“Shake It Out” by Florence + the Machine€¦ · “Shake It Out” by Florence + the Machine The story we created through our interpretation of Florence + the and a fantastical

Feature Guide by Sarah Kosel

Translators/Performers: Juliann Bermudez

Natalie Jenkins Sarah Kosel

Director/Editor:

Benjamin Berg

Special Thanks: Madonna University

Dan McDougall Sue and Dan Boyd

Jon Gray Jennifer Boruch

The Matthaei Botanical Gardens

Completed for SLS 4250: Contrastive Text Analysis

Sign Language Studies Madonna University

*2013*

“Shake It Out” by Florence + the Machine

The Concept The story we created through our interpretation of Florence + the Machine’s song “Shake it Out” is set somewhere between reality and a fantastical Victorian/Steampunk world. At the beginning of the song the viewer sees three friends preparing to go somewhere: they are in a modern dressing room, yet wearing Victorian costumes. It is hard to tell, as they leave the dressing room and walk down a hallway to an empty party, whether they have gone to a soiree or if they are on a theater set. As the story develops, their world seems increasingly real, yet always with shadows of theater and fantasy. Each young woman is struggling against what she perceives as an outer demon - strict societal pressures that are confining her to a colorless and melancholy life. The friends are unaware that they are all going through the same struggles and only gradually do they realize their shared experience as the song progresses. At the same time, they are individually becoming aware that the devils they have been fighting against are actually inside them. They are their own worst enemies. With this epiphany the friends are able to support each other and rebel against their inner demons, taking control of their lives and destroying the devils in the process. The song ends with the friends walking through a doorway into a bright garden, leaving the viewer to wonder if they have left a theater and gone back to real life after a performance or if they

Time Code

English Lyrics

ASL Gloss

Linguistic Features Explanation of Translation

Behind the Scenes

0:00- 0:03

Instrumental

music

Lights flicker on as the

music begins to play, a still image of the

three characters appears

reflected in the mirror

0:04- 0:11

Regrets collect like old friends,

Here to relive your darkest moments

SCAR (at head & heart), FRIEND (X:HS), 1:CL, 1:CL (people coming towards you), DEPRESSION, DWELL

Metaphor

Handshape constraint

Assimilation: SCAR, FRIENDS, and

1:CL flow together as one, starting with

X:HS and turning into the 1:CL. This appears again with the 25:HS from DEPRESSION to

DWELL.

Regrets likened to friends who surround the

young woman but only bring sadness and

reminders of her regrets and frustrations.

Black and white

represents the melancholy atmosphere

that is stifling the characters.

0:11-

I can see no way, I can see no way

I-GIVE-UP, I-DON’T-KNOW, I-DON’T-KNOW

Movement Duration

She feels lost and does not

The girls in the background

0:16 Hold Emphasis/ Pausing


The signs are

repeated to show the beat of the music,

while NMS show the emotion

know how to change her

circumstances.

are making sure she looks

her best, unaware of her inner

turmoil as they ensure she appears the way society expects her

to. 0:17- 0:20

And all of the ghouls come out to play

GHOST, SOCIALIZING (becomes) STARING


Assimilation: Evolving handshapes from 8:HS to a 5:HS.

The character feels the pull of the ghost/spirit

of societal expectations,

making her feel surrounded by

others that judge her and stare at her.

The camera focuses on

SOCIALIZING to emphasize it.

To show that

all of the women feel

the same way even though they do not know this,

Natalie holds the last sign

and the camera then

cuts to Juliann

with the same sign and

expression.

0:21- 0:24

And every Demon wants his pound of

flesh

DEVIL, DEVIL (becomes 3:CL and moves to front slowly)

TAKE OVER MIND, HEART,

Classifiers & Sign altering

Handshape rhyme

Use of sign space

(Taking DEVIL from the heart and mind,

bringing it forward shows that the

character thinks the devil is an outside

force.

Movement Duration

Hold Emphasis/ pausing

The character feels confronted by the devil and

its desire to control her

thoughts and actions, shown by producing the sign at the

head and on the shoulders.

