Guerrilla Aesthetics: Cinematic Echoes from Metropolis to Money Heist
- Annie Antony
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Initially seen as tools for promotion, music videos were used by record labels to increase sales of the songs produced by them. These early videos primarily consisted of simple visual sequences synchronised to a recorded pop song. However, over time music video production has gone through a significant change, evolving into a sophisticated form of artistic expression.
A notable shift occurred as music videos began incorporating narrative elements, going beyond their initial purpose. In the 21st century, there are several examples of music videos that have drawn inspiration from a wide range of sources, remediating the pre-existing material. By incorporating references from films, commercials, paintings and posters; music videos have created new meanings through juxtaposition, enriching viewer experience. In this piece I will be looking at ATEEZ’s MV – Guerrilla from the album The World EP.1: Movement. Two prominent influences that have shaped the visual narrative in this MV are from Money Heist and film Metropolis.
The K-pop boy group ATEEZ, known for their powerful performances and captivating music videos, intricately weave powerful narratives to each of their albums using cinematic concept trailers and music videos. Guerrilla described by KQ Entertainment, is a song that focuses on “dream for change under a strictly regulated society where one cannot feel emotions such as love, sadness or joy”. The lyrics and the visuals of the song advocate for rebellious spirit, calling for ‘guerrilla warfare’ against oppressive systems – a theme that is common in both Money Heist and Metropolis.
The music video for Guerrilla borrows the dystopian aesthetics from Fritz Lang’s iconic film. The towering structures and industrial backdrop create a visually striking and oppressive atmosphere, mirroring the themes of social injustice and de-humanisation explored in both works.
The iconic hot air balloon scene from Money Heist Season 2 has been recreated in the second half of the music video. However, instead of the banknotes, the video features flyers emblazoned with ATEEZ’s logo and the word ‘Guerrilla’. This substitution subtly reinforces the group’s quest for liberation and rebellion in this video and the subsequent music videos from this album series. These visual references, coupled with the themes of exploitation, social injustice and the power of collective action is what further connects all the three works together.
Guerrilla serves as an example to the evolving use of music videos as a medium for artistic expression. The video seamlessly blends cinematic storytelling with K-pop aesthetics. As music videos push the boundaries of creativity and technology, it is clear that they will remain a vital force in shaping popular culture, influencing global audiences.
References
KQ ENTERTAINMENT (2022) ATEEZ(에이티즈) – ‘Guerrilla’ Official MV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HcVZm_4qAI.
Wall, C. (2024) The meaning behind the song: Guerrilla by ATEEZ. https://beatcrave.com/w2/the-meaning-behind-the-song-guerrilla-by-ateez/.
Vernallis, C. (no date) ‘Music Video’s Second Aesthetic?,’ in Unruly media: YouTube, music video, and the new digital cinema. Oxford University Press, pp. 207–233.
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