Goldie’s video for ‘Inner City Life’ gives audiences many views on how stereotypical urban scenes and situations are represented. This is made evident through the micro concepts mise en scene, editing, sound and camera work.
The opening high angled shot of a seemingly run down council estate is an establishing shot and automatically can relate to the title of the track. The grainy aesthetic, perhaps due to the type of camera used, gives the impression of a dull, lacklustre, monotonous lifestyle. It is then apparent that the video is a combination of a narrative and performance based video as it cuts to a centre mid shot of a woman vocalist performing in black and white. The singer appears throughout the video with slight dance moves relating to the lyrics, For instance, she clasps her hands and spreads them, acting out the form or the butterfly when she sings ‘living free’ These scenes differentiates to the narrative which is in colour, perhaps clarifying that the two are separate. The miserable/ depressed looking woman, clearly a troubled single mother is shot in a cramp and dingy surrounding (council house kitchen) whilst looking at papers. With a point of view close up it is obvious that that they are bills that she cannot afford to pay off. This is conforming to the working class stereotypes, not only the council house setting, but the fact that she is in debt, a single mother and struggling.
A birds eye shot of a supermarket trolley being pushed off the top of the building could have been included in the video to represent vandalism of the youth today, an ASBO attitude. This scene juxtaposed to the following shot of children painting a family portrait as they can occupy themselves in a positive way without resorting to violence and causing mayhem.
Throughout the video there are various shots of young black men in Hoodies positioned next to the tower block. Their importance to be placed there seems insignificant, but it may be to show what the local residents look like, the Hoodies being a everyday garment worn by thugs (supposedly) however, these teenagers appear non threatening, almost as if there is a little fear behind their eyes. Furthermore, the youths playing basketball conjure ideas of working class youths being active, and enjoying themselves, as opposed to daily reports in tabloid newspapers claiming such council estates are filled with horrid children, mugging old women etc. Corresponding with this scene are lyrics ‘living free’. This could connote that their only sense of freedom is to be playing basketball with their peers.(Matching lyrics to visuals)
The convertible BMW is much of a symbol of higher, middle class status. As one is featured on the estate, one may assume that the owner is either in the drug dealing business, or that he has earned his wealth and is visiting a relative (polysemic readings) Of course, the shiny, expensive car sticks out like a sore thumb against the grimy streets. A remarkable 180 degree shot of the convertible leads the audiences to an underground rave scene. The fact that the director wanted the rave to appear as though it was directly underneath the council estate could put forward the idea the` rave is being compared to hell, perhaps the darker side of urban life.
The rave scene is mysterious, dark and random flashing lights being used. Its seems this is were the adults ‘live free’ and how they occupy themselves in their free time. The rave comes across the place that drug taking and alcohol consuming will take place. However, instead of drugs being passed, round, it is a cd, and so this could be subverting the stereotype, giving credit to these adults. A mid close ups of Goldie feature, which is ultimately used so audiences can familiarise with the artist. The ‘old banger’ being set alight could connote that working class vehicles are unable to compete with the luxurious lifestyle of the middle classes (BMW), and supposedly could be inputted to create what Marxists believe, that the working class are subordinate to the bourgeois and so have to weaken ourselves in order to please them. The laughing old men may be members of the middle classes and so are being merry that hegemony is being fulfilled (or just as likely they are in no way related). The juxtaposition of the laughing old men and the car on fire may also represent that this is what the elderly expect and are used to.
The audience is the lead back to the narrative of the video, with a birds eye view shot of the single mother alone on her bed, tossing and turning in an insomniac fashion, a attribute the working class are known to have, mainly caused by stress. Her son is then shown lying next to her, revealing that he is on her mind, and that maybe he is the one causing her to have sleepless nights as if she is worried she wont be able to support him. The young boy fades out and is replaced by a man, of whom the woman gets intimate with. This could be included to show that she is lacking a love life and these are her wants and needs. Other audiences may believe that she is resorting to prostitution in order to support her son. This scene acts like a mini montge of her thoughts and money worries, also answers of how she can deal with them. Audiences, especially working class women will sympathise with her. Similarly it could be what she is dreaming of. The woman is shown in her kitchen, angered and frustrated setting fire to her electricity bills in a careless move, the scene faded out with Goldie also holding paper which is alight, maybe representing that Goldie supports the woman, to forget about bills and money troubles, and to have a good time instead.
The video for ‘Inner City life’ acts as a microcosm of modern age urban society, in some ways conforming to stereotypes of urban youths; hoodies, vandalism and struggling working class mothers. However there are numerous ways in which the subvert stereotypes of the working class; the non drug usage children painting and the non threatening youths. The director, it seems wanted this video to reflect the difficult lifestyle of those who inhabit these estates, and so want to appeal to the middle classes so they can have an insight into the everyday life of urban life. Also, it will appeal to working classes as they will be able to recognise the situations, and familiarise themselves with them.
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