Paint 'Strange Effect' by Ned Botwood

By Luke Bather
Posted On 15th May 2017
Comments Comment(s)

Ned Botwood subverts the idea of a dangerous walk home at night in this subtle but jubilant statement piece for Paint.

With all signs pointing to a band performance video, Paint's singer is abruptly pushed aside by a woman on her way home from a night out. An infinitely more charismatic subject, the camera follows her instead as she takes on the patriarchal fantasies that the lyrics call to light.

Instead of women being depicted as decorations in a music video, mysterious objects of affection or simply victims-in-waiting on the supposedly dangerous city streets at night, we see powerful women claiming their space in the world confidently and forcing the band to take a backseat. The choreography, too, is celebratory in its strength, with a natural and effortless pace.