An introduction to narrative, concept and performance

3. ◦ Promotes a single and, normally, an album
◦ Promotes the artist or band
◦ Creates, adapts or feeds into a ‘star image’
◦ Entertains the audience
◦ Sets the ‘meanings’ of a song by the use of
images

4.  In 3- 5 minutes a typical music video combines a
mix of live performance, narrative, and other visual
imagery including computer graphics and
animation.
 It does this to advertise the band/artist and song

5.  Often contains a number of different elements:
◦ Performance
◦ Narrative
◦ Concept:
 Thematic
 Symbolic
 Idea based

6.  Many music videos include performance of the artists
as part of the video
 It was from clips of performances that music videos
developed
 Brainstorm all the things that you would expect to see
in a music video that was based around a band or
artist’s performance:
 Does this vary depending on the genre of music?

7.  Often contain shots of the artists performing
 Can be a live stage performance, with shots of
artists and audience
 Can be the artists in “real life” situations eg
warming up, talking, fooling around
 Often includes lots of close ups of the artist
 There can be a particular visual style that goes
with the artist (a motif) eg particular clothing,
actions, props, type of images.
 Often the artist can appear to perform in an
unusual place - all lip-synched eg a field, a
rooftop

8.  Bon Jovi – You give love a bad name
 As you watch this video look for (and make notes)
these things. Don’t’ forget to look at the micro
elements (camera, sound, editing and MES)

9.  Often the video tells a story either that features in the
lyrics or is suggested in the lyrics eg girl dumps boy
 This narrative can be like a Mini film, with a beginning,
middle and end
 Brainstorm what you would expect to see in
“narrative” type videos…what are some common
storylines in these?

10.  Because it is only 3-4 minutes it can be
◦ very fast paced, lots of shots and cuts
◦ use inter-textuality with films, tv and other videos
◦ mimic other film and tv genre eg horror or sci fi
◦ sometimes the story can contradict what is seen
for effect
◦ sometimes the artist is a part of the story, or an
observer or completely separate

11. Taylor Swift – You belong with me
How typical ‘narrative’ is this video
How have micro element been used (camera, sound,
editing, MES)

12.  Thematic
 Symbolic
 Idea based
Narrative or performance is not the most
dominate aspect.

13.  There are lots of common themes in music videos
 Depends on the genre of music
 Eg Heavy metal bands go for perfomance dominated
clips
Rap has lots of “street” images
dance routines are common for many female artist
performances

14.  Use of lots of symbols to build up meaning eg
graveyard…death
 Lots of use of montage -lots of images to create
meaning sometimes often contradictory
 Lighting often used to suggest mood
 Fast paced - often only a few seconds per shot to build
up meanings

15.  Visually stylish – ‘artistic’ mise-en-scene dominates
 Experimental use of camera/editing
 Fast pace
 Conspicuous lighting and cinematography
 Often break the rules of continuity editing

16. In your Arms – Kina Grannis
Red Hot Chili Pepper – Outside
White Knuckles - OK Go
Sophie - Goodshirt
Walkie Talkie Man – Stereograms
Her Morning Elegance – Oren Lavie
Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel
Once in a Lifetime – Talking Head

17.  Visually stylish – ‘artistic’ mise-en-scene
 Cutting related to the rhythm of the music
 Intercutting between performance and images or
story
 Experimental use of camera/editing (hand held
camera, distortion of colours)
 Often break the rules of continuity editing. Can use
lots of jump cuts
 Lots of use of digital effects

18.  Task
 Create a post for your blog which outlines and
demonstrates your understanding of the music
video styles discussed today. Find your own
examples to illustrate the points that you make.
 Engage in analysis of the micro elements, try to
make links to Goodwin and representation.
 Discuss what are the pros and cons of each style
 Explain what your favourite style is and why