3 different types of music video:
1.Narrative based-has a story line which usually follows the lyrics of the song.
2.Performance based-usually live or in a studio.
3.Abstract,Artistic & Surrealist-look strange and may have an underlying meaning.
Christian Metz-model of genre development
- Explored the development of genre in films (especially horror films) and suggested that they pass through 4 phases of existence.
These are:
1.The Experimental phase
2.The Classic phase
3.The Parody phase
4.The Deconstruction phase
The Experimental phase- Helps formalize the narrative conventions of the horror film in the early phase.
Movies include: The Cabinet of Dr Callegari (1919) and Nosferatu (1944).
The Classic phase
Movies include: Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931)
The Parody phase
Movies include: Carry on Screaming (1968) and Scary Movie (2000)
The Deconstruction phase
Movies include: Se7en (1995) - (Combines horror and thriller) and The Blair Witch Project (1998) - (Combines horror and Documentaries).
How this can be applied to music videos:
Experimental Phase: A Hard Day's Night- If I fell by The Beatles
Directed by: Richard Lester
- 1964
- Performance based
- Focus is on the performance
- Gives an insight to how they would have performed.
- Multiple camera setups- which is a convention is performance music videos.
- The lead singer is filmed the most (in this case John Lennon).
- High Angles,zooms,handheld (documentary style),close ups,establishing shots medium close ups etc were used in this music video.
This music video was created in 1964 when the Beatles were becoming increasingly popular. It is one of the first videos created for a song and was very simple. It features the band performing their song with multiple cameras being used to catch different angles of the band while they play. John Lennon is shown to the audience the most because he was the most iconic and popular member of the band so fans would watch the video and see them there and then rather than having to wait for a live performance.
Another example is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
- Technology had advanced a lot more.
- Special effects: Dissolves, transitions etc
- Video tape style (so people around the world can watch the video rather than it always being live).
- Lighting
- Framing
- Focus on lead singer
- Part performance
Again this is another example of the experimental phase in music videos. It is fairly simple with the band performing but this time includes more special effects such as dissolves and other transitions. Just like the music video above, there is a lot of focus on the lead singer which makes the audience want to watch it because they will recognize the singer first and associate it to the band.
Classic: Thriller/Beat It/Duran Duran (1980's)
E.g. Beat It By Michael Jackson (1982)
- More narrative
- MJ seen singing
Parody: E.g. Eat It by Al Jankovic
- Similar to Beat It music video
- Same shots
- Different lyrics
Deconstruction: Homage/Pastiche (acknowledging the past and adding new elements)
E.g: Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer
- Female band (eye candy for male audience)
- Male lead singer
- Female band (eye candy for male audience)
- Male lead singer
ROBERT PALMER "ADDICTED TO LOVE" VIDEO from Marsorama on Vimeo.
Deconstruction: Man I feel like a woman by Shania Twain
- Male band (flipped gender-object of desire is now the males)
- Female lead singer
