Playtime

Are these memories, or random thoughts of a pretty girl on a beach?

Douglas Walker has made a pop video, without the pop. The ragged, cut-up style of the imagery conveys a romanticised expressionism, signifying nothing, despite its intrinsic beauty. It would be uncool to presume that story and emotion might meet and create something other than a collage of pictures.

Eventually, it becomes repetitive, without finding a way through the visual maze to an understanding, or universal feeling. Intercut are snatches of a home movie, showing mother and child looking happy. Perhaps the little girl is the bigger girl before she learnt to mime to camera and look wistful. It does not progress beyond hints of a story that has yet to be told.

Pop videos are like this. They don't have screenplays. They have choreography and beautiful thoughts. Some might say, it's an art form, others an enigma.

It doesn't make sense, but looks nice.