Analysing Music Videos

To gain a more broader knowledge on music videos we were given a task to analyse 3 music videos in two genres. I decided to choose the genre I listen to and then another to get different results on the video. I have analysed the videos which consist of if the video is a narrative, what performance style is it, the casting/ characters, mise-en-scene, animation/ technology, editing in images and sound and camera work.

Drake- Over

This music video is not a narrative, it is a performance clip. In the video there is one main singer, one female dancer and one female actress who is seen in snippets. The music video is filmed in a bedroom and in a room where there is just lighting. These two places seem as if it is a studio due to the artificial lighting, and the background of the room as it is just a black background. The lighting is dull and there is only lamps on. The people involved in the filming are wearing casual clothing and the main person changes a various times, at one point he is wearing all white, another with just a red jacket and another couple of shots with a zip up on, he changes to make it more interesting and to emphasise the shots are different.

Camera angles and effects used in the filming include:

• Body silhouette which have images inside
• Moving images on the wall
• Lyrics on the black screen
• Montage of images
• Dissolves
• Focus pull
• Reflection

A range of framework is used such as close ups and medium long shots. Different camera angles are also used to make the video more interesting and not the same throughout, this is done through the use of side shots, establishing shots and forward tracking.

Frank Ocean- Swim Good
This music video is also a performance clip however it is a narrative clip unlike the video above. There is only two people in this video; the singer and short clips of female; who is a lover. The video is set in real life as it is outdoors by an ocean and there is so much detail that it would be too hard to fake as well as the outdoors the singer is driving and then there are shots of a room with a girl. The lighting seems real and artificial because firstly it is outdoors and then it has an off peak colour which seems fake. The singer in the video is wearing a dark orange cloak and holds a samurai sword as a prop. There is titles on the screen which are used to state the title of the song, the artist and the record label.
Camera angles and effects used in the filming include:

• Car blowing up
• Slow motion water
• Montage of snippets
• Blackouts
• Cutaways
• Close ups
• Vertical tracking
• Zoom in
• Point of view
• Forward tracking
• Establishing shots
• Side shots
• Long shots
• High angles.

These range of camera views make the video more advanced and makes the audience want to watch the video as it is different and more interesting. As well as a variety of camera angles, different framing was used such as the extreme close up and zooms in.

Kid Cudi- Pursuit of Happiness
This music video is narrative in some way but is also a performance clip. There is a main singer and friend whom sings a little as well as people drinking and dancing. This video is different to the two above as they have one- three people whereas this video has many more. The video could be set in a real life club as there is no point doing it in a studio as the detail is too vivid and it would make it look more realistic. The lighting is natural however as a club tends to be dark artificial lighting was used to see the action clearly. Props include alcohol and celebratery items and the actors are dressed up mainly in black as if they were on a night out. Many effects were used such as the sparks in the background, the blurred shots implying drunkness, the slow motion which emphasises the action taking place. The range of camera angles and effects are the codes and conventions of a music video as they have to fit the song and make it more appealing to watch.
Camera angles and effects used in the filming include:

• Cutaways to another shot
• Montage
• Focus pulls
• Pans
• Close ups
• Establishing shot
• Vertical tracking
• Horizontal track
• Zoom ins

Lady Gaga- Edge of Glory
This video is not a narrative but it is a performance clip. There is only one person in the video which the camera is on most of the time however there are some people sitting around on the streets; putting all the attention on the singer. The location of the video is an uptown New York city however the streets could either by real life or studio as the the buildings are not in full detail. The lighting is very dark and artificial with street lights on however these are very dull too. The costume the femal singer is wearing is a black, short courset which shows her fierecness and doesnt care what others think; showing dominance. The effect of pink smoke is used which is artifical.