The signs are produced so as to represent the beat and tempo

of the music

0:25- 0:30

But I like to keep some things to myself

MYSELF, MYSELF, PRIVATE, PRIVATE,

PROTECT (left), PROTECT (right)


Movement duration

Hold Emphasis/

Afraid that if she shows her true thoughts and

feelings she will be forced to

Mirror trick: Juliann

continues to sign while her

reflection

Pausing

conform, she hides and

protects her true self.

watches. This foreshadows the idea that the devil is really inside and not an

outside force.

0:30- 0:34

I like to keep my issues strong

TROUBLE, TROUBLE I-DON'T-WANT


Movement duration

Hold Emphasis/ Pausing

Avoiding trouble is seen as the only way to

avoid attracting the negative attention of society/the

devil, therefore “keeping her issues strong”

The movement of the camera is indicative of

the push-and-pull fight with

the devil

0:34- 0:38

It's always darkest before the Dawn

DREAM (compresses into a) NARROW FOCUS (before

expanding back into) DREAM

Movement duration


This sign was chosen to show that sometimes big dreams can feel forced into

tiny dreams before one has the ability to make them come true.

Red highlights against the black and

white show the upswing in mood, while

foreshadowing the presence of the devil within the

characters

0:38- 0:43

And I've been a fool and I've been blind

FOOL, LOONEY, UP-UNTIL-NOW, GIVE-INTO

Movement rhyme: *FOOL and LOONEY are

fast double beats *UP-TILL-NOW and GIVE-

INTO are slow single beats.

The character has been

unaware of how much she has

become accustomed to the controlling

force of her devil, and now she sees that

she has always given into it and

never fought against it.

The characters are walking

down a hallway from the dressing

room to a social event

Little hints of

color represent the

characters’ true selves

trying to come out.

0:44- 0:47

I can never leave the past behind

NEVER FORGET PAST, RELATIONSHIP (pull PAST/

PRESENT)

Handshape rhyme: NEVER FORGET PAST

Use of sign space:

Setting up an image/theme of being torn between the past

and present which continues throughout

the song.

The devils whom the characters

struggle against and their

attempts to be true to

themselves are shown by their

difficulty escaping the

The camera zooms in to

emphasize the emotion on Sarah’s face.

NMS

past, as something

always pulls them back from

embracing change (shown

physically by the signs). The

original feeling of melancholy is

prevailing.

0:47- 0:50

I can see no way, I can see no way

I-DON’T-KNOW, I-DON’T-KNOW, DEVIL, DEVIL CONFRONT

Movement Duration

Sign altering: DEVIL & handshape rhyme

Hold Emphasis/

Pausing

She does not know how to escape this

feeling since the devil is always

watching.

Red light represents the

presence of the devil.

0:50- 0:51

Everyone sits down The camera scans the room; the characters have now

reached an empty party.

0:52- 0:55

I'm always dragging that horse around

SCAR (head and heart), look-at-flat- hands-out, drag-into-

shoulder

Metaphor/Theme: Referencing the scars

that represented regrets previously

Assimilation/

Handshape rhyme: The signs all blend

into each other

The recurring theme of being

scarred by regrets shows how the past can become a burden that inhibits the

ability to move forward.

The women are sitting at

the party surrounded by

symbols of their devils: a

veil, mask, and hat.

0:56- 1:00

And our love is pastured such a mournful sound

CONTEMPLATE, LIFE NOW, DRAINING/ DEPRESSED (down)

Space level rhyme Contemplating her life (love),

the character is confronted by

how unhappy it is, which is

shown by the downward

movement of her signing

Natalie looks over at Sarah

as if in conversation while Sarah is signing. They

are all still unaware of each other’s

thoughts.

