Analysing Music Video Notes

In class we have been analysing a range of music videos, to receive an understanding of the codes and conventions used, which we will have to employ when creating our own.
'Ghetto Gospel'- 2pac ft. Elton John

• The artist is not performing in this video
• All narrative; allows to audience to focus on the story
• Uses music video conventions; cutting on the beat, flash backs, attempting to acheive realism, chronological order, establishing shots
• Diegetic sounds of the helicopter and the scene of the police and a crowd of people are code of crime and devistation.
• Point of view shot is used to make the audience feel placed within the narrative and the action
• Phatetic fallacy (rain) is used to code the trauma
• Low angle shot highlights the mothers pain
• 'Ghetto Gospel' is oxymoronic as the two words do not belong together as does the artists as one is a rapper and the other highly famous due to his pop career
• De-focused edit is code for the tears or the spirit leaving the body
• The lyrics match the images being shown e.g. image of the sunrise
• Series of establishing shots are used to code the setting of the ghetto
• Artwork of 'The Last Supper' is a religious code that it is his last meal
• Close up on the mother highlights her love for her son
• Costume of hoddies along with the body language is code that they are involved in a gang
• Play fighting codes that he is youthful and is popular
• Religious iconography
• Series of shots of the family is code of happiness and that this character has something to live for
• Close up on holding hands is code for their love
• Facial expressions are code for pensivesness
• Cup of water spilling codes to the audience of his death however it can also been seen as a religious reference of the wine representing Jesus' blood
• The video starts and ends at the same place

'Seven Nation Army'- The White Stripes

•  It is clear that there is no narrative to this video
• Colour coding; red, white and black are used which are iconic to the band
• The video focuses on them playing their instruments therefore they are assosciated with their musicianship
• Extreme close ups are used
• Rhythmis editing; images are in time with the music an example is the guitar solo as the images move faster
• This video is a vehicle for the song as all the focus is on the music as there is no distractive narrative
• It's originality makes it powerful

'Love the way you lie'- Eminem ft. Rhianna

• Edits are made between the narrative and the artists
• The two artists are in different settings
• There is no temporal continuity (not in chronological order)
• A montage of insights of their relationship establish the narrative
• The artists costumes are associated with themselves e.g the white vest and baggy jeans Eminem wears
• The use of fire is code for passion, heat, danger, destruction, love and intensity which are all highlighted through the video
• Juxtaposition is used as Eminem is in a open field, which is code for freedom whereas Rhianna is in the dark with flames which claustraphobic
• Further conventions of music videos being used are; close-ups on the artists, rhythmic edits, intense camera work
• Freedom is emphasised in the field by a long camera shot which tilts and pans
• The marrative seeks realism this is shown through the realistic mise-en-scene, everything codes their poor existance and their body language codes love
• The video is a cycle as it starts and ends at the same place
• The artists become part of the narrative as the 'worlds' merge at the end

'Wake Me Up When September Ends'- Greenday

• The video opens witha classic romantic mise-en-scene
• Wide angle shot with the couple in the middle of the field
• The setting is code and highlights the young love
• Intimate camera work (close ups) highlights their facial expressions which code their happiness and love
• Happiness is also coded through colour as they are bright and warm
• Dialogue is exchanged which focuses on the story
• The introduction is code for the narrative genre
• Ciematic in it's scope as techniques which are used in film are used in the video e.g. the title
• The music is non-diegetic
• Extreme close ups on the singers face is a convention of the music video
• Edits between the band and the narrative
• There is a break in the music to focus on the narrative as the dialogue advances it. As this happens after there is a change in the tone and feel of the song and video
• Series of silohetter shots
• The images used must tell the sroty as there is a restriction as there is no dialogue e.g. the montage of short shots show the blossoming love
• Diegetics sounds are emphasised
• The music mirrors the action and is parallel
• Aiming to acheive realism is evident through the camera work and mise-en-scene

After analysing these music videos there are some evaluative points to keep in mind when producing my own music video:

• Not all music videos use narrative
• Many videos use imagery to generate the image and identity of the artist/band
• Costume, lighting, editing, mise-en-scene and setting all help to create this image of the artist
• Codes are all employed to perpetuate the identity of the band/artist
• Many artists have costumes/graphics that have become iconic/synonymus with them e.g. Michael Jackson's white glove