Ghost town

• What is the title of the music video discussed in the guide?

  Ghost Town
• What type of camera angles are used at the beginning of the video?

  Low angles
• What do the tracking shots through the streets help to establish?

  That the setting is London
• How does the absence of people in the video affect its tone?

  It creates a creepy, isolated feel
• How many people are shown inside the car in the video?

  Seven people
• What does the diversity of races in the car suggest?

  It suggests a sense of community
• What is the overall tone of the video?

  Quite depressing
• What historical context is important for understanding the video?

  The high unemployment and poverty in the 1980s
• Who were most affected by the unemployment during the 1980s in Britain?

  Young black Afro-Caribbean men
• What societal issues does the video reflect?

  Anger, disillusionment, and poverty
• What significant event occurred in 1981 related to the themes of the video?

  A summer of riots
• What were the stop and search laws introduced in the early 1980s?

  Laws allowing police to stop suspicious individuals
• How did many people perceive the police's use of stop and search laws?

  As an abuse targeting black individuals
• What did the National Front party do during this time?

  They marched and blamed immigrants for issues
• How does the video portray racial harmony?

  It implies problems affect everyone, not just one group
• What genres of music did The Specials combine?

  Punk rock, ska, and new wave
• Why is the mix of genres significant for The Specials?

  It reflects their diverse backgrounds and interests
• What effect does the fast-paced editing have in the video?

  It creates a sense of chaos and rebellion
• What does the swerving car symbolize in the video?

  A sense of danger and rebellion
• What visual change occurs during the upbeat section of the video?

  The color balance becomes warmer
• What does the low-key lighting in the alleyway represent?

  A bleak and dangerous environment
• How does the video depict male aggression and masculinity?

  As dangerous and aggressive stereotypes
• What do the haunting shadows in the video symbolize?

  The ghosts of people left behind
• What does the siren-like noise in the video evoke?

  A sense of desolation and law enforcement
• What overall message does the video convey about London in the 1980s?

  It was abandoned and isolated due to neglect
• How does the video represent young men in the 1980s?

  As angry, aggressive, and violent due to circumstances
• What are the key themes represented in the music video "Ghost Town"?

  • High unemployment and poverty in the 1980s
  • Anger and disillusionment among young men
  • Racial harmony amidst societal issues
  • The impact of political decisions on communities
  • The representation of masculinity and aggression
• How does the editing style contribute to the video's message?

  • Fast-paced editing creates chaos
  • Canted angles suggest instability
  • Close-ups emphasize emotional expressions
  • Swerving car symbolizes danger and rebellion
• What historical events influenced the creation of "Ghost Town"?

  • High unemployment rates in the 1980s
  • Summer riots of 1981
  • Introduction of stop and search laws
  • Rise of racist political movements
• What does the video suggest about the relationship between race and societal issues?

  • Problems affect all races, not just one
  • Critiques media's racial discrimination
  • Promotes unity over division
  • Highlights shared struggles among communities
• “Ghost town“ is am important commentary on social injustice in the early 1980s, especially the tremendous dissatisfaction many young people felt towards politicians and their economic policies. E.g. margaret thatcher and her conservative government were blamed for the terrible rise in unemployment and taxation. The deep recession seemed to be leaving an entire generation without work and few opportunities
• spent 3 weeks at the top UK chadarts, the unsettling and grim depiction of urban rot certainly reflected that mood of despair and desperate desire for change
• directed by Barney Bubbles, the music video consists of 2 important structural elements: the bands unnerving performance intercut with shots of the bleak urban landscape. the narrative seems to be straightforward. the Specials are dressed for the weekend, but they drive aimlessly through the streets of London looking for somewhere to go. however, the futility of their journey is confirmed by closing shot of the group throwing stones into the Thames.
• ‘ghost town’ is a hybrid beacuse it mixes conventions of performance and narrative modes
• typical of the performance style of music videos, the band members perform the song to the camera and look straight into its lens. by lip synching the lyrics and making eye contact with the viewer, it creates the impression the group are communicating directly to the audience
• hypnotic chanting of the line “this town is coming like a ghost town“ expresses a nightmarish vision of the world and the wailing chorus suggests we should be incredibly frightened by the prospect of thus dystopian future. the lyric “cant go on no more“ is particularly sombre
• tone of despair is supported by the bands performance inside the car. e.g. during the first verse, their body language is stiff and their facial expressions are lifeless. nightclubs are supposed to places where young people can meet and have a good time, but “all the clubs have been closed down“ so their lives are muted or dead
• the madness in the bands faces during the hellish chorus is an appropriate signifier to convey the anger and sense of insanity felt by young people who were abandoned by the uncaring elite. finally, the way they are crammed uncomfortably into the cart probably connotes their struggle to find a place society beyond the confines of the vehicle. towards the end of the last chorus, one member of the band is thrown out of the car. if the car signifies their journey through life in the 1980s then not everyone will survive
• since the band are performing in a car, it could also be argued they are merely repeating the lyrics they are listening to on the radio like many people do when they are driving. in this way, the specials aren’t only providing a soundtrack for the disenfranchised youth, but feeling the pain being felt by millions of people nationwide
• music begins with the dismal sound of wind, which was created on a synthesiser, so it seems unnatural. the shots of tower blocks are taken from a worms eye view. this makes the observer appear insignificant and powerless against the menacing architecture. the brutalist grey concrete and glass set against the flat grey sky helps connote the uninviting society which built this harsh landscape. the audience might feel a disorientating unease from the opening titling and panning shots of these buildings.