1:01- 1:04

Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the

ground

TONIGHT, SCAR (head and heart) (push head SCAR away)

Metaphor


Making a conscience decision to remove the

scars/burdens of the past and

Camera zooms into Juliann’s

hand to emphasize the hand flick as she pushes

move on. the “scar/regret”

over. 1:05- 1:09

So I like to keep my issues strong

DREAM CHERISH STRONG

Assimilation

Handshape rhyme

NMS

The characters’ concept of

“keeping issues strong” has

changed – now it is a belief in their dreams

instead of trying to avoid trouble, which is shown

both in the signs and Juliann’s expression.

The camera focuses on

Juliann’s look of

determination as she finishes

the sign.

1:09- 1:13

But it's always darkest before the Dawn

DARK, LIGHT (in front of face)

Eye gaze rhyme: The idea of looking downward during

difficult movements and upward for

happier moments is repeated throughout

the song.

Handshape rhyme

The signs are different from the first time

this line is sung because we wanted to

emphasize the symbolism of

dark and light in connection to

dreams.

The movement of the camera helps show the beat of the music.

1:13- 1:17

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake

it out, ooh woaaah

UN-MESH/DISCONNECT-FROM-PAST,

ANALYZE-SELF, ANALYZE-SELF, (honorific) ME

The devil is part of the past, which is

represented by it forming the second half of the UN-MESH

sign

Use of sign space: continued theme of illustrating past vs.

future

Movement duration & Space level rhyme

(up and down): Indicates the beat of the music and adds

rhythm

Because the repetition of

“shake it out” has a strong

beat, we wanted to pick signs for the chorus that

could be produced

emphatically and

rhythmically, while also

showing the character’s progression

towards confidence in themselves.

Throughout the chorus,

the devil dances behind

Natalie, feeling very

confident that she will never escape from

it.

1:18- 1:22


it out, ooh woaaah

THINK-FOR-MYSELF DO-AS-I-PLEASE, DO-AS-I-

PLEASE FUTURE

Sign variation: We added a second

movement to the end of THINK-FOR-MYSELF,

Natalie has reflected upon

her life and come to the

The red lighting

represents the devil’s

signing MYSELF twice to match the beat of the song and movement

of the other signs

Movement Duration

Hold emphasis/ Pausing

conclusion that she does not

need to change because of

outside pressures: she can be happy just as she is.

presence, along with the

shadowy hands that can be seen in the background

1:22- 1:26

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your

back

LOOK-AT-SELF, LOOK BACK (see devil lurking)

Assimilation: FUTURE becomes LOOK

Hold

emphasis/pausing to indicate the pulse of

the music

Natalie is determined to move forward into the future

by escaping her devil, but its

presence is still strongly felt.

The devil moves closer

1:26- 1:29

So shake him off, oh woah

(devil grabs wrist)SHAKE OFF DEVIL,

CONNECT-TO-GOAL

Assimilation: looking at ourselves flows into connecting with our

goals

As Natalie tries to reach her

goals, the devil stops her.

Although she

The devil is shaken away

and backwards, out of the

Hold emphasis/pausing: the

devil grabbing our wrists matches the singer’s cadence

Metaphor

shakes it off, she still feels

somewhat defeated and

overshadowed by the devil. By trying to stop the sign, the

devil is metaphorically trying to stop

her from reaching her

goals.

shot.

1:29- 1:31

Instrumental music

The silhouette of a devil is

shown in red light, along

with a glimpse of Natalie with her hands over

her eyes.

1:32- 1:36

I am done with my graceless heart

UP-UNTIL-NOW, DEVIL, DEVIL-IN- HEART (DEVIL HS

Assimilation: DEVIL becomes the classifier

It is becoming clear that the

Some color is added to the

becomes HEART CL)

representing Sarah’s heart

Sign altering: DEVIL

devil is an inner enemy

black and white as the characters

begin to take a stand

against the devils,

reducing the melancholy

atmosphere. 1:36- 1:40

So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then

restart

TONIGHT, CUT-AT-HEART, TAKE-OUT

Hold emphasis: Tonight is signed

emphatically on the beat to show the

tempo of the song

In order to “restart” Sarah is cutting the

devil out of her heart and

throwing it to the ground

The camera zooms in for

emphasis and to show the

movement of the music

1:41- 1:45

Cause I like to keep my issues strong

DREAMS CHERISH STRONG

Assimilation

Repetition of a theme

All of the characters value their “issues” or dreams, which

helps them battle their

devils

The camera angle briefly adds to the sense of the

dreams being high up,

maximizing on the

representation of signing

space

1:46- 1:49

It's always darkest before the dawn

DARK, LIGHT (in front of face)


