Burn The Witch Essay

How are media language and intertextuality used in “Burn the Witch” to construct representations of groups, messages and values?

Approx 800 words

In the music video for Radiohead - Burn The Witch an abundance of media language and intertextual references are used to construct representations of groups, messages and values. The language in the lyrics links directly to the animated scenes in the music video which connote very strong and deliberate intertextual references. For example, in the lyrics of “Red crosses on wooden doors” which is also one of the early shots in the music video of an animated wooden door with a red cross on it. The lyrics seem to suggest that this is how people would be able to identify the residence of a witch however in historically speaking, the red cross on doors was a way of warning people to stay away from the marked houses as they were the houses of people infected with the plague. Red is often depicted in media, culture and religion as being a colour that represents either danger, evil or love, in this likely symbolising danger. Of course now the red cross is often known recognized internationally as a symbol of protection, neutrality and military medical services.

Throughout the music video there were many different methods of execution presented to the audience which when relating to the lyrics and the title of the song, it is made apparent that these were historical methods of exposing witches which often led to a dilemma or ultimatum for women who were accused of being witches as it was rumored that if the women were to survive their execution their identity of being witches would be confirmed however if they did not survive they would have been normal women. Examples of execution methods presented in the music video included hanging, drowning, waterboarding and burning. This may have been done with the purpose of sharing historical fascinations Radiohead may have had with historical life.

The music video is a narrative video composed of many long shots with occasional close ups to present the animated protagonist’s expressions reflecting his feelings. The animated protagonist represents the audience watching the music video as they are experiencing the wonders of this strange town and likely reacting similarly to the animated protagonist. It is however, not the typical narrative music video mainly due to the fact that it is animated along with an actual narrative that is heavily connected with the lyrics of the song.

The bird, the inspector and the woman in the house that is being marked with a red cross happen to be the only characters with mouths. The inspector of course is attempted to be burned alive by the town and the woman in the marked house was intended to represent the witch who the town’s people probably intend to execute as well and from the title of the song it can be assumed that the woman will also be burned alive when executed. Just like the woman and the inspector, the bird is oblivious to what is going on and is singing in the opening seconds and scenes of the music video. Perhaps this is a metaphor for those who are oblivious to what is going happening being unable to accept what they are unfamiliar with therefore they “sing” as a way of expressing themselves just like how mouths were given to the two oblivious characters to express their emotions. This could be a representation of society where people who are accustomed to how society operates do not speak out or express their concerns as they have adapted to it and accepted it into their lifestyles. It is often those who are oblivious, ignorant and unaccepting of society that tend to speak out against it often outcasting themselves and society trying to remove them.