Task 2.1: Research Into Existing Products - Music Videos

Music Videos

3 Different types:

1.    Narrative based music videos. These are based around a particular story line, with the scene itself and the lyrics explaining this story.

2.    Performance based music video. These are live and are filmed in a studio.

3.    Abstract, artistic music videos. These create a sense of surrealism.

Christian Metz model of genre development 
In his book LANGUAGE AND CINEMA he explored the development of genre film and suggested that genres pass through four phases of existence.

1.    The Experimental

2.    The Classical

3.    The Parody

4.    The Deconstruction

Explanation of 4 phases for horror films

1.    By experimental we mean the phase of early films which explored and experimented with horror themes in its narratives. Films such as Nosferatu, because they helped formalise the narrative conventions of the horror films in its earliest phase

2.    By classical we mean the phase of films which established the narrative conventions of the horror genre in its most successful and defining period. Hollywood films such as Dracula and Frankenstein

3.    By parody we mean films that have mimicked the horror genre in some comical way. Films such as Scary Movie and Carry on Screaming

4.    By deconstruction we mean films which have taken the generic elements of the horror genre and amalgamated them into varying sub genres. Films such as The Blair Witch Project and Sixth Sense.

In music Videos

The experimental

The phase of early films which explored and experimented making music videos. Richard Dester was the first person to create a performance music video for The Beatles - If I Fell 1964. This is still used in the music industry today. 

The Beatles – If I Fell 1964. Hard Day’s Night feature film:

Insight of their life.

Multiple camera set ups, film the lead singer the most (John Lennon.) Birds eye view, zoom, close ups and medium close ups of starts, establishing shots of all 4 people, hand held.

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody:

Dissolves, special effects (video tape)

The Golden Era was in the 1980’s when MTV was created. This was the first channel to show music videos on TV. This encouraged artists to create music videos to increase their profile.

The Classical

Michael Jackson – Beat It.

The Parody

Weird Al Yankovic – Eat It

Same structure, same set type, same costumes as Michael Jackson's beat it  but different lyrics.

 
The Deconstruction

Homage/Pastiche

Like paying “respects” to other artists and songs.

Robert Palmer – Addicted to Love 1986.

Shaina Twain – Man I Feel Like A Woman 1999.
Shaina Twain changed the song and where as the main singer is a man and the back up dancers are women in Addicted to Love, she was the main singer and the back up dancers were men.