A Bronx School Revives critique
The first thing I noticed about the video (quite obviously) was the use of music to capture attention and break up the verbal introduction. I really liked the use of the band to create the music. A band is a symbol of unity and teamwork–symbolic for this video, I think.
Also, the way in which the music got softer for the introduction was easy to listen to and kept my attention really well, making the intro affective and making me want to continue to watch and listen.
Next, the main thing I noticed was the affective use of close ups and wide shots. The wide shots, setting the scene at the school so viewers can understand what it looks like, the types of students who attend it, and what the halls are like was nice for me to compare the school to my own so I could have something to reference in my mind. Understanding the setting for a story like this one is key, I think. Then, the close up shots of students in their uniforms compared to the close ups of their shoes was really affective. The uniforms were meant to create unity amongst the students and erase the gang-violence that ruled the school. This was a way the school intended to minimize the number of gangs–separate from how families and outside influences may have been affecting the students. Also, the close up shots of so many different shoes showed that the students were still individuals and not just reformed robots. The contrast was very symbolic, and I felt like the use of shots really got the message across to viewers.