Human Zoo’s collaboration with Will Wood makes quick work mocking the Hades of capitalist dogma with satirical lyrics and a smashing music video.
Human Zoo, an avant-garde band from Cranford, New Jersey, has released a music video for their single, “Wealth and Hellness”. It features vocals from the incomparable Will Wood, an artist who also hails from Jersey and whose discography contains multitudes. The band’s video is a biting satire of the grim capitalist systems in place in the United States and elsewhere. How does Human Zoo do in making mock of this economic hell we’re in? Here’s what we think about it!
“Wealth and Hellness” in a nutshell
The video, directed by Will Wood, opens with a tropical scene wherein affluent corporate bigwigs (played by Human Zoo) cruise down a busy road. They are coasting down the lane in what we see as a fancy car. Shots intersperse with these same figures in what we can presume to be a plane’s first-class section. Clearly, we are to assume these characters are exceptionally well-off.
The scene then shifts to a brainwashing session, which permeates the majority of the rest of the video. One character who is likely working for the others is initiated into the upper echelons of the elites. This is done via this character force-fed propaganda and receiving a lobotomy. Unknown people in hazmat suits also literally brainwash this character. It appears to be quite a fitting remark by Human Zoo about how capitalism seriously affects the minds of many.
Furthermore, at points, we see fascist-type imagery in the costuming and set, which further reinforces the fundamentals set forth that the economic structure is horrible. Truly, Will’s artistic vision is gripping and shines a grim light upon the systems the video sets out to satirize. In an Instagram AMA with Human Zoo, Will Wood states that armbands with blue checkmarks (a la Twitter, now X) were meant to be in the video. Unfortunately, the armbands didn’t arrive in time to shoot it. Still, this would have made a really good statement on how social media consumption plays into the corporate monster of capitalism.
Human Zoo’s use of color in “Wealth and Hellness”
Even though that blue band didn’t get to see usage, other colors feature quite prominently in the lighting of the video by Human Zoo. There are a lot of reds and rose hues, as since there’s a lobotomy there features some gore. Other colors shine almost like psychedelia in the video over some different scenes, an almost certain nod to Will Wood’s directorial style in his own visual works. All in all, the lighting and wardrobe pull the visuals together in a way that truly sparkles.
Our take on Human Zoo’s “Wealth & Hellness”
In the end, the music video by Human Zoo is stunning, captivating, and something we couldn’t look away from if we tried. Much like A Clockwork Orange, we have been subjected to the Ludovico Method. However, we adore what we have seen and think you should give it a watch!
You can find Human Zoo’s single, “Wealth and Hellness ft. Will Wood”, on Spotify.
