TASKS
- Look into types of music video, for example abstract or narrative, and find an example video for four of them to illustrate its meaning
- Find a quote to illustrate a viewpoint (from a text) and compare my own opinion
- Evaluate the use of the investigation; how it has informed me (project objective)
CHANGES:
Illusions which make illustrations or models (for example stop-frame or CGI) come to life.
- I changed the first bullet point to specify that I will choose only two music videos as examples of their styles. This is because I do not want to spend too long on a single section of research, as I feel like I needn't dwell on the same section for longer than necessary. I also do not want to copy the blog that I read.
- I will briefly outline types of narrative as, although it is the area of research I chose for my A2 Media coursework, I feel it is important to specify the different types to show that there is a variation of story structure.
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Style
I found a blog and a slideshare upload which enlightened me in the types and styles (i.e. aspects) which can define music videos. Of course, they are not strict categories, as some music videos include more than one of these styles. Out of preference, I have chosen to use the terms I found in the blog. The links to my sources will be at the bottom of the post. Here is what I found out, including my own additions:Homage
An honor or acknowledgement of something from the past.Animation
Illusions which make illustrations or models (for example stop-frame or CGI) come to life.
Narrative *
A series of events depicting a story within the music video.
Extended narrative
Where the story is the main focus of the video, since it begins before the music (introduction), stops the music to draw attention to it, or continues after the music has finished.
Live
The music video has been shot in front of a live audience, for example at a concert.
Performance
This video consists solely of a performance, usually dance.
Influence of commercials
The video incorporates elements of advertisements.
Referencing
Either the video includes inter-textual references, or it is based on another media text.
Pastiche
An imitation of a style through great influence of another media text.Parody
Exaggerates and imitates something or someone in order to mock them. Replicating the original music or video, it alters an aspect, mainly lyrics, to change its meaning and created a comedic tone.
Surreal/ Abstract
An unrealistic music video containing imagery/setting non-existent in the real world.
Visually interpretive
The video is based on, or depicts, an interpretation of the song's lyrics.
Impressionist
The stars of the music video are shown imitating another well-known figure.
* Different types of narrative structure include:
Chronological/linear - events which occur in the video happen in order of occurrence.
Fractured (Dysjunture) - events in the video are cut up and rearranged in another order to create effects such as dreams.
Framed - there is a story being told within another, to create the effect that the viewer is watching a scene where a story is being told to the characters.
Circular - the story finishes where is had begun.
Chronological/linear - events which occur in the video happen in order of occurrence.
Fractured (Dysjunture) - events in the video are cut up and rearranged in another order to create effects such as dreams.
Framed - there is a story being told within another, to create the effect that the viewer is watching a scene where a story is being told to the characters.
Circular - the story finishes where is had begun.
Textual analysis - examples of style
1) Referencing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk-4lXLM34g
The video above is by the British singer, Kate Bush: Wuthering Heights - Official Music Video - Version 2. This video (believe it or not) is heavily influenced by the book Wutheing Heights, Emily Brontë (1847). It is an interpretation of the demeanor and emotions of the iconic character, Cathy. The video is also performance based since it consists entirely of Kate Bush's contemporary dance and the location she is in. The lyrics refer directly to the text which the video is inspired by, e.g. 'Heathcliff', and the setting mirrors that of the book.
2) Influence of Commercials
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ouQMCcOz4
Duck Sauce - NRG [Official Video], is entirely influenced by commercials. At the start of the video we see two men who sit and watch TV, and an advert comes on for the product 'NRG' (energy) as the music starts. The music video is mainly the commercial, integrated with the reactions of the two characters watching it. The video is full of typical characters, such as the typical salesman, along with slogans, banner, price reductions and product details; it takes the viewer through increasingly outlandish situations where the product is put to use. This video is also a parody of itself. It is an exaggeration of an ordinary commercial, which tries too hard to sell their product.
External views - In terms of narrative
In the Learning Resource Centre of my college I found a book: Television Studies, The Key Concepts by B.Casey, N.Casey, B.Calvert, L.French, J.Lewis (2002), page 137, which puts, "It is the abandonment of a linear narrative and of realist codes and conventions that gives rise to a non-linear pastiche of images [...] and a schizophrenic viewing experience where no single viewing position (or preferred reading) can be established [...] the 'typical' MTV viewer [is] fragmented and decentered. For postmodernists, music video (and MTV in particular) can be partly explained in terms of its mode of address to a fragmented youth culture."
I see this quote trying to say that, by experience with MTV, the writer(s) find music videos incoherent pieces of work which are broken up and difficult to comprehend, much like MTV's target audience. I would only partially agree with this view because in my experience I have seen a mix of modern music videos, some of which are less logical, and some which are extremely well thought out.
Conclusion
This investigation has been useful because:- It has expanded my knowledge of the different types of music videos seen today
- It has helped my ability to identify music videos of certain styles and explain them
- It required me to practice searching for views in textbooks as opposed to online
- It has opened up possibilities for ideas that I could use in my music video (for example I could have an extended narrative if the music inspires me to make up a story)
Total time spent: 4 hours (1 hour on the 24st Oct, the rest today)
Links to sources:
http://www.slideshare.net/egregson/narrative-and-music-videos-2013
http://drewburdakyting.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/different-genres.html
