Other Students Music Video

Music Video 'Rivers Kankouran'

Genre - The genre of the band and the song that is being played over the video is alternative pop, however the genre of the video which has been created is in my opinion a drama/romance video. As it features a very serious storyline about love and a couple.

Narrative - The storyline of the video shows a couple when they were together and also currently when they are both separated and dealing with the fact they are no longer together. The themes in this video are ones of Love and Heartbreak, these themes are very typical of music videos as most songs are written about these themes. TODOROV's 5 stages is not shown in this video due to the discontinuous editing used. The recognisable character in this video are that of a female and a male, these are the main characters in the video and are typical of this type of theme. The lyrics relate to what is shown in the video a lot, the title of the song is 'Rivers' and rivers, water and other things along these lines are shown throughout the video. 

Representation - There are no obviously issue shown using representation in this video, however both genders of male and female are represented, one stereotypically and the other not so much. The female gender is shown to be stereotypical as the female character is seen to be very upset and dealing with the heartbreak very badly. However, men do experience heartbreak, but are seen to hide their true feeling to look more manly, however the male in this video is seen to be visibly upset and having trouble dealing with it also, this is not stereotypical. 

Visual Codes - The video is set near a river, on a beach and in and around a very coastal area, this is effective as it links in with the lyrics and overall theme of the song. The beach is seen to be a place where people go to get peace and be reflective, which is what is happening with both the characters in this video. The colours used in this video are very effective and show the audience a lot about the feelings of the characters in the video. When you see footage of the couple when they are in a relationship, the footage is very bright and has very high contrast, however when you see footage of the two character on their own the footage is very dull and colourless, both of these effects connote that the couple are happier together.

Technical  Codes - The camera angles used in this video help the audience understand how the characters are feeling, the close ups at the beginning of the video show the audience that the couple were very close and romantic, as the close ups are from when they where together and show the male giving the female a necklace. There are many close ups used throughout to show the audience what is happening and how it effectives the character. However few High or Low angle shots are used, the editing is very fast pace at points which shows how the heartbreak the character are going through it very whirlwind and painful. The editing is very effective in this video which makes up for the lack of different camera angles. 

Audience - The audience which would watch this audience would probably be mainly female, however some males may find it appealing due to the fact there lead role is equal between the male and the female. However the age that this video would appeal to is most likely 16+ because it had mature themes of love and romance which only people of that age are likely to relate to or understand. 

What worked - I think the editing of this video worked really well as it showed the audience very clearly what was going on in the video and also helped convey the feelings of the two character well, you know that, despite the video showing clips from the past and current time, that the couple are no longer together and that the old clips are used to show what they used to have, putting more empathises on the fact they no longer have it. 

What didn't work - I think there couple have been a few more type of camera angle, and also some written iconography could have been used to add to the quality of the final video. Apart from that I thought this video was of very good quality.

The Purpose of a Music Video

What is the purpose of a Music Video?

- A music video is typically a short film which involve the song that it is accompanying and also video of the artist or typically a story line which links to the artists or the song.

- Music videos are mainly used as a promotional tool to help sell the artist, the song or the album that the song has come off of.

- Music videos are also used to sell product, which either link to the artist or have been paid by a company to feature to help sell a product. An artist which regularly featured a great deal of 'Product Placement' in their music videos is Will.I.Am

- Music videos sometimes features clips from a film, this is if the song features in the film, this can help promote either the film or the song depending on how famous the artist if or how big the film is.

- Some artists use music videos to clear up rumours about their personal lives but also use them to publicise themselves and make themselves more well known by creating rumours and controversy.

- Music video are used as a form of communications by some artists to reach out to their fans and make them feel closer to the artist. Some artists have very large and close followings of fans so they

use music videos to make their fans feel featured and part of their lives.

- Music videos are also used to help the audience remember the song which features, music videos give the audience visuals to match the song with, helping them remember it.

