This document discusses common motifs found in music videos. It identifies fragmentation of the body, horror themes, intertextuality, ritual celebrations, film references, cross-cutting between narrative and concerts, and other techniques like slow motion or breaks for the artist to sing as popular motifs. Fragmentation draws attention to body parts while horror can be controversial but bring publicity. Intertextuality recognizes art referring to itself through mirrors or other videos. Ritual celebrations typically show happy black artists and demonic white artists partying. Some music videos include film clips when the song appeared in a movie. Cross-cutting mixes narrative with concert footage.

1. Common Motifs Within Music
Videos

2. Fragmentation of the body
Fragmentation of the body is a
common motif within music videos.
Fragmentation of the body is when:
• The body obscured by objects
• Close ups of the mouth, eyes, body
etc.
Fragmentation of the body is used to
draw the audiences attention to one
particular part of the artist.
The image to the left is an example of fragmentation of
the body, it shows a close up of the artists lips. This image
is a print screen of the music video for Dizzee Rascal – ‘I
Luv You’.

3. Horror
This image is a print screen of
Eminem & Lil Wayne – ‘Drop The
World’. This image shows the
artist Eminem standing on a
platform with a post apocalyptic
city as a background.
Horror is another common motif
within music videos. A lot of music
videos have aspects of horror in
them such as:
• Extreme violence
• Hell
• War
• Satan or Monsters.
Horror aspects are used as they
can be seen as controversial, they
could also upset certain religion
which will bring publicity to the
song.

4. Intertextuality
This is a print screen of
Beyoncé – ‘Best Thing You
Never Had’. Beyoncé is using
Intertextuality in this music
video as she is looking at
herself in the mirror.
Intertextuality is also common
within music videos. Intertextuality is
basically art recognising itself as art,
examples of Intertextuality are:
• Shots of cameras/sets/directors
etc.
• The musician looking at
him/herself sing
• Reflections (Mirrors, glass, water)
• References to other music videos

5. Ritual Celebration
Ritual Celebrations often
take part in music videos as
well. Ritual celebrations are
things such as parties. In
music videos with ritual
celebrations the black artists
are usually happy where as
white artists are usually
demonic.
This is Pitball ft. Neyo – Give me Everything. This video features
party scenes as this print screen shows. This is an example of
ritual celebration within music videos. This video also fits
another aspect of ritual celebration as the black artist (Neyo) is
happy, however the water artist (Pitball) is not demonic.

6. Film Reference
Some songs are
featured in films, some
of these songs which are
featured in a film may
use clips from the film
in/as their music video.
This print screen is the opening of the music video ‘ We
Own It’ by 2 Chains & Wiz Khalifa. This song was featured
in the film fast and furious 6 and this is a clip from the
film.

7. Cross Cutting From Narrative to
Concert
A lot of music videos also cross cut
between the narrative of the song and
concerts performed by the artist(s).
These are print screens from the music video ‘Don’t
You Worry Child’ by Swedish House Mafia. The
narrative is about the band splitting up. The print
screen on the top is of the narrative, the print
screen on the bottom is a cross cut to a concert
which the band performed; which is also in the
music video.

8. Other Common Motifs
These print screens show a break in the narrative
for the artist to sing. This song is ‘All of The Lights’
by Kanye West, Rhianna & Kid Cudi. The image on
the left is a print screen of the narrative and the
print screen on the right is a break from the
narrative to show Kanye West rapping.
There are some other
common Motifs within
music videos, they are:
• Shots into bright
lights/sun/fire.
• Fast/Slow motion
• Special Effects
• Animation
• Breaks in the narrative
for the artist to sing
• Mythical & Mysterious
Places