Post #4 - "What I've Done" by Linkin Park

This video, "What I've Done" by Linkin Park, is more than just a music video. As most music videos are designed to entertain or perhaps be funny and humerous, this video has a definite purpose to it. It contains has a main point and deals with a lot of serious issues. As the lyrics state, "I'll face myself to cross out what I've become. Erase myself and let go of what I've done." In this video there are various issues that have negative impacts on the world. For example, 1:15 into the video, it displays a disturbing image of a man that is obviously going under starvation. Furthermore, at 1:55 in the video, it presents footage of the Ku Klux Klan and what they represent. Then, at 2:00, images of Hitler are featured, as are many more negative problems that the world has faced in its history. Linkin Park chose these clips and pictures for an obvious reason. They wanted to make a strong point and a clear statement that there are a lot of harmful and saddening incidents that have gone on, or still going on in society. Their lyrics quote that we need to "start again and let go of what we have done." When analyzing this video, it is important to look at both the video elements and the context of the lyrics. Both relate to each other, which ultimately create a strong message. There are many different ways to reach an audience and music videos have proven to become more popular in addressing issues to the public.