Run Boy RunWhen there is conflict, you must run.

Discuss with reference to one of the visual texts we have look

at in class.
When there is conflict you must run, wether it's from something you fear or towards a fight. In the
music video 'Run Boy Run' by Woodkid the producer has made an intriguing clip of a young boy
running from a city. On his journey we see him meet and defeat may fears that get in his way whilst
on his attempt to flee. When looking at this conflict, there will be reference made to subject matter,

symbolisum
and colour and contrast of the visual text.

What sort of
situation?
The subject of this video is a young boy, who is shown to be running away from a city looming in
You can
the distance. He displays the obvious fight or flight instinct that takes over many humans when
describe
without
they are put into that sort of situation. In this instance we see him choose the flight option as he
being
runs away this is often captured in long shots that show the distance he has traveled on his
specific.
From
what?

journey. The boy appears to have left in a rush only wearing what looks like a school uniform and a
backpack. His facial expressions change thoughout the video and we see at the begining that he
looks scared, uncertain and desperate and even though the viewer doesn't know where or why he
is going they can get the impression that he is in danger of something back in the city. This
changes the longer he runs, through a variety of close ups we see this young boy mature with
determination and strength which he would need if he wanted to succeed almost as if he decides,
to take the fight option instead. His features become fierce and strong. Even with the risk he is
Needs to
link ideas
taking and the trouble he goes thought, the child puts aside his fears to reach is destination.

with a
linking
sentence.

In this music video plenty of symbols are acknowledged throughout the duration of the song,
including a city, monsters, crows, a Vikings helmet and the boy flying. At the start of the video, one
of the first shots is a portrait of the city, to me this symbolises being trapped or enclosed in
somewhere you don't want to be. We also see the boy running from it which could mean that he
has escaped or broken out of it. The monsters may represent the boys fears, when the kid is on his
journey a monster comes out of the ground and trips him up. Although this happens the monster
then picks him up and helps him carry on, this shows him controlling what he's scared of in order to
keep going. The Viking helmet might be able to symbol strength and power, using what Vikings are
originally know for, turning the boy into a man or warrior. The crows can be identified with the
Low
darkness and seriousness of the matter, along with the possible chance that the boy may not
but
succeed and that his journey could end in death. Finally towards the end, the boy, now a young modality,
need to use
man is thrown into the air by one of the monsters. He then appears to fly, this may be able to
High
modality.
acknowlege freedom, that he has escaped and is well on his way to safety.
The producer has decided to represent the subject and the symbols in the dull colours of black,
gray and white. These colours represent the darkness of the video and situation the subject is put
in. It helps the watchers to be able to concentrate on the symbols and the young boy more wholely
without getting distracted by the other sence and backgrounds moving around behind them. It also
give us an opportunity to be able to connect to the emotions of the subject throughout the song.
Using dark and light colours can suggest to us the safe and dangerous places the boy has to cross
You need to consider contrast
on his journey.
as outlined in your
introduction.

In conclusion, no matter what, where there is conflict you must run, whether it's towards danger or
away from it, or if your body chooses to fight or flight. In 'Run Boy Run' the young boy keeps on
running despite being so afraid and unsure at the begining. The music video is well thought out
and captured to give the viewer the clearest understanding of the message the song is giving. The
effective use of symbols such as the monsters representing fears and crows showing darkness
and death, as well black and white coloures help tell the story and give it a deeper meaning.
Everything enhances our attention to the message of being able to control your fears and keep
going even if you fall.
Well structured
conclusion that
re-states your
main argument


Criteria
Identifyand
Evaluate
Identifyand
evaluatebeliefsand
assumptionsin
texts.
Coherence
Createsacoherent
textthatclearly
articulatescomplex
ideas.
Writingfluency
Variesvocabulary
choicesand
sentence
structures,using
appropriate
punctuationto
createcomplex
sentencesandtexts
forformal
purposes.
LanguageUse
Consistentand
effectiveuseof
spelling,vocabulary
andediting
strategies.

Excellent

Good
Uses specific
language such as
'subject', 'symbol' and
'close -ups' when
analysing this visual
text. Low modality
aects strength of
writing in the third
paragraph.
Uses conjunctions,
however, needs to
build skills in linking
sentences to
connect
paragraphs.
Uses interesting
vocabulary such as
instinct, desperate, and
acknowledged. Usually
uses commas
appropriately when
listing and separating
information, and uses
apostrophes to identify
the text, and to form
contractions. Still
developing skills with
alternate forms of
punctuation.
Spelling errors of some
words aect fluency,
indicative of
developing editing
skills. Also some
grammatical errors
aecting the logic of
sentences.

Satisfactory

Needs
improvement