Afrika Shox

By Leftfield and Afrika Bambaataa

This shot of the Twin Towers is the first shot of the music
video immediately creating the idea of an urban jungle
as a low angle shot is used to suggest the dominance
and entrapment. The geometric and sharp outline of the
buildings reflect the beat and genre of the song which is
electronic and sharp as oppose to fluent and smooth.
Another shot from the music video
that demonstrates the genre is the
use of a police car with the sound of
the sirens and the lights flashing. This
is similar to strobe lighting at raves
in which this genre of music would be
typically played. This relates to one of
point of Goodwins Theory where the
music video must demonstrate genre
characteristics in which this video
does effectively with the use of
recognisable city features to reflect
the electronic aspect of the track.
After being introduced to the New York urban area using
establishing shots of recognisable features of the city, we
are then introduced to the main character of the video. He
is depicted in a underground, rough area implying his
lifestyle. He is presented as isolated and alienated from
society, immediately creating a divide between different
groups within the area. This then presents him as a
minority making him weaker and less powerful.
This song was featured in the film Vanilla Sky in which the recurring theme is open your eyes. This is
similar to the message in this video which displays themes of ignorance. For example, a shot featured in the
music video is of a man looking over his newspaper as if he is shocked to see the African man. He is looking
through him implying that he is the minority and is insignificant thus referring to African slavery where the
white man views the African man as unimportant.
This shot is also ironic in that he is looking at a newspaper
which features global affairs yet he is ignorant to those around
him, particularly the African man who is seen begging for his
help. This is meant to be representative of everyone in the city
as they are seen disregarding him despite looking frail and weak
thus representing the divide between the powerful and the weak
or when referring to slavery, the white men and the slaves.
The low angle of the man looking directly at the
African man supports the idea of the disregard
people show. It is also a point of view shot where
he is looking directly at the camera, putting us in
the perspective of the African man, thus making
us feel small and unworthy. This shot was after
the white male ignorantly walked into him,
breaking his arm as a result. This is similar to the
TV miniseries Roots which is about a young
African male who is captured and made a slave,
along with others, by white men. When he tries
to escape, his capturers cut half his foot off to
limit his ability. This is very similar to the scene in
this music video where he loses his hand
therefore limiting his ability. It also references the
loss of use of their hands when the slaves were
shackled therefore unable to move or be free.
This then follows another point of Goodwins
Theory where there must be intertextual
references. The use of discrimination and
disregard when he loses his hand is similar to
that of the main character in Roots.
Another point made for Goodwins Theory in
order to create a music video is that there should
be a relationship between the lyrics and visuals
in which is shown in this shot. For example, the
lyrics read Lets get electrified as he is touching
the fence. Whilst the fence is not electric, it has
connotations of entrapment where it deterred
people, such as slaves, from trying to escape. It
also evokes imagery from the Holocaust where
fences and barbed wire were used in the
concentration camps. This shot then highlights
the harsh reality and history of slavery and
entrapment where minorities were seen as weak
and insignificant thus presenting discriminative
views.
Dialogue is also featured near the end of the music video
where Afrika Bambaataa, the creator of the song, makes
a cameo appearance. When the African male has lost all
four limbs and is lying on the floor unable to move,
Bambaataa says Do you need a hand?. This is ironic as
he is clearly unable to move or help himself therefore
needing a hand. Also, he has no limbs and therefore this
question can be taken literally as he is without any hands
which could refer to how slavery took away their freedom
to move and they want their freedom back therefore
needing their hands.