Hozier: 'Take Me To Church'

Mr Buckmaster showed me, Hozier: ‘Take Me to Church’, in our lesson last week. The song is an extended metaphor comparing a lover to religion. The music video imagery portrays this perfectly.

In the video we are introduced to two male characters that are in a relationship. It is clear they are wary of the hooded youths around them – watching them. Foreshadowing they will react later on.

The video is shot in black and white throughout. I also want to do this in mine. I think the significance of this is to focus predominately on the context of the video. No attention is drawn away due to the colours. In ‘Take Me to Church’; the context of the homosexual relationship is the significance of the song so this is heightened by the lack of colour. Black and white also portrays old fashioned movies; I think the disregards of homosexuality are depicted in black and white as homophobia is seen as an outdated view.

Symbolism is also used in the video. The box with a chain around it first appears at 0.07, in the flames. This is a depiction/foreshadow of the end of the video. We then see it being closed, locked and buried as the video endures. I have interpreted this as a symbolic physical metaphor of their relationship. They try to hide it from the hooded youths in their town, hence why they bury it. It isn’t till the end of the video, when the youths discover the box that their relationship is exposed. Fire is also used symbolically. The video focusses on religion so the fire can be interpreted is hell. By the youths throwing the box into the fire it is as if they are condemning the relationship to hell.

Overall the video has a very big impact on the viewer; it focuses on a very significant issue in society and makes you think.