Intertextuality in Music Videos

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Otherside
Joe // Tom // Grace // Ellie

The music video for "Otherside" contains several intertextual references to different forms of art, mainly Cubism. The cubist-style cityscape and grayscale colours reflect the works of Dutch Cubist artists and the famous Pablo Picasso, namely the ladder sequence and perspective for long string bass player. There are references between the lyrics and the images, for instance before the first chorus the vocalist says "I've got to take it on the otherside", and the strange images flip over. The diverse and strange shapes that the cubist theme gives allows for the underlying meaning of the song, regarding drug addiction, to be considered and perhaps enhanced.

By contrast, inter-textual references in Weezer's "Buddy Holly" are made quite clear to the audience if they recognise where the video is set, in 70's sitcom "Happy Days". Those audiences not familiar with the sitcom would not understand the reference but it allows the band to be portrayed in a particular manner.