Space level rhyme

Handshape rhyme

Looking down emphasizes the weight of the pressures that

build up before having the

confidence to take a risk for

change (looking up)

1:49- 1:53


it out, ooh woaaah





sign

Use of sign space: continued theme of

Since the verses and storyline of the song are so

complex, we decided to sign the chorus the

same way throughout the song to give a

Once again, red lighting

and shadows represent the presence of

the devil. This time, however,

there are no shadow hands

illustrating past vs. future

Movement duration &

Space level rhyme (up and down):

Indicates the beat of the music and adds

rhythm

sense of continuity.

as the devil is beginning to

lose its power.

1:54- 1:57


it out, ooh woaaah


PLEASE FUTURE


movement to the end of THINK-FOR-MYSELF, signing MYSELF twice to match the beat of

the song and movement of the

other signs

By having repetition of the chorus, we could

show that throughout their journey of self-discovery, the

characters keep returning to fact that they have a

(see above)

Movement Duration

Hold emphasis/ pausing

devil always in the shadows.

1:58- 2:01


back



Hold


the music

However, by this chorus, the

characters are feeling more confident and

the devil is getting more nervous, as

shown by the change in the way the devil creeps behind

Sarah instead of dancing cheekily.

Sarah is surprised to discover the devil behind her because she thought

she had gotten away

from it.

2:01- 2:06


SHAKE OFF DEVIL, CONNECT GOAL/FUTURE


goals



Metaphor

Sarah is more confident and is

able to shake the devil away

with much more force in this

chorus, feeling assured that she

will reach her goals and

completing the sign with ease.

This time the devil is pushed

back with much more

force.

The last sign is held to

emphasis continuity when the

camera moves to Natalie. Blurriness helps the transition.

2:07- 2:09


back

PAST-COMPARE-PRESENT Repetition of a theme

Use of sign space: allows the past

(behind the body) and present (in front of the

body) to be compared.

Alternating sign

space.

The past is being compared to the present.

The past is blurry.

2:10 shake him off PAST-FINISH Use of sign space After comparing, the

past is not worth it.

There is more color than

before, because the

characters are gradually becoming

more rebellious.

2:11- 2:15

And given half the chance would I take

any of it back

PAST-I WANT, PRESENT-I WANT , PAST-MESH- WITH-PRESENT, (C-)

MESH

Use of sign space: demonstrates the

question of if Natalie wants the present to be the same as the

past (would she forfeit her dreams to avoid

change)

Handshape rhyme

The same handshapes are used to show the past and

present mirroring each

other

Red lighting off to the side symbolizes the

constant presence of the devils.

2:16- 2:20

It's a fine romance but it's left me so undone

I-ACCEPT, UP-UNTIL-NOW, STRUGGLE, MESS-UP

Handshape rhyme: 1:CL (UP-UNTIL-NOW to

STRUGGLE)

Assimilation:

Up until this point everything has been "fine"

because we gave into our

The colors become less noticeable as the character

expresses how

STRUGGLE to MESS-UP devils because it was the easiest

thing to do, even though inside it has

been a struggle. Now it has reached a

breaking point.

she has been left “undone.”

2:21- 2:25

It's always darkest before the dawn

DREAM (compresses into a) NARROW FOCUS (before

expanding back into) DREAM

Movement duration


Repetition of a theme:

throughout the translation emulates the repetition in the

lyrics and music.

Stressed Sign (second DREAM)

The stressed sign of

explosion back into light

emulates the music.

