Banana Phone Task

In order to improve our editing and filming skills we were given a list of shots to film and then edit then into one video with the 'Banana Phone' song. After we went out and filmed all of the required shots we each separately edited the clips. I learned some new editing techniques and became more familiar with the green screen and Premiere Pro.

Representation In Music Videos

An example of exhibitionism: 

This is exhibitionism as the video is focused just on Miley Cyrus doing an outrageous act in order to attract attention and create a media storm.

An example of male gaze: 

This video has various close up shots of Rihanna and Shakira which don't contribute to a narrative and are there purely to exploit Rihanna and Shakira.

An example of a strong dominant female: 

Taylor Swift is a strong dominant female as she as taken on big companies like Apple and Spotify. The majority of her videos feature no nudity at all.

Representation of Big Sean - I Don't Fuck With You

All of the men in the music video are either in the football team or in the studio. This could be seen that all of the men in the video are in a position of power. For example in the image below the male commentator is dressed formally. Whereas the girls behind him are there just for male observation as cheerleaders

Male commentator 

In this shot the girls face isn't even shown as she strips for the team's view. This could be seen as suggesting that women are only good for pleasing men.

Female fan stripping

What Music Means To Me

A song from my childhood: 

R Kelly - Ignition

'Ignition' by R Kelly was released in 2004 when I would have been eight. I remember it being played on MTV Music channel when I was young.

A song from the beginning of high school:

Kasabian - Underdog

'Underdog' by Kasabian was released in 2009 when I would have been 12. It came off the album West Pauper Lunatic Asylum which was the first album I ever bought and listened to, before I just watched music channels and listened to singles.

A song I'm listening to now:

Oliver Heldens - Melody

Melody by Oliver Heldens was released this year and I first listened to it on Soundcloud which is a music streaming app on iPhone.

The way that I listen to music has changed through these three different stages of my life. At first I used to watch MTV Music and other music channels which got me into mainstream pop music, like R Kelly. Then I started listening to and buying full albums from iTunes which got me into Indie rock  bands like Kasabian. Now I mainly use Spotify and Soundcloud to listen to music which enable me to listen to all kinds of different music.

Prelim Task Preparation

As both of the other members of my group did not get back into sixth form I could not complete our music video. With Issak, who was in a similar situation to me we decided to find a music video we could create within the limited time we had that would also allow us to get adequate practice.

We decided on trying to replicate 'Can't Feel My Face' by The Weeknd. The official video for this song can be seen below:

To create the video the props we we used were as follows:

• Green Screen
• Light
• Video Camera
• Microphone w/ stand
• Camera Tripod

Music Video Analysis

Pop: Shakira - Can't Remember To Forget You

This music video proves a lot of both Vernallis' and Goodwin's theories correct.

• Voyeurism: Is persistent throughout the video with numerous shots of Shakira and Rihanna 
• Jump Cuts: Are used to make the video match the tempo of the song
• The demand on the record company to have lots of close-ups is obvious to see as many are used throughout the whole video
• At the beginning there are shots of a beach and exotic plants to match the exotic sound at the start of the track 
• There is no real narrative the directors have tried to make a visual interpretation of the lyrics

Rock: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - In The Heat Of The Moment

This music video also has no narrative and is just an extension of the lyrics as Goodwin suggests.

• The shots are used are dark but have ambient colours edited in which gives the video its own individual style as Vernallis suggests
• There are also many close up shots of the artist, Noel Gallagher, to enforce the artist as the brand
• The video is heavily linked to the music, for example when you can hear the piano being played there is a jump-cut to a shot of the piano being played
• There are lots of jump cuts and many different shots at a fast pace which match the beat

Country: Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me

• This music video is an extension of the lyrics as what is happening in the video is exactly what is being sung about at that time
• it does have a narrative but it is incomplete as Goodwin suggests 
• There are many close-ups of Taylor Swift, who plays both characters in the video, this is to reinforce her as a recognisable brand 
• The pace of the video matches the pace of the song 

Radiohead Music Video

Radiohead - Street Spirit Music Video

• The video is edited so that is back and white which matches the tone of the song
• There is a narrative but it is incomplete
• Many of the scenes match the lyrics with shots of people looking depressed 
• The setting of the video matches the tone as it shows old caravans and old broken cars                         

No Rest - Dry The River

In lesson we listed no No Rest by Dry The River with just the song playing we were asked to identify the genre and the target audience. In groups we all out our initial thoughts forward and we were then given the lyrics and tried to find the meaning behind the song.

Lyrics for No Rest - Dry The River

 After this we were asked what sort of music video would fit the song. In our groups we all came up with suggestions, some of the best ideas were:

• A man walking through an isolated dessert  following what he thinks is a beautiful women but is in fact a mirage 
• A couple on the verge of breaking up showing the struggles they are going through 

After making our suggestions we were shown the official music video, which can be seen below: 

Music Theorists

Carol Vernalis: 

Carol Vernallis' music theory is based on four different areas.These areas are editing, narrative, camera movement and Diegisis. Her main theories are listed below:

Editing:

• Editing is done so that it matches the beat
• A lot of music videos break the conventions of continuity editing 
• Each music video has its own individual style 

Narrative:

• Most music videos have no clear structure
• Some music videos ask questions and do not answer them
• The video is heavily linked to the music and is focused on matching the genre and style of the artist

Camera Movement:

• Close-ups are used as often as possible to enforce the artist as a brand, to be recognisable 
• The camera movement can be in time with the lyrics or the music

Diegesis:

• The Diegesis may be shown slowly or left incomplete
• Some frames have more importance than others

Carol Vernallis

Andrew Goodwin:

Andrew Goodwin believes that music videos are simply an extension of the lyrics. Or in other words music videos are a visual interpretation of the lyrics. Some of his other notable theories include:

• There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals
• Particular music genres may have their own music video style and iconography 
• The artist may develop their own star iconography 
• There is a demand on the record company for lots of close-ups on the main artist
• There is likely to be reference to voyeurism  
• The tempo of the track drives the editing of the video
• The narrative in music videos and songs are rarely complete

Andrew Goodwin