Music VideoMotifs

Common motifs in music videosFragmentation of the body this is where the camera goes in for close up of the focus of the camera i.e. eyes, mouth, breast. It can also be when the body is obscured by objects i.e. when someone is walking and their feet are obscured.

In this video Defiler “Cryomancer” we see fragmentation of the body when the camera zooms in for a close up of his face when the vocalist shouts.

Mythical and mysterious A popular motif featured in a lot of music videos is mythical and mysterious with spans a wide range of things anything that is considered out of this world, common examples of this would be the video being set in gothic mansion, post apocalyptic worlds or make believe places.

The example we have chosen for this is Katy Perry's video for California girls which is set in a make believe place i.e. candy land.

Horror Another common motif which is commonly used is horror, as it is with mythical and mysterious this motif can be expanded out into many areas it can be seen as the use of extreme violence, depictions of hell, war, Satan or monsters

In the video example we found Papa Roach’s “Kick in the teeth” we see the use of excessive violence and of gore as Jacoby Shanddix is punched and then beaten up.

Intertextuality

Intertextuality is a commonly used motif in music video it can be seen in many ways but it basically shows that the artist knows they are in a music video it can be done by shoming shots including cameras, sets or directions it can also be done by the artist looking themselves in the mirror.

In the example music video Nelly’s “Hot in herre” we see this when the shot is of the display on a video camera videoing Nelly rapping.

Ritual celebrationRitual celebration is an often seen motif in music videos is ritual celebration it can involve parties, religious celebration singing any kind of upbeat event. It is most commonly used in rock video’s often on beaches or at concerts.

In the example video we have chosen Deaf Havana’s “Friends like these” we see several examples of this one is a party at a gig another is people partying on the beach.

Impossible sequencesImpossible sequences are often used in music videos as a motif mainly when the artist wants to use an acid trip or drug use effect but can be used to create other effects it involves the use of slow/fast motion, special effects and animation.

In the example video we have chose we see several versions of the motif, we see slow and fast motion as well as special effects in the form of motion blurring.

Other features in music video’s

There are many other features commonly used in music videos things such as;•Camera shots into bright lights into sun or fire•Breaks in the narrative for the artist to sing•Clips from the film the song is featured•Cross cutting from narrative to concert footage

This is an example of breaks in the narrative for the artist to sing form Eminem’s video “Stan” it cuts from Stan driving his car off a bridge to Eminem on his tour bus rapping along to the song.