On Saturday, October 7, 2016, at 2 a.m in the morning, I watched the Twenty One Pilot’s “Heathens” Music Video, which touches on civil rights violations happening in detention camps–it was interesting.
This video had a very gritty, grimy feel to it. It had lots of grey and dark green shots. Additionally, it had lots of bars, concrete, and rainy day shots. This video felt very edgy.
Furthermore, this video resembles Guantanamo Bay detention camp. As the video opens up, a military plane flies into this prison and drops off prisoners. Also, the prison is surrounded by water. Plus, the prison has it’s own landing strip, barbwire fences, and armed prison towers. Maybe, the music directors were being intentional by making the
video look like Guantanamo Bay–or Bagram for that matter.
As the video plays, we see shots of the Suicide Squad movie characters being tortured. There are shots of characters in isolation cells. Characters are strapped to chairs. There are shots of characters being tortured with water. Clearly, these characters’ civil rights have been violated.
Although not quite Guantanamo Bay, Tyler Joseph sings about heathens being his friends, which I liked.
“All my friends are heathens, take it slow. Wait for them to ask you who you know, ” soulfully sings Tyler Joseph.
Moreover, the artist says “heathens” are people, so you should treat them with respect.
“You’re lovin’ on the freakshow sitting next to you. You’ll have some weird people sitting next to you. You’ll think ‘how did I get here, sitting next to you?'” confided Twenty One Pilots, “but after all I’ve said, please don’t forget. (Watch it, watch it).” Because heathens are people, you should respect them–or else!
Alternatively, you could be a heathen too.
“Why’d you come, you knew you should have stayed. I tried to warn you just to stay away. And now they’re outside ready to bust. It looks like you might be one of us, ” cautioned Twenty One Pilots.
Although doing it at a safe, comfortable distance, the music video “Heathens” considers the serious issue of torture going on at Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
