Changes to Music Videos

 There are three types of music video:

1) Performance:

When the band / singer is performing. Usually the star exploiting their power.

2) Narrative:

Fragmented, small sections of a story.

3) Concept:

Ideological power and themes.

1975 - Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

This is one of the earliest music videos. As you can see from the two images, it is performance all the way through. There is no hint of story in it at all. This was done to promote the band which is clear through all of the close up shots. It was also done to allow people to see the band performing as if it was live as in the 1970's, bands and artists such as Queen didn't tour and do shows as often as modern artists. 

1980 - The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

This music video also contains performance. You can the the singer overlaid on the background on the image. This is still done to promote the band, as later you see other members of the band performing. The difference with this video is that it is conceptual as well. It highlights their concern for the industry with the introduction of video, saying it will "kill the radio." This is also seen through the futuristic mise en scene.  

1984 - Madonna - Material Girl

This music video changed peoples perception on what a music video could be. It incorporated Narrative with the performance. The performance includes choreography to match the music. This is highly voyeuristic. The narrative part works with the lyrics as well. The start of the video contains dialogue and not the song which was something completely new which has been continued until today. 

 

1999 - Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way 

This video highlights the rise of the boyband. There is a very minor narrative with the airport but it is mostly performance. This is seen through the close up of the singers and the choreography to match the music. This is still done to have the same affect as in the Queen video, to advertise the band and please the fans. This can be seen at the end of the video when all the fans join in the video. 

2009 - Lady Gaga - Telephone 

The video, like Madonnas, starts without the song and complete music. This narrative lasts for almost three minutes. This is when the performance and concept start. It is highly voyeuristic which would attract a certain type of audience. The music and the video work together with choreography, with Gaga by herself and with other dancers. This video also contains allusions. The clear one is to Kill Bill with the font at

the start and the car they leave the prison in. There are more subtle references, such as the big shoulders and dance moves which link to Micheal Jackson.  

Photograph analysis

 

In this photograph, the horizon line is in the upper third of the photography where the eye is first drawn to. The eye follows this along to the land on the right hand side which leads to the foreground. The wooden pillar is just of the centre to the right, following the rule of thirds in composition. The shutter speed is low on this photograph which makes the water blurry, creating the feeling of speed and action. 

Framing is used very effectively in this photograph. This sun can be seen through the archway. This creates a silhouette of the person walking down the stairs. The curvature of the stairs creates eye movement from left to right as if the viewer was walking down the stairs.