The Specials Csp

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) Why does the writer link the song to cinematic soundtracks and music hall tradition?

Because the song uses dramatic sounds and moods like in films and old British stage music. It creates emotion and tells a story through music.

2) What subcultures did 2 Tone emerge from in the late 1970s?
Mod and Punk subcultures.

3) What social contexts are discussed regarding the UK in 1981?
Recession, unemployment, riots, and tension between police and young people in cities.

4) Cultural critic Mark Fisher describes the video as ‘eerie’. What do you think is 'eerie' about the Ghost Town video?
The streets are empty when they should be full. Only the band is there. It feels strange and quiet, like something is wrong.

5) 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 says it shows protest without words. The band and others are like ghosts, forgotten. Yes, it shows sadness and lost futures clearly.

Now read this BBC website feature on the 30th anniversary of Ghost Town’s release. 

1) How does the article describe the song?

The article describes Ghost Town as strange, eerie, and unforgettable. It has a haunting sound with sirens, organ chords, and woodwind. It mixes reggae with a dark, gloomy mood. It feels tense, sad, and angry.

2) What does the article say about the social context of the time – what was happening in Britain in 1981?

In 1981, Britain faced high unemployment, poverty, and racism. Riots broke out in many cities. Factories were closing, and people were angry. The police were using stop and search, especially on Black people.

3) How did The Specials reflect an increasingly multicultural Britain?

The Specials had both black and white members. They mixed ska and reggae with British punk. Their music and style came from both Caribbean and British cultures. They stood for unity but faced racism at events.

4) How can we link Paul Gilroy’s theories to The Specials and Ghost Town?

Paul Gilroy talks about "Black Atlantic" culture : the mix of African, Caribbean, and British identities. Ghost Town shows this mix in sound and message. It also speaks about racism and division in Britain, like Gilroy’s ideas.

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 famous for film music. He made the music for many James Bond films, like Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice. His style was dramatic and cinematic, like the mood in Ghost Town.

Fact sheet:

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?
The factsheet says the mise-en-scene creates a dark and bleak mood. The streets are empty. The city looks run-down. The band wear dull clothes. Their car looks old and cramped. All of this shows decay and tension in society.

2) How does the lighting create intertextual references? What else is notable about the lighting?
The lighting is low and gloomy. This links to horror and zombie films. It reminds viewers of something unnatural or scary. The shadows make the band look ghostly. It adds to the idea that the city is lifeless.

3) What non-verbal codes help to communicate meanings in the video?
The band members use serious facial expressions. They stare blankly or look worried. Their body language is stiff. They do not speak. This shows sadness and fear. It helps create a sense of anger and hopelessness.

4) What does the factsheet suggest regarding the editing and camerawork? Pick out three key points that are highlighted here.
The camera often moves in a shaky way, creates a feeling of chaos.
The editing is slow and uses long takes, gives the video a haunting tone.
There are point-of-view shots from the car, makes the audience feel part of the journey.

5) What narrative theories can be applied to the video? Give details from the video for each one.
Todorov’s theory: There is no clear equilibrium. The whole video shows disruption. The city is already broken.
Barthes' enigma codes: We never know where they are going or why. This creates mystery.
Levi-Strauss binary opposites: The video shows calm vs chaos, life vs emptiness, and youth vs decay.

6) How can we apply genre theory to the video?
The video mixes genres. It has features of music video, documentary and horror. Steve Neale says genres repeat but also change. Ghost Town uses music video conventions but adds horror-style lighting and documentary realism.

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.

• Urban environments

• Black and white working-class men

• Young people

• Violence and protest

• Decay and destruction

• Thatcher’s Britain

• A multi-ethnic band

• The nation as divided and broken

8) How can Gauntlett's work on collective identity be applied to the video?
The video shows how people feel about their society. It reflects a shared anger and sadness. The song gives that group a way to express itself.

9) How can gender theorists such as Judith Butler be applied to Ghost Town?
The video does not follow typical gender roles. The male band members do not act powerful instead show fear and helplessness. This challenges ideas of strong masculinity, Butler says gender is performed, so in this context the band perform an alternative male identity.

   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?
Gilroy says Black culture is shaped by the history of empire. Ghost Town shows Black and white musicians together. This suggests unity in a broken society, the band represent how racism and inequality still exist after empire.