Camera angles used in the filming include:

• Establishing shot
• Close up
• Forward tracking
• Pans
• Horizontal tracking
• Low angle
• Zoom in

Adele- Someone Like You

This music video is not a narrative, it is a live performance at the Brit Awards 2012. There is only the singer and pianist on stage but then the whole audience. The lighting is all natural due to being a live performance. She is wearing a black sophisiticated dress which fits in the theme of an awards ceremony. The clapping of the audience at the end of the video also makes the filming very realistic.

Camera angles and effects used in the filming include:

• Pans
• E.L.S
• Focus pull
• Side shot
• Zoom in
• Vertical tracking
• Reverse tracking
• Close up
• Aerial/ high pans

One Direction- What Makes You Beautiful
This music video is a narrative as well as a performance. This is done by acting and signing into the camera standing in one area. The song is sung by a boy band and they are the main people in the video but girls appear later on in the video. The song is located on a beach, where it is very sunny and relaxed. The lighting is natural throughout however it may be artifical later on when it gets darker. The costume and props is very simplistic by the five boys just wearing casual beach clothes.

Camera angles and effects used in the filming include:

• Black fade in
• Colour change when music starts
• Montage
• Fades
• Horizontal tracking
• Pans
• Side shot
• Establishing shot
• 360 turn
• Low angle

In conclusion, after researching in depth about Sven E Carsson's theory of 'Mythical Embodiment' and exploring the analysis of these music videos I have identified a pattern within most of these videos. Most of the videos include 'Commericial Exhibitionist', many of the singers apply to the mainstream of clothing and behavior and are stereotypical about it, with some videos such as Lady Gaga; Edge of Glory wearing clothing that may not be suitable for the mainstream of society.

Author: Kiran Paul

Codes and Conventions of Music Videos

Performance Based

• Artist/ band singing into a camera as if it is a liv performance
• U2, ACDC, Food Fighters do this nearly all the time- typical for rock bands to do

Narrative Based

• Where the storyline is evident
• Coldplay, Beyonce and Ed Sheeran are examples of this. Many current artisits perform this way.

Abstract/ Artisitc

• Creative, artisitc music videos

Example of a Performance Music Video- Linkin Park, What i've done

• Nature images as incidental music plays at start
• Wars
• Poverty whereas the Americans stuffing faces with burgers
• Images reflect lyrics
• Landmarks
• "Hands"- images of different hands in the air meaning mercy
• Slow motion
• Klu Klux Kan; burning crosses, regressive
• Going back in time; human errors
• Humans are dangerous because of the poisionous scorpion
• Aerial shot of explosions- conflict
• Dictators- Hitler, historical evil
• Some good deeds but more evil
• Child holding gun; destruction
• Civil rights with black people
• Environmental issues
• Bookend- Starts and ends the same but is rewinded

Example of a Narrative Music Video- Beyonce, Irreplaceable

• Starts like a movie
• Hair flicks showing doesn't care
• "To the left" physical hand movement to left
• Sitting on car and hand movement of car whilst saying "rolling in the car I brought you"
• Taxi relevance
• Sings and dances to camera whilst acting
• Claps in sync
• Minutes- Looks at wrist; watch

Example of a Abstract/ Artisitc Music Video- Massive Attack, Teardrop

• Baby in womb sings
• Lyrics are veryn meaningful as talks about the life within the body and either the baby. dies or is aborted as see light but in a bad way.
• The music fades and the baby slowly falls with eyes closed and hands not moving.

Research Into Music Videos

Sven E Carlsson Theory

Facts about music videos:

• Music videos communicate through TV screens and TV speakers.
• They are the form of low brow popular culture. (Michael Shore)
• The reception depends on what the audience perceives the video as for example beautiful or ugly.
• To analyse music videos the most common method used is black and white boxes as the videos are perceived as opposites but the main two groups are performance and conceptual clips.

Music Video Artist As A "Modern Mythic Embodiment

Method of analysis.

