Figuring Out Genre Conventions Through the Music Video Analysis

Genre:

Heavy Rock music video conventions-

(Linkin Park- Crawling)

Performance based:

 .          Sinister

·         Gothic

·         Fits with lyrics

·         Sexual appeal of women

·         Shows the band

·         Fantasy surroundings

·         Mise-en-scene = dark, gothic, it relates to lyrics and emotions

·         Uses one main character. Only features the singer and band

·         Cross cutting

·         Editing fast pace (flying glass)#

(ACDC- Back in Black)

Performance/Concept based:

·         Simple/ one shot- 30secs before first cut

·         Features all of the band

·         Concert staging

·         Mise-en-scene = clothes more of the era rather than a social group, less sinister.

·         Fast paced cuts

·         Camera focuses on the musician soloing (e.g guitarist during guitar solo, singer during main lyrical parts)

·         Unusual angles (birds eye view, upside down)

·         No narrative

·         No women feature

·         No audience shown from concert scene

 Country music video conventions-

(Dolly Parton- 9 till 5)

Narrative based:

·         Relates to reality

·         Follows lyrical meanings

·         Follows women characters stories

·         Boss is male, shown as dominant and bad guy

·         Images of clocks

·         Women sex appeal

·         Whole narrative with song over the speech

·         Features Dolly as a character

·         Cartoon characters feature (animation amongst real life setting)

·         Turns the story of snow white into its narrative

·         Death of boss wanted (feminist video)

·         Also shows stereotypical traits of women

·         Mise-en-scene = fashion of era, dated, no fast cuts or SFX

(Rascal Flatts- Life is a Highway)

Performance based:

·         Shiny classic cars, band driving them to park

·         Links to film it was featured in (Cars)

·         Mise-en-scene = makes it look before its time (old film real)

·         Editing- cuts, screen effect (film)

·         Shows all band members on stage (in front of the actual film)

·         Shows main singer singing to camera

·         Lyrics about reality again

·         Completely separate narrative and then them singing

·         Links in cartoon characters

·         Clothes- main artist doesn’t fit with genre

·         Standing in classic cars and concert orientated

·         Song slows and romance of cartoon cars is shown at this point (features girl car as desirable)

·         Focus on guitarist through solo

·         As the song comes to an end so does the film

Rap music video conventions-

(Eminem- Stan)

Narrative based:

 Sinister, lightening outside, speech between two characters (male shown as violent).

·         Song starts 30secs in (dido part) starts as muffled, then camera moves through floor and sounds live.

·         Mise-en-scene = dark/musty green colour scheme, clothes fitting with genre

·         Rap being angry and expressive relates to narrative..

·         1.15 rap starts.

·         Storyline- guy (stan) obsessed with Eminem, makes himself look like him and has posters everywhere, writes constantly = Eminem plays himself and is singing his rap; however Stan is made to look like he is rapping.

·         Editing- fast paced cuts and 2.36 mins in stopped with depressing scene and goes to concert of Eminem.

·        Not just fan, obsession nearly in love.

Rap lyrics are narration for the story.

.    Sinister areas in the video.