The document discusses 7 common motifs found in music videos: 1) Dancing, where the video features rhythmic movement to match the song; 2) Costume, which can be used to convey meaning but may also lead to objectification; 3) Body Fragmentation, using close-ups of body parts to draw attention and potentially sexuality; 4) Horror, which can be controversial due to extreme violence but may convey meaning; 5) Intertextuality, recognizing other artists through features or references; 6) Ritualism, depicting repetitive group routines; and 7) Impossible Scenes, using special effects and animation to show unrealistic events.

1. 7 Motifs
Of Music Videos

2. Motif 1 - Dancing
Dance is a type of art that involves movement of
the body with music. Within Dance videos this is
the most common motif found. A music video
involves rhythmic sounds which allows people to
move to the music. It matches the beat of the song
and allows people to visually pay attention to the
video. In addition, it can advocate sexual
objectification by their style of dancing e.g.
Excotic dancing. To add, dance moves have been
idolised within music videos. Music videos that
exhibit new unseen dance moves creates a higher
chance of people remembering it as they attempt
to reenact the moves themselves.
Michael Jackson - Thriller

3. Motif 2 - Costume
Costume is an important and quite controversial
motif in a music video. Costume is utilized to give
a better indication to what the music video
involves. For example common fashion trends
among people today can connote the idea that the
video is going to be relative to our lives. However,
if people in the video where to dress up in robes, it
would convey the idea of fantasy. Furthermore,
music videos can lead to sexual objectification of
women through what they wear in the video.
Short, revealing clothing was seen as quite
controversial a long time ago; but now it is quite
common in modern day music videos.
Schoolboy Q - Man of the year

4. Motif 3 - Body Fragmentation
Body fragmentation is used in music videos as
a theory of scopophilia. The artist deliberately
utilizes close up shots in order to grab the
attention of the viewer. In addition, it can also
be linked with sexuality as the artist
emphasises specific aspects of the human
body. In particular in many dance videos today
such as Storm Queen look right through
focuses on the feet to show the complicity of
different dance steps. In addition, the tiger
head is viewed with a close up to emphasise
the surrealism of the shot – which will attract
the audience into watching.

5. Motif 4 - Horror
This motif puts across a lot of controversy due
to the extreme measures it takes to implement
violence and references to hell with various
locations. Furthermore, hell references can
further be offensive to certain religions. Within
music videos dancing is usually demoniac with
the gestures they use to portray that they are in
other world (evil). Such as in Jay-Z and Kanye
West niggas in Paris constant reference to
triangles are controversial today in society. It
is a supposable symbol of the Satanic group
illuminati which conveys alternative methods
of success.

6. Motif 5 - Intertextuality
Intertextuality within a music video is
when art recognises art. For example,
another artist could appear in someone
else’s music video. This exhibits how it
recognises other artists within the music
industry. Moreover, a music video
understanding that it is not reality can
also be intertextuality. In Nicki Minaj new
music video anaconda, another artist
‘Drake’ appears within the video, which
connotes this intertextuality of how an
artist is recognized within another piece of
work.

7. Motif 6 - Ritualism
Ritualism is very common in modern music
videos. These rituals can include parties or
coming together in various locations and
demoniac gestures. These types of motifs link
in with others and can be seen across loads of
other music videos in modern music. An
example of this is shown in Madonna – like a
prayer ritualism is demonstrated with the
back up dancers performing a repetitive
routine in a church environment.

8. Motif 7 - Impossible scenes
This motif advocates a fantasy aspect
within music videos. These things
include fast and slow motion, special
effects and animation. This motif can
only be customized by computer
software. An example of this is the
Red Hot Chilli Peppers. In one of
there music videos they create anime
characters of themselves performing
impossible feats such as boarding
down the side of a bridge.