The Specials - Ghost Town: Blog tasks
Background and historical contexts
Read this excellent analysis from The Conversation website of the impact Ghost Town had both musically and visually. Answer the following questions
1) What subcultures did 2 Tone emerge from in the late 1970s?
2 Tone emerged from the ska and punk subcultures in the late 1970s. It blended elements of both genres with a distinctive focus on race.
2) What social contexts are discussed regarding the UK in 1981?
Social contexts discussed regarding the UK in 1981 include rising unemployment, racial tensions, and social problems.
3) Cultural critic Mark Fisher describes the video as ‘eerie’. What do you think is 'eerie' about the Ghost Town video?
The "Ghost Town" video is eerie because of its portrayal of abandoned streets and buildings this atmosphere is similar with the song's themes of social unrest during the time.
4) Look at the final section (‘Not a dance track’). What does the writer suggest might be the meanings created in the video? Do you agree?
The writer suggests that the "Ghost Town" video creates meanings of isolation and desolated streets and aligns with the song's themes of social unrest.
Now read this BBC website feature on the 30th anniversary of Ghost Town’s release.
1) How does the article describe the song?
1) How does the article describe the song?
It was a song that mixed the Ska and punk genre in a time where there was social unrest.
2) What does the article say about the social context of the time – what was happening in Britain in 1981?
high unemployment rates, social unrest, and tensions as significant issues influence the culture and society at the time. These challenges provided the background information for "Ghost Town".
3) How did The Specials reflect an increasingly multicultural Britain?
4) How can we link Paul Gilroy’s theories to The Specials and Ghost Town?
through their use of ska and reggae music, which originated from Caribbean communities in the UK. The band's multicultural lyrics addressing social issues like racism reflect Gilroy's emphasis on hybridity.
5) The article discusses how the song sounds like a John Barry composition. Why was John Barry a famous composer and what films did he work on?
John Barry was a famous composer known for James Bond, his music for films like "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," and "Diamonds Are Forever" helped define the spy genre.
Ghost Town - Media Factsheet
Watch the video several times before reading Factsheet #211 - Ghost Town. You'll need your GHS Google login to access the factsheet. Once you have analysed the video several times and read the whole factsheet, answer the following questions:
1) Focus on the Media Language section. What does the factsheet suggest regarding the mise-en-scene in the video?
empty streets, props, abandoned buildings, broken windows, lighting (dim or natural light), and costumes (band members' clothes reflecting the era and style).
2) How does the lighting create intertextual references? What else is notable about the lighting?
classic film noir's use of shadows and contrasts adding to the lighting, enhancing the video's eerie atmosphere and urban setting.
3) What non-verbal codes help to communicate meanings in the video?
non-verbal codes such as facial expressions of band members, camera angles focusing on desolate urban landscapes, and use of symbols like broken windows and empty streets help convey meanings of abandonment.
4) What does the factsheet suggest regarding the editing and camerawork? Pick out three key points that are highlighted here.
Todorov's Narrative Theory: The video starts with a normal city scene, disrupts it with abandonment, and resolves with the band performing in desolation.
Propp's Character Functions: The band acts as heroes facing societal abandonment, navigating obstacles like empty streets and buildings.
6) How can we apply genre theory to the video?
The "Ghost Town" video blends music video with movie, creating a hybrid genre.
7) Now look at the Representations section. What are the different people, places and groups that are represented in the Ghost Town video? Look for the list on page 4 of the factsheet.
include abandoned city, diverse band, horror themes and possibly issues like poverty or racial tensions.
8) How can Gauntlett's work on collective identity be applied to the video?
showing how it addresses concerns and diversity, showing a sense of collective identity among the audience.
9) How can gender theorists such as Judith Butler be applied to Ghost Town?
Gender theorists like Judith Butler could analyse "Ghost Town" by looking at how the video portrays and challenges traditional ideas about gender roles and identities.
10) Postcolonial theorists like Paul Gilroy can help us to understand the meanings in the Ghost Town music video. What does the factsheet suggest regarding this?
It reflects issues of race, identity, and isolation.
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