Music Video History

Textual Analysis - John Mayer

John Mayer - Half of My Heart 

Genre - The genre of the piece of music and the artist who has created the piece of music is acoustic pop rock. However the genre of the video the music is played with is a drama, the storyline featured in the video is one which the viewer would expect to see in a soap or in a drama film. The video features themes of love, heartbreak and family. Considering the genre something like a wedding is expected and also the fact that there was something wrong with the wedding. However an unexpected element of the video is the fact that the grooms location is actually known by the end of the video and not just left to never be solved. 

Narrative - the main storyline of the video is the fact that there is a wedding about to happen between a man and a woman, however the man doesn't show up to the wedding, leaving the bride and the rest of the family to clean up the wedding and locate the groom, while the groom is sat in a bar with a guitar singing about why he didn't turn up. The main themes of the video are Love, Family, Heartbreak and Relationships. TODOROV's 5 stages is seen in this video, 4 stages are seen in this video, the stages being equilibrium, disruption, recognition and attempted repair. The only main recognisable character is the artist who is playing the groom. The lyrics of the song link in well to the fact he is walking away from love for example 'I can't keep loving you, with half of my heart'.

Representation  - Men are shown very stereotypically in this video, for example, the fact that the man is the one that has walked away re-enforces the stereotype that men are bad at handling their feelings and run away from issues instead of confronting them. Also the male protagonist of the video is shown to have a lot of power as all he does for most of the video is sit in a bar but he has managed to cause a large amount of damage to peoples days and lives. The artist is constructed as being someone who has trouble with their love life, which links back to their actual personal life in the stop light, as John Mayer is well known for having a lot of and trouble with women. 

Visual Codes - The video is set partly in a church, which has connotations of Love, and also commitment, for some people this can be very comforting, but for others this can be very scary, both of there feelings are shown in this video. The other place the video is set is in a Bar, this is a stereotypical setting in music videos as somewhere someone would go when they are having troubles or want an escape from what is going on in their life, which is what John Mayer is going in the video. There are no obvious uses of block colour, but the lighting is used effectively, in the church it is very bright and well light, showing connotations of happiness however in the bar it is very very dark and dull, showing connotations of sadness and confusion. 

Technical Codes - The camera angles used on the male in the video show how he has a lot of power but is also feeling very vulnerable and confused, this is because a range of shots are used on him, such as high and low angles through out, this connotes a sense of confusion across to the viewer. The male is also shot from a distance many times throughout the video, showing how he is confused and also how he feels pressure and overwhelmed as to the viewer, the camera angle makes it seem like he is being watched or followed. The cuts in the video are going at a steady pace, not too fast or too slow, showing how despite the terrible situation that is going on, it may not be a shock or disaster to some people present, especially the groom. 

Audience - The audience of this video could be either males or females as the video doesn't contain anything that swings toward any particular gender, however the video is probably best suited to be watched by people over the age of 16 the video and the song both contain strong themes about love and heartbreak which you probably need experience in either area to full relate to or understand. 

 

Textual Analysis - Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down

Genre - The genre of the piece of music and the artist who has created the piece of music is alternative indie rock. However the genre of the video the music is played with is a drama, the storyline featured in the video is one which the viewer would expect to see in a soap or in a drama film. The video features mature themes of abuse and violence which you would expect to see in a drama show which is on late at night. Considering the genre the things that happen in this video are expected.
 

Narrative - the main storyline of the video is the fact that there is a woman, how seems to be homeless and a prostitute who has no control over her life and is just being pushed around by various men in the video.   The main themes of the video are Love, Relationships and Sex. TODOROV's 5 stages is seen in this video, 3 stages are seen in this video, the stages being equilibrium, disruption, recognition. There are only two main characters in this video who you can establish a role for, one of which is the woman who is the prostitute and the other is the man who seems to be following her everywhere she goes and who at one point picked her up and put her in a car.

