Deborah Holdstein identifies three qualities of stars in music videos: 1) They are seen as fantasies or prophets, 2) political commentators or narrators, and 3) mediators of social conflict. The document discusses several music videos and how the stars portray these qualities. Michael Jackson in "Beat It" is both a fantasy figure and mediator of social conflict. Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" video revives the traditional film musical genre through Egyptian themes. Beyoncé in "If I Was a Boy" narrates and comments on relationship issues as a hypothetical male character.

1. Deborah Holdstein’s
Music Video theory
By Rachel Thompson

2. Deborah Holdstein says there are “3 Striking
Qualities” of a star in Music videos
Which are as followed…
• The star is seen as a fantasy or prophet
• The star is seen as a political commentator or narrator
• The star is seen as a mediator /point of resolution for social conflict.
Music videos seem to divide in to two categories
• Those with explicit political themes
• Those which revive traditional film musicals

3. Fantasy Music video’s
• Fantasy videos are based entirely on performance. The star is then put in an
atmosphere with a surrealistic series of images and locations.
• Videos make the artist more accessible to the fans due to the fact that when
performing they can bring and wear the things they did in the music video
• where as in the past the artist portrayal was based entirely on imagination,
the media or how they se them at the concert.

4. Michael Jackson-‘Beat it’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0
• In the music video ‘Beat It’ Michael Jackson can be seen as both a ‘fantasy’ and as
a ‘mediator of social conflict’
• The song addresses social class and racism – “They told him, "Don't you ever
come around here, Don't wanna see your face. You better disappear.“ –These
lyrics and his behaviour shows that he is trying to resolve an issue (being a
mediator)
• However he is still being portrayed as a surreal fantasy figure because even
though he is resolving a serious issue he seems quiet detached. When he stops to
start dancing with all the actors- this is not how a fight is usually resolved

5. Michael Jackson-’Beat It’ Continued…
• Michael Jackson can also be seen as a political commentator when
we see him at the start of the song in his apartment, lying on his bed
but somehow he knows that there will be trouble
• The traditional U.S film musical ; WEST SIDE STORY is revisited, Both
gang leaders line up against each other, and proceed to fight

6. Katy Perry- Dark Horse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSOMA3QBU0
• Cinematic music video, with shots of pyramids, Egyptian throwns,
Egyptian queens etc.
• referring to Holdsteins theory that music videos ‘revive the
traditional U.S. film musical, Katy Pert has been inspired by the
atmosphere of the ‘ancient Egyptians, Tutankhamun and so on.

7. Duran Duran- ‘Hungry like a wolf’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOg5VxrRTi0
• This Video’s pace and editing are strikingly like that of TV commercials. As
Holdstein would state. “It is the selling of both product and image”, in this
case, the ‘star’.
• Another Cinematic music video, with shots of the jungle, rivers, elephants,
cafes and market places- reinforcing traditional U.S. film musicals-
atmosphere inspired by ‘Indiana Jones and the raiders of the lost arch’

8. Duran Duran- ‘Hungry like a wolf’ continued..
• Fantasy video- As Holdstein suggests the mythical and exotic
location is relevant here, with the female character being the
desirable prize of the chase.
• Like Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ crosscutting occurs with the
other band members in the meantime, hunting for the lead
singers.

9. Beyoncé-’If I were a boy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWpsOqh8q0M
• In this music video Beyoncé could be seen as a narrator who takes us through how life would
be like if she was a boy, they lyrics are not even really needed to explain this to us, the
storyline is clear enough.
• She could also be seen as a mediator addressing a social issue- Relationship problems is a
social issue, However the solution she is giving to us is hypothetical – which makes her a
fantasy character at the start of the music video- because the solution she is giving us is
surreal