Conventions of different music videos

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CONVENTIONS OF DIFFERENT MUSIC VIDEOS Millicent Sharratt

Transcript of Conventions of different music videos

Page 1: Conventions of different music videos

CONVENTIONS OF DIFFERENT MUSIC VIDEOS

Millicent Sharratt

Page 2: Conventions of different music videos

Introduction There are different genres of music as we may or may not have already have known. Different genres possess a certain style, whether it be sound or star image. There for it is inevitable that when music videos began to gain popularity different genres started to adopt certain styles, following a certain brief when creating a music video. Certain genres will utilize certain conventions when creating music videos. The star will be presented in a certain way, playing different instruments. A different narrative and performance will also be used by different genres of music. In terms of mise en scene, lighting, setting, camera work, editing is crucial for a certain genre in looking a certain way The variety of genres appeal to certain niche audiences. Conventions help to appeal to audiences.

Keaton Henson

Chris Brown

Lana Del Rey

Here are some stills from 3 very

different artists music videos.

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GENRE: ROCK Rock music video conventions can vary from different artists, depending on the sound and mood of the rock track. In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, rock music videos usually included a performance base video. For example in Guns ‘n’ roses music video paradise city, the music video includes shots of the band playing at live shows. Close ups of the band members are used to present their star image and certain style. At the time the Guns ‘n’ roses were very famous for their star image rock star persona. The bands star image is sold through the music videos. Shots of the crowd are also used in rock performance based videos to present a passionate feeling towards the audience. The audience may feel more emotionally attached to the band if they include how passionate the band’s fans are at the time of their performance. In terms of mise en scene the band members are presented wearing glamorous rock style outfits to show their dedication to their music and wealth. Close camera shots are used to portray the band members individual styles, for example close up shots are used to present the band member slash’s hat, a significant style to the band member. When considering the style of editing, rock music videos are usually edited at a fast pace to rise and create tension when the music begins to increase in volume. For example, A system of a down’s music video for their single chop suey, includes fast pace editing techniques, cutting from close up shots to high shots of the band. The music video has also been edited by altering the lighting and colour. The video presents high contrasts of dark and bright colours to create an intense and intimidating appearance. Again the video is performance based and includes the bands audience in the music video, showing the passionate fans as they worship the band. As for mis en scene, the band are dressed in layed back clothing, contrasting to Guns ‘n’ roses, A System of a down a far more relaxed, however the band are more experimental with body modifactions. A close up shot is also used to present the body modifications of the band members. This is a typical convention of a rock band music video, as it gives the band and video more character and edge.

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A System of a Down. Chop Sueyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSvFpBOe8eY

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GENRE: RnB/Hip Hop With in Hip Hop/RnB music video there are a lot of low angle shots to present the artists superiority, and power over their audience. The low angle gives them the power, because they look down upon their audience. The close upshots gives them status because it implies that they are important enough to have the whole frame to themselves. In hip hop music videos the artists are also shown wearing extravagant amounts of jewelry and expensive clothing. Many close up shots and mid shots are used to present the artists wealth and superiority. Hip Hop music videos are more likely to include product placement of fashion items, and include intertextuality, due to the target audience of the genre its self including young teenage male and females who aspire to be like the artist shown in the music video.

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The male gaze is a concept coined by feminist film critique Laura Mulvey. It refers to the way visual arts are structured around a masculine view. This is most likely to be proven with in hip ho and RnB music videos. If the artist is male, it is most likely that the male artists is going to be surrounded by beautiful women. Women are often seen as an object which makes the male artists seem superior as they are surrounded by women. Long shots are used to present this image of the male gaze. Like rock music videos, Hip Hop music videos include mostly performance based shots. However performance is usually combined and sandwiched with narrative. Through the culture of hip hop, the narrative is usually based on crime and deviant behavior, including drugs, and other themes such as sexual behavior. In hip hop and rnb music videos there is usually a link between the music and lyrics. In most, it is as simple as showing an object they are referring to. This is because narrative is not a huge think in hip hop videos, so the need for these objects to appear links in the video to the song. This needs to happen because otherwise the video will seem irrelevant. Most hip hop videos include mass amounts of fans dancing along with the artist performing. Ignition by R. Kely presents this type of performance based video.

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GENRE: POPPop music includes music with in the charts. The types of artist that produce pop music usually have a wider budget and therefore have more money to spend on creating a music video. Due to their wide range of target audience. Pop music videos are stereotypically associated with people in their teens, as many people in their youth enjoy partying and dancing, which is initially what pop music is for. A lot of imagery is created based on sex or partying as this is stereotypically what teenagers of todays contemporary society enjoy. As for typical conventions, pop music videos are mixed with narrative and performance. The artist is usually featured in the narrative and the performance side to the music video, as the music video is promoting the artist, and gaining a certain star image to sell. Close up shots of the artists to present their superiority and fame. The audience is then focused on the artist themselves, as they are usually young and attractive this makes the younger target audience more attracted to the music video. Establishing shots are used with in pop music videos to present the location. In Katy Perry’s California Girls it is apparent that she is in a dream like candy cane fantasy land. At the time of California Girls release, Katy Perry’s star image was classic pop princess. The music video helps to implement the certain style that the artist wants to sell to their audience. In terms of mise en scene, Katy Perry is dressed in a certain way to reflect her current star image.

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Genre: Indie It is very common in the indie/rock genre for a music video to be solely live performance based, due to the genre its self was never about success but more about the music and the passion of the artist who perform and play. A modern twist is now often put on this with a narrative included in-between to break up the flow of the music video. Indie music videos are often based on social realism subjects, and include a mostly narrative video structure. I have decided that I will be creating a music video to an indie song, and I am planning on basing my music video on a social realist subject. Maximo Park’s video for their song Midnight on the Hill is a narrative based music video, which focuses on relationships and friendships. Indie music videos follow a story line and the lyrics are usually linked with the narrative of the video. In terms of mise en scene, people who feature in indie music videos are similar to the target audience. Indie music videos are usually based on a low budget, the main settings of the video are in the studios, cities and parks . These are places which reflect social realist subjects, and can create a mysterious atmosphere. The settings are kept simple because it is typical of indie rock music videos to focus more on the track itself.