Three types of performances:

Commercial exhibitionist means the monger of their own body image selling everything to be in a spotlight; selling the voice, face, lifestyle, records and so on. Wants success herefore tries to evoke their sexuality and stardom. (Carlsson Report)

A telivised bard is a singing storyteller who uses acutual on screen images instead of inner, personal images. The greatest telivision bards create audio-visual poetry. They transform the banal story of the lyrics employing on screen images to create a story about life and death. (Carlsson Report)

Electronic Shaman. This is when the artist is invisible and only their voice and rhythm anchor the visuals. The artist shifts between multiple shapes as well as sometimes has multiple egos. This performance also promises there is a hidden meaning. (Carlsson Report)

Analysing Cher's Video Believe

This video uses the method of modern mythical embodiment an can be seen as an electronic shaman performance. It is this video type because of the electronic use of visual effects. Cher's eyes glow in the dark whilst being in a close up then fog arises as people walk in a slow motion and dreamy way. The video which suggests it is like a spiritual journey finishes with a mystical green which surrounds her as some kind of exchange is passed between her and the younger female. A vocoder on her voice is also used at this point to inform the audience about her pain and the younger girl who is implied as her younger soul sister. Cher's voice and the synthesized dance rhythms suggest a dreamy journey. Cher is seen as a telivison bard because she is singing her story of there is life after love and how she is watching her ex boyfriend around happy people. She also relates to normal teenage girls as a commerical commodity as well as she is seen as a commercial exhibitionist by the way she promotes healthy bodies. Below is a video of Cher's Believe music video.

Audiovisual Analysis of Music Video

Uses the crude model which help identifies how three areas of the audio visual flow that are music, image and text. This is to interact with producing meaning for the audio viewers of music videos. Below is the diagram of the 'Crude Map' that identified three aspects of the audio visual flow; the music, image and text interact.

The Music

The director of the music video creates moving pictures to be shown for an already existing song. A video which does not have a narrative purpose that is based on the visual images instead uses aspects that is not a typical convention of music. The moving images are bound together by musical features such as a beat. To some lyrics a synchronized movement is used for example if they use the word shoes the movement or action would have relevance to this such as a point to the feet. Melodic phrases can also be displayed by having the camera titling vertically to match up to the term up and down travel on the scales. In the music video Believe by Cher, a synthesized cymbal rattle sound was used. This is when a sound is synchronized with effects of lighting and sometimes presents body movements.

The Lyrics

Many music videos have a new meaning that is added to the lyrics through a metaphorical language with a twist that is entertaining. If this is done well the lyrics and text creates a poetic experience. The bigger the gap between the lyrics and imagery in the metaphorical joining the more difficult it is for the audience to understand and interpret the context. The opposite of the metaphorical joining of lyrics and images happens when the lyrics are the illustrated. When the visual story is missing the story is still continuing by music and lyrics and not by an independant visual story.

In Cher's video believe the first verse reads, "I can't break through" and "so sad", a viusal echo isn made by special effects. This is known as a text image metaphor, this is a type of cliche which again presents the image and lyrics as one or has a type of link. For example in the video Cher has military trousers on and sings repeatedly "I don't need you anymore" this shows force and power in a way.

The Image

Colour, motive setting, story footage, clothing etc are manipulated so that the director can create ideas which would be repeated and varied.

Perceiving Music Videos

There are different levels of perception when viewing a music video. Interacting layers of perception may be instinctive, intersubjective and individual which then activates social aspects. When the layers interact with personal memories the video becomes complicated. Variables occur on a regular basis and tend to be content. Music video pictures can be constructed by the three traditional of moving images; visual story telling, non narration of modern art and singing performance.

Since 1927, The Jazz Singer; Oh Mama, concert performances were born. This type of performance has continued in musicals, documentaries of concerts and promotion pictures. The concept of this performance type is to take the well known singer performing and place in the setting that either literally suggested by the song's lyrics or in one that the mirror escapists pleasantries common to movie musicals.

