Burn the Witch Essay

How are media language and intertextuality used in “Burn the Witch” to construct representations of groups, messages and values?

Burn the Witch is a song written by the English rock band Radiohead, and the music video is created via stop-motion animation, which pays homage to the British series Trumptonshire and the Wicker Man.

The music video gets released the same month as Brexit was announced in June 2016. It seems to be critiquing some of the propaganda put out from the Brexit supporters, while Europe was in the middle of a migrant crisis the moral panic created by the Brexit supporters continuously fueled the hatred towards the minorities. In an article the producer claims that the music video and the song are both an answer to the Brexit deal and increasing hate towards minority groups from the Middle East.  

As mentioned earlier the music video pays homage to the series Trumptonshire, which could be a reference to the notorious president of the United States, Donald Trump (The music video was also released while Mr. Trump's national president campaign was running) who is generally disliked and criticised for his migrant policies. The series' aim itself is to teach children basic British values in the show's idyllic communities, however, the music video clearly parodies those community by showing very disturbing shots of cults and such. 

The show has constant references to medieval times when witch hunting was common. Witch hunting methods included, alleged witches being burnt at the stake and drowned, all of which were included in the music video. In this case however, the witch represents the non-suspecting migrant, who is lured and, as referenced in the Wicker Man, a film where people are tricked into being killed, ultimately deceived into being killed. Another reference to medieval times is the red cross painted on the wooden door. That is a reference to the plague that struck London during the 17th century, the crosses identified an early form of discrimination towards the victims of the plague, therefore these metaphors could be a reference to today's discrimination towards migrant minorities. 

Throughout the video are crates of tomatoes, a reference of the empty crates Summerisle Fruit in the Wicker Man. Here all of the crates are all plastered with ''Jobes''. One of these is also used to light the effigy at the end of the music video. Some writers have made a comparison to Job, the pious man punished by God as a test in various Abrahamic religions- but as it isn't obvious, it is spelt '' Jobe'' although it is pronounced that way.

The video itself starts and ends with a blue bird tweeting, which is a reference to the social media Twitter, often used to spread fake news and lies targeting certain groups of people in order to smear them. Maybe Radiohead is trying to say that it all starts and ends with social media and that we should try and use it wisely to prevent events from happening or to end them.

In conclusion, the video has taken a very sophisticated approach in criticising the masses who express hatred and discrimination towards minorities. Throughout the music video are constant reference to the real world and events, such as actual human figures, films, series, social media and all point to the great unjustified dislike certain people have towards migrants.