TEXTUAL ANALYSIS - Common People by Pulp

Pulp’s Common People is an indie music video that features references to a past age, in this instance the disco age of the 1970s. The use of green screen to present the ensemble on a stereotypically 1970s dance floor, and the use of bright colourful lights create a naff scene, which is presented negatively, and mocked by the band, a staple of the indie genre being rebelling against conformity. Furthermore, the contrast between the colourful lighting of the club, and the naturalistic lighting on the singer, enhances the idea of rebellion against conformity.

There is a key focus on the band, which is both stereotypical of the pop genre, which the video aims to mock, and the indie genre, which the band is classified as. By using extreme close ups of the lead vocalist; in conjunction with wider shots of him, there is excess focus on Jarvis Cocker, mocking the characteristic of pop music that record labels push for greater focus on the star. With the panning shot during which the lead singer appears multiple times, in different positions, this is taken further, with him the only figure in the sequence not stuck in a 1 second loop of activity.

The use of a one second loop of activity for most of the extras in the sequence is influenced by the Eleanor Rigby video from The Beatles animated film Yellow Submarine. This sequence creates a sense of monotonousness to everyday life, which only music, or perhaps rebelling against conformity can get someone out of. This message is consistent throughout the video, with the mis en scene of the shopping trolley acting as a cage, and the unforgiving, bright light. Thus, the video suggests to the viewer that they should rebel against the monotony of everyday life and refuse to conform, which is a moral upon which the whole indie movement is built upon.

Alexander