stress.music.video.by.justice.is.lame.

Comments

[this is good]
I imagine this is how the film crew developed the concept.

First guy- Hey guys, have you heard this song we're supposed to be working on?

Second guy- I'm listening to it right now, at least I think I am. My iPod might be busted because it's been playing the intro for five minutes.

Third guy- No, that is the song.

Second guy- Oh. OH. Oh no.

First guy- Don't panic. We just need a really interesting video to make up for it. So let's start brainstorming!

Seven hours later

First guy- I HATE MY JOB! I HATE LIFE! Hell with it, just film a bunch of guys beating the S*** out of people!
[this is good]
This is a horrible music video. The only nice thing about it is that this is allowed as a freedom of expression or whatever. If this video is aired in Japan, there will be outrageous complaints from watchers and it'll be banned, because uh, they hate it.
Freedom of speech is fine...as long as you have something to say.
[this is good]
Amen. Also: GKGDS KCV cCK BLBblblblb.
+1 on your sentiments.

D.A.N.C.E. was such a cool video, too. How the hell did they think this was a good idea?

Way to miss the point guys...

In addition to film references, the "Stress" video captures some of the sentiments among French immigrant youth during the 2005 riots. Police clashed with youths and over 8000 cars were set on fire during the riots, which lasted well over a week.

I think the jackets were simply used as a device to tie the gang together with the track. The jackets are not an indication that Justice actually approves of the actions enacted by those kids.

The video also falls in line with Director Romain-Gavras's previous works which look into the environment and people of certain subcultures. However, the "Stress" video isn't as humourous.

Although it may be discomforting for some of you to watch, the video goes well with the track. Both are quite raw.

I thought it was awesome.

I'll be the first to admit that I was not at all aware of the historical or cinematic references/context that this video apparently speaks to, thanks be to Simon for giving me the heads up about it. This evidence certainly gives the violence in the video more body and significance, but I still fail to see what the point is.

If the point was to make a reference to the incidents of 2005 through startling imagery and violence, the video did a fantastic job. The jarring acts of the adolescents tromping through the city causing chaos effect the viewer with levels of visual brutality that rarely if ever surface to the mainstream media.

But where does that leave the viewer by the end of the video? No moral is learned, no message is communicated other than a hyper-violent re-enactments of the riots. Given the historical context these scenes are no metaphor. These boys are not our heroes, yet the glorification of their acts followed by the camera seem to elicit a sort of 'badass' glamor to their violence.

This is particularly capitalized upon by their matching converse sneakers and their fashion saavy Justice jackets. The Justice jackets are the only point of departure from the apparently accurate historical reference to the riots. What does Justice and their club-happy electronica success have anything to do with this? What virtue does Justice achieve by stamping their symbol on the backs of these rioters? The most consistent imagery we have is the view of the † symbol on the gang's jackets.

Of course I don't think Justice is supporting this violence. What does seem evident, to me however, is an attempt to re-brand the current fun time fame they've received from the masses for the tracks D.A.N.C.E. and DVNO, back to a gritty elite hipster-cred that they're readily starting to lose.

In other words the video, for me, would have been very different if the acts if violence didn't have the Justice symbol plastered all over their every move.
im a bit torn with this one. i tend to see this mostly on the side of 'echosanswer', having clued in to the fact that the video was hinting at events and film references while watching it; though i think the tone of the comment was a bit off-putting. i also see where '.tiff' is coming from, with the aversion to the seeming capitalization/glorification of these acts of violence.

i think it's a cop out to say "oh, the point is to get people talking; and bring these events to light". while i think there's validity in that, it's just to easy to leave it at that as a main answer/reaction, and im glad no one did.

although i see why you wouldn't want violence to be branded with a "†"; visually it brings unity to the piece and has you understand who is who and gives you a certain expectation, which adds to the tension of the video for an aptly titled "stress", even though the song came first. i think the interplay between music and visuals plays well, if not a little long... i don't think it's completely a glorification thing, though i could see how we could be conditioned to think that given media criticism of many facets of entertainment these days; if you think of the alternatives, i think the branding with the "†" was the best option. if they leave them as random people dressed different from one another, it lacks cohesion; if they make up a fake gang, it's less believable; and if they dressed in just black with no "†", then there's less emphasis/focal points, especially in a video with such low color saturation. so in short, i think the Justice †s were more for visuals than straight marketing, even though it could work for that, too... if it makes you want them more, seeing them worn by such people while committing these acts... or if you just support Justice and their gall to make a video like this, given the success from the kinds of videos they've been making up to this point.

the video adds diversity to their burgeoning catalog of videos; instead of just adding on to their graphic designer exercises that aren't exactly challenging any sort of social issues.

that said, i like the video and don't have too many issues with it; i do think, though, that it sort of has exposed us to the fact that the things we watch on tv, e.g. the news, has softened us up, especially in the US, and maybe that's why this video is getting some of the reactions from people that it has gotten; though i do not find those reactions particularly invalid, in and of themselves.

good video. good responses. i enjoyed it.
[this is good]
might i also add that i think it's hilarious to see that kid running with a boom mic, haha
Great stuff dude! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, really informative and made me kept thinkin' about it. Still not my favorite video for my not favorite song, but what can you do ;).

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