The document discusses different styles and elements that are commonly found in music videos. It identifies three main styles: performance, narrative, and conceptual. Performance-based videos primarily feature live performances of the artist. Narrative videos tell a story, either related to or suggested by the song's lyrics. Conceptual videos are more thematically or symbolically focused, with the narrative or performance not being dominant. The document provides examples of elements often contained within each style, such as close-ups and unusual backdrops for performance videos, and discussing common narrative tropes. It also notes technical and stylistic qualities like fast pacing, symbolism, and experimental cinematography in conceptual videos.

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