Hero of War

Although music videos are designed to a great extent to provide entertainment, often they contain diegesis that is not readily apparent. In Rise Against's Hero of War, the message lies within the irony of the word "hero". Known for their blatant opposition to war and support of peace-advocating organizations, they call upon the problems in modern war. They show this opposition through mise en scene, in one example using soldiers near barbed wire to highlight to oppression and prison-like conditions. Another way they show the problem with war is with the girl who was trying to surrender with the white flag. Although she was innocent, he did the right thing because she ignored him and could have been a serious threat. However, if the soldiers weren't there she wouldn't have needed to surrender and he wouldn't have felt he had to shoot her. Through images such as the one below, they depict the oppression of the military, represented by the out of focus, overarching power of the gun, and how it affects the innocent girl.

As well as causing problems for the people in the war zone, they want to shine light on the serious issues that soldiers return home with. With the mise en scene of having the flag upside-down in the background, it represents the distress the soldier is feeling, but he is working out to show he is getting stronger. The video uses a flash forward to show what it is like for soldiers who are home after doing the things they had to do at war. The flash forward shows him at a party, and he cannot enjoy the company of his girlfriend and friend like he used to. Although some things are unavoidable, the lyrics show that some violence is unnecessary and cruel. These things have an even greater effect on the returned soldiers, and it shows in the way he is tormented in the dark room, illuminated by infrared.