In music video clips the paraphrases, collages, animated abstract art computer graphics and unexpected combinations of pictures may appear. The chock aesthetics in videos can be interpreted as a combination of provocative modern art tradition and cultural interpretation of the rebellion teenage. (Swen. E. Carlsson)

Visual Music Video Styles

Standard Clip:

Contains more or less than three traditional visuals; a singer is filmed with images mixed and is presented in an artistic influence by the experimental film tradition.

The clip has many variations and is dynamic. The singer may participate in the narrative as well as standing outside the video offering diversity and flexibility, this can be done through alter egos, clothes changes, time change and change in shape.

Performance Clip:

This type of performance video is when the singer is one or more settings, the most common places where the artist performs is the recording studio and rehearsal room however it can be done anywhere. The performance clip can be separated into three; song, dance and instrumental performance.

Narrative Clip:

This is when the clip is understood as a short silent movie to a musical background, it contains a visual story that is easy to follow and understand. A complete narrative clip involves no lip syncing.

Art Clip:

If the video contains no lip syncing or visual narrative then it is a pure clip of art. The difference between these videos is the music type. Dance videos tend to be art clips due to it being difficult to express the meanings whereas rock videos usually include standard clips and shots from concerts and the narrative story line. The videos are usually grouped into theme and variations, this applied to music which is a melody or motif.

What is a music video?

Andrew Goodwin states that music videos do not follow the cinematic conventions that Swen claims, he refers to it as having their individual conventions. As well as he says that narrative relations are complicated and this means it can be made from the viewers taste to intertexuality that uses multi-discursive phenomena of the western culture. An example of this is George Micheal's video; Killer/ Papa Was A Rolling Stone, this illustrates the lyrics as logotypes but also with real logos of products. The music video also used concert audio for the music however it does not contain any concert clips only shots of close ups and lip syncing. Art clips are used instead. Goodwin hopes to this would get its own theory and not the old such as 'amputated' to fit the music videos.


Author: Kiran Paul

Codes and Conventions of a Documentary

Key Points for the opening

• Capture audiences attention quickly as possible, for example in Louis Theroux mention the 500 years.
• Central question must be posed at beginning.
• Quick snippets of interviews
• Incidental music plays, graphics are shown- voice-over, visual montage. Music should not overwrite voice-over.
• Titles should burst onto the scree especially the name of the documentary

Actuality- Filming real events as it actually happens however may need archive footage, for example 9/11, explosions and hurricanes.
Fly on the wall- Filming real things focusing on their lives such as sporting events and following an individual.

Voice-Over- Narration of what the programme is about, key information and introduction of topic.

Graphics- Graphics with written text. Maps, drawings and still photographs. Banner at bottom of the screen when showing who you are interviewing.

Interviews- Important to incude in documentaries. Ample knowledge of your topic and can give clear insight into issues is vitally important.

Vox Pops- Random interview with ordinary people on the streets using a hand held shot.

Talking Head- Shot of someone directly talking to camera as presenter of documentary.

Music- Should not dominate and over ride the sound of the voice over. Need to balance sound and images very carefully.

Author: Kiran Paul

Research Into Exisiting Products: Louis Theroux Behind Bars

• Louis Theroux is the director, writer and presenter.
• Louis does a number of quirky documentaries in America, by following people such as pageant people daily routines.
• San Quentin; Oldest prison which was built in 1852.
• Spends two weeks with the inmates.
• 2o people per room in prison.
• David Silva; Long sentence in jail, more than Hannibal Lecture.
• The prison houses 3,000 sexual predators, murderers and small time criminals.

The opening starts with an establishing master shot in an extreme long shot framing of the prison is used to display where the action will take place. To grip the audience they open with a short informal interview with David Silva and the audience are told he has 521 years sentence. The footage of this is used by a hand held shot and then a series of pans are used. The first minute or two is an introduction voice over of the documentary including statistics and what the topic is about whilst filming of Louis walking around the prison where guards and prisoners are doing their daily routines is shown. Incidental music plays whilst more footage and the voice over continues. The titles then appear on to the screen after the introduction. The titles look as if Louis is drawn as a silhouette behind bars in a prison cell and a spotlight is used on top of Louis, this is traditionally used for questioning a suspect.

