Stupid O'Clock: A Narrative Analysis
Let's break down the elements of the music video for VICTON's latest title track 'Stupid O'Clock' and what it means for the 2022 Time Trilogy.
GENRE
HEIST FILM
First we have to discuss: what is this MV?! Unlike previous music videos, 'Stupid O'Clock' is intentionally produced like an auteur film with hazy, artistic shots (that's why it's so blurry and dark!) It is also a narrative MV, which means that it depicts a logical story. It uses the conventions of a heist film, which follows the "planning, execution, and aftermath of a significant robbery."In this case, they're trying to steal this pretty necklace. Or are they? 👀
CHARACTERS
The Stealers
Since a heist movie is a genre film, it follows specific conventions and tropes. That makes it pretty easy to understand. First, we have the actual stealers, the members of the team that enter the location and grab the goods.Subin's part is actually my favorite in the MV: he brings the tool that helps crack open the case. He passes it off to Sejun, and then Seungsik approaches the case to actually get the necklace. Yay!
CHARACTERS
The Distraction
Another classic character in a heist film is the distraction. In the MV, Hanse serves an effective one. After letting off a few shots, dropping a lot of wine glasses, and cackling, he clears the room for the others.Now on to the characters that I think take this story up a notch: Byungchan and Chan.
CHARACTERS
The Real Stealer
Narratively, we know that Seungsik, Chan, Sejun, Hanse, and Subin were ALL in the room at the same time because we all see them surrounded by people. Chan's highlight scene is when he puts on a glove -- an act usually done by the person who steals the object (because they shouldn't leave their fingerprints behind). But, as mentioned, Seungsik is the ONLY one who approaches the bust with the necklace. So what is Chan up to?In the ensuing chaos after Hanse fires off shots (and raps!) we briefly see Chan again (see second photo), seemingly on the second floor of the room. My theory is this: he stole something else. And that the the first four members were ALL distractions.
Characters
The Survivor
In a lot of crime films, there's a survivor who gets out alive and unharmed. After all, someone has to tell the story. In this MV, Byungchan is the lone survivor as he enters the building long after everyone has left and the objects are gone. The narrative implies that he mourns for the other members but is, ultimately, left alone to deal with the losses. In the last photo, hands can be seen. While he is alone, Byungchan is wracked with guilt for the death of the members (maybe his lateness caused a problem??) OR he is being chased by someone... or something.
Conclusion
A heist gone wrong
Now that we've analyzed the narrative, we can confidently say that Stupid O'Clock is a heist. But what exactly were they stealing? The MV shows that the necklace was successfully stolen, but it remains unseen until the end of the film. I think that's because it's not the most important thing item stolen. Chan was up to something on the second floor. In the end, we also see Byungchan holding a chained timepiece. Maybe Chan stole a chronograph while the others were stealing the necklace? And that's where it all goes wrong: there's no satisfying conclusion to the heist.But maybe that's deliberate. After all, this is just part two of a trilogy. Click the links to rewatch the MV again, talk to me on TW to share your theories, or read my analysis of Stupid O'Clock as a part of VICTON's 2022 Time Trilogy.