Representation  - Men are shown very stereotypically in this video, for example, the fact that the main male in this video is using the woman as a possession. Also the males in the video are shown to have a lot of power as throughout the video they are doing things like coming out of bars and socialising and not doing anything constructive with their lives, indirectly implying that woman have to do the important things in life and men can just go off and have fun. The artists in the band aren't featured in the video and the song they are singing isn't about their lives, it sounds like they are singing about peoples lives they have seen or things in everyday life they have observed.

 

Visual Codes - The video is set mainly in what seems to be a council estate which can have connotations of a lack of money or a well established secure life, the setting is mainly naturalistic, rather than having the video set in a studio, this gives the audience an idea of what the band are like.  The other place the video is set is in a bedroom, this links to the fact the girl sleeps around and because for a lot of people a bedroom means security, he fact she is in one could mean she is searching for security. The lighting is used effectively, throughout the video everything has very dull and naturalistic lighting, however the shots in the bedroom are all light with a very warm, glowing light which helps back up the fact the woman finds security in the bedroom.

Technical Codes - The camera angles used on the males in the video show how they have a lot of power and don't have many issues in their lives. The woman has many close ups of her throughout the video, this helps give the audience a better idea and chance to see how she is feeling by being able to see her facial expressions closer. The cuts in this video at some points, especially during the chorus are made to fit the beat and tempo of the song, this shows how the song flows but also the video uses the beat of the song to show the different pace that the woman's life takes.

Audience - The audience of this video could be either males or females as the video doesn't contain anything that swings toward any particular gender, however the video is probably best suited to be watched by people over the age of 18, maybe even 21 as there are many mature themes throughout. The obvious mature theme is the fact the woman is a prostitute and is handled violently throughout the video, but also what seems to be a drug deal happens at one point.  

 

This analysis will help me when it comes to making and constructing my music video as it has given me an in-depth insight into  the conventions of a music video and how it is individually structured and also targeted at the audience. This analysis breaks down every aspect of the music video and allows me to see how the genre of the music video effects what is done in each area.

Textual Analysis - Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara - I Was A Fool

Genre - The genre of the piece of music and the band that are singing it is Indie Pop, however the genre of the video that is playing over the music is Drama, because both the music and the video feature themes of heart break and relationships. In this video the viewer should expect to see a link between the visuals and the lyrics of the song, while also seeing performance by the two members of the band as this is typical of all their videos. The unexpected element to this video is the fact that there is a major narrative and storyline as this is rare considering the bands previous videos.

Narrative - The main storyline of this video follows the female actor as she deals with the break up currently happening in her life, there is no major theme as the video is set in the present day. This video features 3 stages of Todorov's 5 stages, it features a destruction, a recognition and an attempt at fixing the issue. Like most music videos, this video features one main character who is trying to deal with a break up, and it also features the two members of the band Tegan and Sara who are singing the song and doing the performance in the video.

Representation - The video has mild traces of representation, the female in the video is seen to be the weak, heartbroken one out of the couple, however you never actually see the other person in the relationship, you simply see their name on a phone, which is 'Sidney' and because that is a name both males and females could have the stereotype of the women being the weak and heartbroken one in the relationship may not apply as strongly here. However the fact that the main character is a woman who is heartbroken does fit with the stereotype women are given when dealing with relat

ionships. The artists in the video are constructed in a very interesting way, the fact that they are performing, but also featuring in the background of the shots implies that they have also felt how the actress in the video is feeling.

Visual Codes - The video is set in multiple rooms in a large house, this is typical of someone who is going through a break up as it is unlikely that they would want to leave their house and go out in public. The video overall doesn't use one major colour, however the performance section of the video is done in a very dark and dull environment, and the acting is mainly done in a brighter environment implying that the main female in the video is trying to get over her heartbreak but finding it hard as her life is going from light to dark like the video. 'How I prayed for you calls' is the lyrics which is song when a shot of her phone ringing comes up, this links the video and the lyrics together smoothly.

