Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Genetic Engineering

What this video is

Released in February 1983, 'Genetic Engineering' arrived at a pivotal moment: OMD were transitioning from the gothic synth-pop grandeur of Architecture & Morality (1981) into the radically experimental Dazzle Ships LP. The single's subject matter — a deliberately optimistic engagement with biotechnology at a time of widespread public anxiety about genetic science — was misread by audiences and broadcasters as a…

Why it matters

This video is a primary artefact of the 1983 British synth-pop promo canon, produced at the precise moment when the music video became the dominant commercial format for UK electronic acts targeting both domestic chart exposure (Top of the Pops, The Tube) and the nascent US MTV market. It…

The director

Steve Barron (born 4 May 1956, Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish-British filmmaker who began his career as a camera assistant on major productions including A Bridge Too Far (1977), Superman (1978), and The Duellists (1977). He co-founded production company…