
The two chosen scenes, the first at 30 seconds and the second at 4 minutes and 50 seconds, in “Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay are key moments in the story.  Viewing them together or separate doesn’t distort the message conveyed.  Even though visual effects play the most abundant part in defining the meaning, lyrics and sound are also a significant part of the bigger picture.  Within the visual effects alone, there are symbolisms in the sky, speaker, distance, actions, etcetera.  There are very few lyrics in the selected scenes.  However, they are still important for their own individual reasons, depending on the scene.  For sounds, timing and certain pieces that are playing can create symbols within the mind.  This combination of effects in the two scenes creates a message that cultivates curiosity and adventure in the viewer.  The connection between the lyrics, sound and visual effects illustrates the idea that curiosity promotes the expansion of knowledge. 

The first discovery, thirty seconds into the video, uses symbolism and visual effects to draw the viewer in. The first-person camera angle and the semi-realistic graphics create an environment that creates a feeling of realism and participation.  By beginning the adventure, the music, and the daytime at the same moment one is given the indication; beginnings are everywhere.  When the hidden Beats Pill speaker is discovered, the camera has a close-up view of the monkey that is holding this foreign object: which later also brings the other monkeys into view.  This closeness captures the change in emotion that the group of monkeys’ experience when they first hear the music’s sounds. This closeness, or intimacy, is also achieved by an objective point of view shot, which places the viewer in this small group of apes and gives one the illusion of participating in their adventure.  It shows just enough of the background to see that it is either dawn or dusk.  Not much later, it becomes apparent dawn was the earlier time when the blue sky starts creeping out.  At this point, the monkeys are content with their everyday lifestyle, and live day to day without expanding their knowledge.  This discovery incited their curiosity, and foreshadowing of their adventures to come.

In the last scene, it is the ending of the adventure, the day, and the music video.  This is portrayed from the long-shot camera angle.  Taking advantage of the beautiful scenery and sunset to create a calming effect.  The lessened excitement creates a sense of reflection of what has happened and fantasizing of what is to come.  The buildings in the distance are representations of the adventures awaiting, and how one discovery can open the mind to the previously unseen possibilities.  Although so many endings are occurring at once, this one adventure left the monkey reaching up to the sky.  This is suggesting that the ending is only the beginning.  However, rather than focusing on the new structures that could also be filled with adventures, the monkey reaches for the limitless sky.  By having this insinuation of things to come, it is showing how curiosity leads one to desire more knowledge. 

The sounds and lyrics in these two scenes were demonstrations of emotions throughout this adventure.  In the first scene, the instrumentals are the first piece of music to start.  The instruments are representing the excitement felt in the beginning of an adventure by having a rapid paced beat.  This is shortly followed by lyrics that are indecipherable and not in their official lyrics.  The unclear lyrics represent the uncertainty of what this new discovery will bring.  Whereas in the ending scene, the sound and lyrics are in opposite positions.  There are no instrumentals playing in the background.  This lowers the excitement level and forewords of the impending end.  With the clearly defined lyrics, it can be looked back upon as a fun time, which is demonstrated in the lyric “woohoo”.  The lack of sounds other than the lyrics shows how the adventure is passed.  With these scenes, the lyrics and sounds enhance the previously stated meaning by raising the listener’s excitement in the beginning, then leaving them with a desire for more adventure at the end.  

In both chosen scenes, there are multiple connections through what seem to be opposite or even unrelated details. For the last scene after the monkey has climbed up the tree, by putting his hand up to the sky he is displaying his desire to go and seek his next adventure.  This is connected to the first discovery scene through similar situations.  In both incidences, the monkey is discovering a new adventure.  They are during the same adventure yet beginning two different ones instead.  The positioning of the camera is opposite but gives just as much information as the other.  However different they may be, each scene gives off an atmosphere of calmness.  At first, there was a content calmness with living day to day lives.  In the end, when the monkey sits still and the beautiful surroundings are in full view there is the calmness brought by a period of rest.  Dawn and dusk are at a different time, but look similar.  The symbol represents a new beginning is also parallel.  These things bring together the two scenes to mean; no matter where you are this is not the end, this is the beginning.  It is never too late to be curious and futher your knowledge in whatever you desire.

As important scenes, in Coldplay’s “Adventure of a Lifetime”, the first and second chosen could provide connotation with or without each other.  To find this meaning, the visual effects, lyrics, and sound each are each necessary.  There are many visual effects, that are a but a small piece of the larger picture.  The lyrics, even when unclear, have more than the one implication of the dictionary’s definition to create symbols.  The sound is the way to draw one into the message with timing or lack of a certain component.  All together they create a beautiful embodiment of the meaning in “Adventure of a Lifetime”.  Enticing the viewer to see curiosity as a path that leads to the development of knowledge.