Transition to almost

completely red lighting

2:26- 2:33

Oh woah, oh woah... We have been "dancing" with the devil inside

of us - going back and forth

Images of our characters are overlaid with images of our devils dancing,

with whether or not to listen to

it. We are beginning to

understand that the enemy exists inside of us and that we are our own devils (our

own self conscious is).

using the red lighting to

reinforce the now very

strong presence of the devils as

everyone “dances” together.

2:34- 2:37

And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I

don't

DAMN-PAST, DAMN-PRESENT Repetition

Use of sign space: referring to the past

(behind the body) and to the present (in front

of the body).

Alternating sign space.

Handshape Rhyme

Movement duration

Hold

emphasis/pausing

Building on our theme of struggling

between being stuck in the

negative past or moving to a

positive future, we use our sign

space and handshapes to

show the comparison

Color has returned now that we are

gaining confidence,

and although it is still muted it is brighter than before.

2:38- 2:42

So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of

my rope

PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE-EXPLODE, FINISH, FINISH

Handshape rhyme: 5:HS

Metaphor: The

pressure has built up and finally popped the

lid off

Movement duration

Hold emphasis/pausing

We are now “finished” with

all of the pressure that has built up inside from

being submissive

because we are "at the end of

our rope".

(see above)

2:43- 2:46

And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope

READY SUFFER, READY HOPE Alternating sign space

Body shift rhyme

Juliann is ready to step out of

conformity because even if

it brings her pain, she knows it will also bring

her hope for change.

(see above)

2:47- 2:50

It's a shot in the dark and right at my throat

DECIDE (cover eyes, peek) Movement duration

The need to make a decision

The camera focuses up

Hold emphasis/pausing

NMS

has become stronger than the fear of the

risk, even though the

results of that decision may seem scary

because they are unknown.

close on Juliann’s

expression as she “peeks” at the results of her decision

2:51- 2:55

Cause looking for heaven, found the devil

in me

SEARCH, NEW LIFE, DEVIL CONFRONT-ME

Handshape rhyme: DEVIL becomes 3:CL

Sign altering: DEVIL

Repetition of a theme: The 3:CL interacting with the signers as a representation of the

devil

Throughout the process of trying to find our real inner selves we

have been confronted by our own worst

enemy - the devil which lives

inside of us.

Some red is seeping back into the color scheme, since

the devil is being

confronted again

2:56- 2:58

Looking for heaven, found the devil in me

SEARCH, NEW LIFE, HAPPEN? Rhetorical Question Juliann is asking a question she

intends to answer, but it is

the same question Natalie and Sarah have, which is why she turns to look at

them.

At this point the characters

have all reached the

point of knowing they are having the

same battle with their devils, and

they are now a united front.

2:59- 3:03

Well what the hell FINISH, FINISH, FINISH Repetition We have now realized that our

own worst enemy is

ourselves and we are putting up with it - our

devils.

As our devils reveal

themselves, we

simultaneously sign that we

are done letting them rule our lives.

3:04- I'm gonna let it happen REBEL, CONTROL, DESTROY, Hold emphasis We are no Although

3:09 to me (honorific) ME, CONTINUE-FORWARD

Movement duration

Honorific Referencing

longer allowing the devil inside of us to control

us - we are determined to rebel against it, control it, and

finally destroy it.

dark, we finally see the natural colors (symbolizing

our transformation into confident individuals).

The bright wash-out

offers emphasis and

a transition 3:10- 3:13


it out, ooh woaaah





sign

Use of sign space: continued theme of illustrating past vs.

future

Movement duration & Space level rhyme

By this point, the devil has

been confronted and overcome,

so Juliann is very triumphant and upbeat in her signing, unlike the previous

choruses.

Once again, the red light and shadows represent the

devil’s presence,

though they are continuing to fade as the devil loses its

pull.

(up and down): Indicates the beat of the music and adds

rhythm

3:14- 3:18


it out, ooh woaaah


PLEASE FUTURE


movement to the end of Think-for-myself, signing myself twice to match the beat of

the song and movement of the

other signs

Movement Duration

Hold emphasis/ pausing

(see above) (see above)

3:19- 3:21


back



Hold

Juliann is only mildly surprised to see the devil and is not fazed.