Louis is given a bulletproof vest for safety concerns as the inmates may try to attack him, the vest will cover vital organs. Giving him the vest whilst filming is another way to capture the audience as it builds tension as if something is going to happen. He asks the officers a number of questions to get detailed reasons and how things work in the prison, he asks what the audience would ask if they had the opportunity.

Some of the inmates are separated from the other criminals due to attacking guards and other prisoners therefore they are tied down for 23 hours per day to prevent attacks. In these cells they make mirrors to notify when officers enter the isolated area as well as to see what other inmates are doing. Officers find the prisoners amusing with what they say and how they act. Ambient sounds are used to intimidate Louis and the criminals are shouting and show off by throwing items down the isle which is known as fishing, it is forbidden therefore they are doing it to seem 'cool'. 'Playboy Nolan' is a nickname for one of the prisoners he is located in this area because he mixed urine and other substances to assault the guard with however to one officer he has never assaulted him due to knowing him for years and they have grew a friend relationship. His original offence was carjacking which sentenced him for three years in prison. Louis is able to look around Nolan's cell which has nothing in there; no mattress but has a lot of noodles because the food is not tasteful. However there is no hot water this suggests that he may use the toilet water for his food.

The next scene is when hundreds of black men are shown exercising in the yard dressed in the stereotypical orange jumpsuit, they are allowed to relax and exercise a couple of hours a week. Rap music is played as the appear on the screen emphasising their culture. Louis discovers that the prisoners stay segregated to their ethnic group. There are many crews' that divide the inmates, the white power group and the barbarian brotherhood racist group are two of the main and well known. Different ethnic groups have different areas of the yard and they are kept segregated so that there is no confusion. Although the groups say there is no leader, it is clear that this is false because it is obvious that one talks more than others and carries out more actions.

In the prison there are a couple of rules that can't be broken as the other inmates will turn against the individual. If food is stolen the prisoner will be beaten up by the group and always watched to ensure no more stealing has taken place.

Playboy also states that it is easier to do time in prison that being in the normal world as it is harder and being in prison is an easy way of life. Therefore continues to do drugs, assault people and steal because bored and nothing to make life easier outside of prison.

The badger section is the worst section in the prison, it is level four and it is where criminals such as serious murders, rapist and robbers are located. Louis meets a man called Anthony whom is a new arrival to the prison. He describes the prison as a playground and it is easier. He was put in jail for supposedly murdering his best friend, he has claimed he was set up and he was not guilty. He has been sentenced 50 years as well as it being his first crime. He states that it is easier in prison than outside because no worries. In prison he has learnt not to show any sign of weakness as they are beaten up, stolen from and sometimes their manhood is taken. A fade out occurs once Anthony walks away implying it is a new day.

At lunch, 2000 inmates eat at once and only get 20 minutes. Once they have eaten a brown bag is given to ensure the prisoners have something to eat in their cell for the rest of the day.
Gun rails are used above the blocks to ensure that the criminals do not run as the guards would be permitted to shoot but not kill.

Bradley also known as Debra is a transgender male/ female who has been sentenced into jail on a number of occasions for robbery. He/She has created a relationship with Robert his cell mate. In the prison many inmates try to separate the two lovers as they are jealous. They do get judged but they believe they are jealous of being starved from companionship.

A loud, screeching alarm goes off and the officers don't know what is happening and look worried encase there is a mini riot and no way of leaving the block as there are only 3-4 officers in this area.

Although a large majority of the prisoners have wives and children many have sexual relationships with other male inmates because they want that love and sexual activity however they never declare themselves as gay due to have a huge lead on this as well as they don't want to be bullied in the prison.

