Popular Music Video

Textual Analysis

Technical Conventions

Technical conventions:

Band shots, whole band shots and performance clips

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technical conventions: Shadows, mise-en-scène reflects atmosphere, equal division of shots upon band members

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technical conventions: High lighting

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technical conventions: Bright lighting

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technical conventions: High angle/low angle Special lighting effects

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technical conventions: Close-ups

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technical conventions: Animation

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technical conventions: Colour effects – often monochrome

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technical terms check list:• Performance clips and band shots• Fast-pace of editing• Mainly straight cuts• Bright lighting• High angle/low angle• Bright colours against black and white background• Panning• Editing to reflect pace of music• Special lighting effects• High lighting• Equal division of shots upon band members• Whole band shots• No real sound effects• Colour effects – often monochrome• Dubbed sound• Zooming out• Shadows• Mise-en-scène reflects atmosphere• Animation • Does the music video adhere to or subvert these?

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representations

Representation: Glamour/popstar lifestyle

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Playing out ‘pop star’ lifestyle within video

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation Mean and moody men

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Seductive poses from female artists

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Anti-establishment activity

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Deserted locations and straight forward narratives

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Guitar Solos

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: All playing to the audience

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Short Skirts

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Cleavage

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Trying to portray a certain image - intertextuality

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Voyeurism

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Urban Locations

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Dancing

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Crowd Shots

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation: Destroyed Environments

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representations• Short skirts• Legs and low cut tops• Voyeurism• Glamour – lifestyle• Seductive poses from female artists• Urban locations• Dancing• Crowd shots• Playing out ‘pop star’ lifestyle within video• Fairly straight forward narrative• Group singing whilst chaos takes place around• Anti-establishment activity• Destroyed environments• Mean and moody men• Deserted locations• Singing whilst acting• Trying to portray a certain image• Self-appreciation• All playing to the audience• Does the music video adhere to or subvert these?

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Textual Analysis 2

Categories

Language

Narrative

Representations

Audience

Institutions

Technology

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

CategoriesPurpose: entertainment, persuasion, profit?Form: live, recording, music video?Genre: current and past pop music genres?Tone: happy, serious, sad, celebratory, outrageous?Style: conventional, unconventional, traditional, modern?

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Language

Examination of conventions of pop music genres in terms of:lyrics, vocal style, instrumentation, rhythm, melody

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Narrative

Understanding lyric of song in terms of who, where, what, when, why? Narrative elements in music video.

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Representation

Representations of age, gender and race in pop music.

Image of pop music stars used in marketing, press coverage, etc.

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Audience• Identification of target audiences for pop music by genre, pop video,

advertising.• Pleasures of identification with/attraction to stars, expression of

emotions ideals/dreams,fandom, individual listening.• Popular music and related social activities of teenage audience, eg,

fashion, dance, concerts, subcultures.

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Technology Technology involved in production, distribution and

consumption of popular music.General effects on product.New developments.

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Institutions Ownership (eg, major, independents). Controls (legal, self-regulatory, market).

General effects on product. Roles and choices of main personnel. Links with other media (eg, charts, radio play-lists, music press, concert tours, video).

 

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video

Categories

Language

Narrative

Representations

Audience

Institutions

Technology

Textual Analysis of Pop Music Video