polymath, and while I admire his desire to represent, I don't think he's bringing any clarity to the issues he wants to highlight"

"Genuinely a great album. Fits right in with The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers and Dead Kennedys records I have. Genre is stripped away, more obvious as ever on the title track (The Prodigy remix isn't too bad either), and we have the desperate poetry and hard-hitting social commentary of the man. Simply a great album. To paraphrase one of the best lyrics, "We're not in broken Britain, we're just Broke in Britain".

NME.com Review:
http://www.nme.com/reviews/album/reviews-plan-b-13466

The Guardian Review:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/22/plan-b-ill-manors-review