David Silva has been sentenced to 521 years in jail and 11 life sentences. He has been given so many years due to carry out a number of brutal home invasions in which he and his gang tortured innocent people by drowning, shooting or sexual assault. His reason for doing this crime was he wanted a better life of luxury therefore the only way of getting this way robbing homes however he felt the home owners weren't giving enough information on where valuable items were. "None of the victims were killed but they wished they were", the way he tourtured them made them feel like not wanting to live anymore however he never killed anyone which is worse as they have to live with what he did and having to be frightened every day/ night. In another state, the crime importance is different, for example in one state murdering would be extremely bad and it can result in more years than paedophilia. Therefore where silva was sentenced home invasions must have been a very serious crime since he has been convicted 521 years. Silva says that 'someone' had sexually assulted one of the home owners with a pistol. He tries to detach himself from this tourture and implies it was another member of the group, he does this in an intellectual way as he knows it is disguting and does not want to be associated with this. However it suggests that he did take part in the crime. David Silva had always been a trouble; he was in the young offenders from the age of eleven to twenty and then went to prisonn at the age of 22. When this documentary was made he was 33 years old and still has many years left in prison; he wont live through his sentence. Although he knows this he continues to live through it and try to act as if it is a normal day.

Another fade out occurs with again the image of the prison in an extreme long shot framing and establishing master shot at a different angle of the prison. This is done at the start of everyday to inform the audience that it is a new day.

The yard is then shown with majority of the offenders exercising and relaxing. They are all blocked in for their own safety as there are too many people. Many of the prisoners whilst in the yard stick in groups normally with what crime they committed. Louis interviews many of the groups and the atmosphere is normal; loud and everybody doing their own thing. However when Louis and the guard are finished talking to a group of religious prisoners the atmosphere changes and tension arises. Supposedly a gun shot is fired and all the criminals are seated on the yard floor, as Louis and the guard exit they are shouted and booed "get out of the yard". This tension occurs as soon as Louis was finished talking to the religious group who did not want him to know what they did to be put in jail. This suggests it was child matter crimes as none of the other inmates spoke to this group and they did not want the audience or Louis to know what they did. Although the other criminals committed crimes majority of them did not commit something that harmed children in a sexual way it was robberies and murders, they feel pedophilia is the worst crime that can be done.

The scene cuts to the canteen where the inmates are eating, Louis sits with DD, another transgender person. 'She' states that it is easier to be appeal gay and act like a woman rather than masculine. DD says this because they are less likely to beat up a woman so if they act, dress and literally be a woman they will have less harm done to them. As well as men enjoy the female aura around the prison.


The scene changes again to Playboy, he is shown in what is known as a 'walk alone' cage, they are considered rats and the cage is where they have their exercise and outdoor relaxation. He explains about the drug use in the prison. How there is a lot, more than what people think and the gangs have most authority of it. Although he is in the cage he can still get drugs, he can fight and do what the other prisoners do.

In the prison they are somebody, they have an identity whereas on the streets they are a nobody. They prefer being in jail because they have no worries of job security, paying bills and having food on the table it is provided for them.

Louis then interviews some of the inmates who are leaving the prison that day. Debra whom was spoken to earlier is also leaving today. The guard states that half of the 27 people leaving will come back in a matter of days or months because they are hanging in the same gangs still doing the wrong things.

The documentary is a book end which means it starts and ends with the same topic. In this case it would be David Silva. At the start Louis interviews him about the crime he had committed and the ending finishes with Louis interviewing him about if he felt remorse for the torture he had done to innocent people. Silva says that he did feel responsible and remorse for the things he did do if he didn't he would be cold hearted but also says he was wrongly convicted for some crimes.

A fade out then occurs and blues music is played as the titles appear. This is unconventional to have in a serious documentary however the words are relevant to the study.





Author: Kiran Paul