Task 2

Q1: Describe and explain the use of camerawork in music videos, i.e. the types of
shot used with examples to illustrate this and how this creates meaning

Camera shots:
Long shots – This type of shot is used to show off the location in the video. The
artist will sometimes been seen in these shots but only in the distance and usually
not very clear.

Mid/medium shot – This shot shows the artist from their waist up to their head. It
is used to show off and focus purely on the artist but it also still shows the setting
in the background.

Wide shot – This shot focuses the attention on both the artist and the location in
one. The artist is perfectly visible and you can see their whole body but you can
also see most of the surrounding location.

Close-up – This shot is used to focus the attention only on the artist or sometimes
and object. The shot only shows an artist face usually from the neck up. The
background is often blurred for this type of shot to emphasise the focus in that
part.

Extreme close-up – This shot is usually used to show off an artist's emotions and
thoughts in the video by showing only the artist’s eyes for example. It can also be
used for lip-syncing purposes by showing only the mouth.
Camera Angles:

Eye-level – This is one of the most common camera angles used in videos. It
shows how we would see things naturally in the world.

Low angle – This is where the artist or subject is shown from below. This is to
signify their importance and to make them seem more powerful.

High angel – This is where the artist or subject is shown from above. This can
make them seem less powerful and less important.

Birds eye – This is where the artist or subject is shown from above. It is an
unnatural view that is often used for dramatic effect, it can also allow the viewer
to see things that the main subject can’t see, for example, other people moving.

Q2: Describe and explain the use of editing in music videos, i.e. what the effect of
this is/meanings that are created/etc.

One main editing technique is to cut the clips on the beats in the song. This is to
further connect the video footage to the audio and to make the whole thing run
smoothly.
Another main editing technique is adding a filter onto the final product. This can
change/set the general mood for a video e.g. black and white could make it seem
serious, sad, or set in the past, and a more colour enhancing filter would
immediately make it seem fun.
Another editing technique is to do with the playback of a song when lip-syncing it.
The song will be played back faster for the artist/performer to lip-sync to. When
editing, the editor will slow down that footage making the lip-syncing go in time
with the audio while also making it seem like the artist/performer is moving
slowly. This is an effective technique that isn’t very common in most music videos
allowing a MV, where this has been used, to be just that little bit more unique.

Q3 - Genre conventions; often music videos adhere to genre conventions within

their visual style and production techniques. Select a recognizable genre and use
illustrations to explain what their genre conventions are.

Genre: Pop

lots of make-up and fashion accessories

Dancing/partying scenes
Close ups of the artist

Bright colours

They will often have a narrative

•Q4 - John Stuart’s description of the music video “incorporating, raiding and
reconstructing” is essentially the essence of intertextuality [something asserted
by Andrew Goodwin]. Can you explain what intertextuality is and find a
minimum of 3 examples of it in music videos?

Intertextuality is where something is hinted at, shown alongside, or shown within

something else. For example, in media this could be where one genres conventions
are shown within/alongside another genres conventions. Another example of
intertextuality in media is on movie posters or DVD covers where they list other
movies made by the same director. Making cultural references in any media piece
is also a form of intertextuality.
In Ariana Grande’s ‘Right There’ music video there is clear a reference to Romeo and Juliet.
This was done to help the audience understand the narrative in this video.

In Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’ Music video there is a clear reference to Tarzan.

Also, in Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’ music video we see references to action heroes,
specifically Indiana Jones. This is used to reject the idea that the women needs
the man like in Indiana Jones, by showing that with the man gone in the video,
she is much better off then when he was there with her.