T3 : : Understanding the techniques of music videos

Cutting to the beat

The first technique shown in the video is editing to the beat. This was easily done by marking the points that the beat changes and editing the clips around those markers as well as turning on the audio waves to easily identify where the cut should be. You would do this to make the video have some relevance to the song.








Split Screen
This was achieved by putting two of the same images one above the other using the wireframe which can be made visible using w on the viewer window and cropping the images, then moving them so both are visible.

















Chroma Key
To create a chroma key effect, copy and paste two of the same clip one above the other. Then highlight the bottom clip, remove the colour using the desaturate effect in the video filters list under image control.

Then select the top clip and set the filter to Chroma keyer in the video effects list under key.

Once I did this, i fiddled with the settings to only pick up the red from the car, without effecting the other components too much.

This is the finished result.

Reverse shot
This was really easy to do. I highlighted the clip I wanted to reverse, pressed "cmd + J" to bring up the speed dialogue box. Then ticked the box to reverse the shot. As the shot was already in chroma key, I had to do both shots separately.






These effects can be used to

T2 : : Understanding the styles and conventions of music videos - Part 3

Narrative
Narrative music videos are generally story based. Eminem uses this form in "Toy Soldiers" to illustrate the events in the song.

Impressionist
Impressionism uses art and artistic concepts to illustrate the song. Gotye used an impressionist style in Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)

Surrealist
Surrealism in music videos is difficult to pinpoint as they generally use something that can be described as illogical or dreamlike. However a good example of surrealism being used is the video for "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz.


Pastiche
This is done by mimicking another time or genre; Michael Jackson did this with thriller which can be described as a mini horror film. Christine Aguilera used the pastiche style of video in her video candyman.


Parody
Parodies are perhaps the easiest music video to find online as there are numerous artists that unofficially make them. They are used to make fun of the original artist of the song, someone famous for doing this is "Weird Al" Yankovic.



Homage
Homage is basically a tribute to an artist, such as Justin Timberlake making references to Michael Jacksons Billie Jean video.



Intertextuality
Intertextual videos make reference to another artists video, a famous example of this is Madonnas reference to Marilyn Monroe. Madonna did this by wearing a similar dress, background and dancers.

T2 : : Understanding the styles and conventions of music videos - Part 2

There are various forms of music videos, of which include Digital animation, stop motion, in concert, as live footage, studio based, and cinematic.

Digital animation

This is created using computers to animate images. An example of Digital animation in a music video is  "Move your feet" by Junior Senior as the video consists entirely of computer generated animation. 

Stop motion
Stop motion is achieved by taking photos of something being moved in between shots. Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer video uses this technique very well and is one of the most famous videos to use stop motion.


In concert
In concert uses footage of the artist playing live in the video, this is a commonly used form, particularly for heavy music/bands such as Rage Against the Machine or Nirvana.


As Live footage
As live footage differs from in concert as it features more the backstage side of things, such as the artist messing around backstage or on a tour bus. The Beatles are notorious for doing this during the late 60s when they couldn't appear live due to tours.


Studio Based
Studio Based music videos show the artist just in the studio, playing the song as if they were recording the song normally. As can be seen from Jasmine V performing "Jealous" in a studio.


Cinematic
These styles of music videos use a story format to illustrate the lyrics/music. Lady Gaga is notorious for making videos that use a story driven format, making them into a short movie/music video hybrid.

T2 : : Understanding the styles and conventions of music videos - Part 1

In 1992 Andrew Goodwin identified 6 features of music videos, in Dancing in the Distraction Factory. The 6 conventions were:

1) Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (eg stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band). For instance, Rage Against the Machine vs. Girls Aloud/Sugarbabes .


2) There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contracting).

- A good example of this at work would be in Tenacious Ds "Tribute" where the song is literally narrating the videos story and illustrates the lyrics throughout.


- An example of a contradictory video would be shoot the runner by Kasabian, the song itself has very little meaning to the visuals.


- An example for an amplified video, Miley Cyrus's wrecking ball amplifies the idea that she is angry and repeats the act of destroying stuff instead of showing her arguing with the person she broke up with.


3) There is a relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, or contracting).

- This is an example of illustrative editing, as the editing is relatively quick for the genre, but speeds up when Nelly Furtado hits the chorus.


- This is an example of contradictive editing. Although it does have some points that the editing follows the music, but enough that don't to be called contradictive


- Nirvana "Smells like teen spirit" is an example of an amplified music video as the visuals match the anger of the song and edits around the music.


4) The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).

- Lady Gaga has developed an image and reputation for dressing and acting peculiar, as can be seen in her videos and album art.


 5) The is frequently reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

- This song/Video show how the companies objectify women to catch the attention of male audiences.


6) There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV, and other music videos, etc.)

- Many artists/bands that have their music used in films use a video to help promote themselves and the film by making references to the film in the music video. This can be seen from Linkin Parks video for New Divide, which makes reference to the Transformer films for which they are well known for having done parts of the soundtrack for.


- Eminem's video for survival has content from the latest Call of Duty game, and this song was used to advertise the game.