(see above)


the music 3:22- 3:25


SHAKE OFF DEVIL, CONNECT GOAL/FUTURE


goals



Metaphor

Juliann confidently

shakes the devil away once and

for all.

This time when the devil

is pushed away, it spins

all the way out of the shot, as a reverse of

when the devil grabs Natalie and spins her into its realm earlier in the

song.

3:26- 3:27

Instrumental Music

The characters are leaving their dark world for a brighter realm.

A shot of everyone walking

through a door blends

into us looking over our

shoulders in

the new realm, showing our transition in location and

mood. 3:27- 3:31

Shake it out, shake it out,

shake it out, shake it out, ooh woaaah

FROM-NOW-ON ANALYZE-SELF, ANALYZE SELF,

(honorific) ME


Use of sign space: Representing time

Honorific Referencing

Movement duration

Hold emphasis/

pausing

For the first time we alter the

chorus, because the concept has changed slightly with our recent victory over our devils. We are now looking to

the future instead of struggling

against the past.

The characters have now

entered their "happy place" because they are living for themselves,

not letting any sort of devil (outside or inside) take control of their lives.

3:31- 3:37

Shake it out, shake it out,

shake it out, shake it out, ooh woaaah

DECIDE, DECIDE GRAB OPPORTUNITY, GRAB OPPORTUNITY,

SUCCESS

Movement rhyme

Signing matches tempo and meter of song through hold

emphasis

We are done thinking about

change and ready to snatch the opportunity

to live for ourselves.

The camera moves

between each of the

characters, now that they are all on the

same wavelength

and aware of it.

3:37- 3:43

And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your

back So shake him off,

oh whoa

DEVIL, DEVIL (HS moves to shoulders)

FLICK-OFF-DEVIL, NOT-MY-RESPONSIBILITY

Movement duration

Hold emphasis/ Pausing

Sign altering: DEVIL moves from head

completely to shoulders

Repetition of a theme: 3:CL symbolizing the

devil

Handshape rhyme: FLICK-OFF-DEVIL and

NOT-MY-RESPONSIBILITY

Having taken action and rid themselves of the devils, the characters are

no longer burdened by

feeling responsible for living their lives in response to

fear or judgment. They

will not allow any devils to overshadow them (be on

their shoulders) anymore.

The new location is drastically

brighter than the original

one, and the colors are

vibrant and natural now

that the devil is completely

gone.

3:44- 3:59

Oh woah, oh woah…

Since there were no actual words to translate, we

chose to represent the

sense of

Through a mixture of

slow motion, rich color, and

images of different types

excitement in the tempo of the music by

creating a visual rendition of

that, illustrating our sense of

excitement at being in a

happier part of our lives.

of movement, a vividly visual

match was made for the

musically vivid finish of the

song.

4:00- 4:21

Oh woah, oh woah... PAST-LEARN-INFORM-1:CL (into future)

Assimilation

This part was added as a

poetic way to end the song by encapsulating its

theme of all three of us

learning from our past and using that to

guide us in the future. Since our characters had

shared the experience of overcoming

their devils, we wanted to show

their unity by having them

produce this line together.

This was signed in two

different locations, and

those were blended together

during the final edit.

Everything was also signed

backwards, so that when it was reversed in editing the signs would be readable

but the water in the

background would be falling up instead of

down.

4:22- 4:34

Dying music

To emphasize that the devils

had been destroyed for

good, we wanted to show the remnants of their costumes falling onto the

table back in the melancholy

setting.

The items were dropped

one by one and filmed in slow motion to add to the

effect. The red coloring was to represent the shadows of the devils.

Notes:

Color Code:

Blue = Juliann signing

Green = Natalie signing

Purple = Sarah signing

Black = Either everyone or no one signing

Abbreviations:

NMS = Non-manual Signals

CL = Classifiers

HS = Handshape

Documents

“Shake It Out” by Florence + the Machine€¦ · “Shake It Out” by Florence + the Machine The story we created through our interpretation of Florence + the and a fantastical