1. BASKET CASE
GREEN DAY
9 Frame Analysis
Directed by – Mark Kohr

2. FRAME 1
 This frame shows a close up of
one of the nurses plugging a
guitar into an amp. This shows
a convention of the genre
being portrayed along with the
narrative of the song. The
characteristic of the genre is a
live performance from the
band, this supports the
narrative because ‘basket
case’ suggests insanity and the
nurse who works in the asylum
is helping the genre
conventionalise.

3. FRAME 2
 This long shot of the band
preparing for their performance
suggests a lot about the
narrative of the song. For
example, the mise on scene in
the shot shows the
exceptionally luminous colours
signifying that the band are out
of place as the bright colours
contrast with their black
clothing.
 This is very typical of the ‘punk
rock’ genre; it is very unsettled,
making the video stand out.

4. FRAME 3
 This shot where the drummer
of the band is seen taking
colourful pills given to him by
the nurse. Green Day are seen
as quite an administrative
band, so this shot could
suggest that the pills are in fact
unnecessary as a stab at the
government. This is also a
distinctive message from ‘punk
rock’; being rebellious,
standing out from the crowd, to
get noticed.

5. FRAME 4
 This high angle looking down
on the lead singer could
possibly suggest vulnerability
which supports the narrative of
the song; being insane. The
lyrics that are sung during this
shot ‘Am I just paranoid?’
backs up the shot as it could
be portrayed as him looking
around the room as if he is
paranoid.

6. FRAME 5
 Here shows a pan shot of the
band playing in the asylum. In
the background, extras are
noticed wearing bizarre masks,
this again supports the
narrative because it represents
that the band could possibly be
hallucinating. This is a
reoccurring theme throughout
the music video.

7. FRAME 6
 This low angle shot shows the
lead singer in a padded cell, the
mise en scene is continuing with
the theme of ‘insanity’.
 This shot which is repeated
throughout the video, is very
effective for the reason that there
is a contrast of colours,
representing a clash of
personalities. The white cell
could be trying to cleanse him of
his insanity, whereas his black
clothing suggests there is still a
lot of work to be done to him.
Portraying the contrast of good
vs. evil.

8. FRAME 7
 The lyrics ‘Am I just stoned?’
are played during this shot,
keeping to the hallucinating
theme that carries out
throughout this video. The
colours in this shot are very
radiant, suggesting that what is
happening inside his head is
not normal compared to
‘normal’ people.

9. FRAME 8
 This long show shows the
drummer playing the drums on
a wheelchair rather than an
ordinary chair. The editing
during the sound bridge is
reasonably slow with each shot
lasting from between 2-4
seconds. These shots show
the band individually playing
their instruments, in which is a
reoccurring subject in punk
rock videos.

10. FRAME 9
 This final shot showing a long
shot of the band finishing the
song, is behind some form of
mesh door; this suggests and
shows the fractured reality the
band live in, in the asylum. The
nurse shown in the shot comes
and locks the mesh door,
locking the band in the asylum,
suggesting that the band will
never be let out, they will
always be locked in. That the
only freedom they have is
when playing songs.