Moving Image Analysis - Corporate Cannibal

The music video 'Corporate Cannibal' released in 2008 was directed by Nick Hooker and performed by Grace Jones. 

The fact it was released in 2008 is a bit of a surprise to me, as it doesn't necessarily seem very 'modern' to me, perhaps due to lack of the usual 'fast-cutting' edits more recent music videos use. In fairness the content is less 'musical' and seems to take a similar form of a poem and spoken word so may not have worked in that format. The 'fixed camera' the video seems to adopt could have been chosen to enhance the pulling, stretching and general distorting of Grace Jones as it  highlights the main source of movement causing the disfigurement to seem harsh and brutal.


The saturated monochrome colour (black and white) coupled with the Kaleidoscopic effect illustrates the intention for this video to be 'serious', this along with Jones staring into the screen constantly is achieved but also, to me, creates a sense of slight unease. Though perhaps this was the goal, as the 'freak-out' at the end, the animalistic growling Grace Jones does, is slightly disturbing.


The strange black line the video begins with is also disturbing as the viewer isn't too sure what they are watching, it seems like a pulsating vein which then morphs into the face of Grace Jones. This distortion gives an alien feel, dehumanising Jones and causing her expressions not only to be enhanced, but also to seem unnatural and intense, for example her forehead being stretched when her eyes widened. I feel this effect at some points works well, such as when only the mouth is seen, but the length of video swamps any resounding impact a moment like that has. The harsh pulling and pulsing of Jone's form could be illustrating/ commenting on how technology is all consuming, creating visuals for her lyrics. 'I'm a man eating machine', as she could be seen as being torn apart, eaten up by the stretching. The fact that the process to make this video relies heavily on post-production is with machinery could also be a nod to her lyrics.


Another way of looking at it however, could be that Grace Jones is symbolic of a 'machine' an inhuman entity, fluctuating and distorting. Either way, it is evident that this video is meant to have some form of 'symbolism' in relation to the lyrics. Though it doesn't take the lyrics literally, it 's lack of 'storyline' could be seen as a bit simple, but in a way enhances Jones' performance. And as the track is mainly her voice I suppose that is the most important thing, the video not necessarily being a separate entity (broadening the scope a song reaches), but drawing attention to the content that is already there.