Technical Codes - One member of the band, Tegan, who is playing the piano is shot from a high angle multiple times implying to the audience that she is vulnerable or has once been in a vulnerable situation like the actor in the video. The female in the video, when she is taking the broken painting out to the bin, is shot from a low angle, this shows the audience that she is regaining power and overcoming her pain and heartbreak. The camera angles changing from being low on the main actor to high as the video progresses shows the progression that the female has had through overcoming her pain and heartbreak.

Audience - This video is mainly appealing to people over the age of 18, because they are the group of people who are most likely to be able to relate to feeling the way the people in the video do. The clothing and style of the actor and the band members in the video is very youthful and young meaning the video would most likely relate to people who are 18-35. The demographics of the video is most likely E & D.

Institution - The record company require multiple close up shots of both of the band members in the band, this is so people who are watching the video focus more on the band than on other characters in the video, and also so the public get a better understand and can remember what the members of the band look like.

Textual Analysis - Plan B

Plan B - Writing's On The Wall

Genre - The genre of the music featured in this music video is alternative/rap however the genre of the music video is drama. The music video has some very typical narratives considering the genre, it has very strong narratives of Love and Heartbreak which are typical of the genre Drama. When you learn the genre is Drama so expect to see things such as performance from the artist in the video which is featured, along with links to the lyrics, also featured. However you also wouldn't expect to see so of the events which feature in the storyline. 

Narrative - the storyline of this video features a male and a female going through a rough patch in their relationship because of the males carer and life style. The main theme of the video is that of the 1970's, the style of the housing and clothing in the video indicate this. The video has a recognisable structure in terms of Todrov's 5 stages, this video features equilibrium, destruction and recognition, meaning that the video ends when the characters in the video acknowledge the issue. The only main recognisable characters in this video are the male who is the protagonist and the female who is the antagonist.
Representation - a recognisable type of representation which is evident in this video is that of gender, initially you see both males and females being represented stereotypically because the female is at home make dinner for the man and doing housework, where as the male in the video is out enjoying night life and partying, both of these actions show actions stereotypical to that gender. This video makes the male look in the wrong and like the bad guy, whereas it constructs the female to look like the victim, this is very stereotypical of music videos, if the artist is male they tend to be made to look like the hero or the most important.
Visual Codes - The setting of the video helps the viewer understand how the two main characters in the video are being constructed to fit stereotypes. The women in the video is seen in the kitchen and around the house, doing various different jobs, mainly for the males benefit and getting the house ready for his return, this is seen to be very stereotypical of females. The male is seen in a nightclub/concert environment which could be seen as a dangerous environment for someone who is in a relationship with someone. Also nearer the end of the video the male is seen with another female in the back of a taxi, the windows are steamy, this could have connotations of sex and romance. The female is seen wearing and surrounded by bright, bold colours, this puts her in a positive light, whoever the male is seen in dark, dull colours making him seen negative and bad. The video features some written iconographic, you discover the males stage name which is 'Strickland Banks', this may mean something to the viewer so they can link this character to the artist of previous videos, also it says 'Sold Out' next to his name implying that he is popular.
Technical Codes - Effective camera angles are used in this video to help the viewer understand how the characters are feeling, there is a large amount of close ups on the male performance showing how he is feeling and also because the record label typically require this of a video, there are multiple close ups of the food the female is preparing to help back up the stereotypes she fits into. Also during the phone call between the male and the female there is a high angle shot on the female showing how she is a in a vulnerable position. The editing in this music video is fast pace, this could reflect confusion in the characters, another thing which could reflect confusion is the fact that the camera cuts off pieces of the females face and is peering from behind cupboards and other pieces of furniture.
Audience - The target audience of the this video is mainly people who are 18+ purely because the narratives of the video are about relationships and people who are over that age will be able to relate to it, also because of the setting of the video, in a nightclub, people overt the age of 18 would be able to relate and understand that setting. The main demographics which this video would appeal to are E and D, which are blue collar works, the unemployed and students.
Why? - I did this textual analysis as it will help me when I come to making my video, it will aid me in planning out my music video as it will give me an insite into conventions which are used in music videos, specifically ones that are made by an english artist.