Editing Music Videos - Essential Read!

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Andrew Goodwin - Music Video Analysis

To be used when analysing music videos as part of your research.

Andrew Goodwin identified a number of key features which distinguish the music video as a form; before you understand his theory you need to understand some key terminology. If you click on the key terms you will be taken to videos which best illustrate these terms.Illustrate: Images used to represent the meanings of the lyrics and genre (this is the most common feature of a music video) this is very often literal.

Disjuncture: When the meaning of the song is completely ignored.

Amplify: Meanings and effects are manipulated and constantly shown throughout the video and shown to the audience (basically repetition).

- There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contrasting the lyrics.

- There is a relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contrasting the music.


- Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography.


- Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of the main artist or vocalist


- Voyeurism is present in many music videos, especially in the treatment of females, but also in terms of systems of looking. Some examples are screens within screens, cameras, mirrors, etc.

- There are likely to be intertextual references, either to other music videos or to films and TV texts, these provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewers/fans.


TASK
Using your favourite music videos, TubeChop scenes where ANY of the above features are present. Screengrab and comment.

(With thanks to Lutterworth Media)

Music Video resources

Hey Guys, in preparation for your A2 studies I have listed a bunch of useful links for you to check out.

Here are some ideas for songs to consider if you're unsure what you'd like to do


This is the range of music videos playlist, assembled for your perusal!
Range of Music videos

Simple videos that rely on lighting & a strong performance (some of these are in the above playlist)

One Take performance with an emphasis on lighting

Same artist as above utilising dance & shadows (black & white)

Classic performance video that inspired Miley Cyrus

An almost film noir look in this iconic video

Heavily reliant on performance

Using real subjects & scenarios along with performance

Simple + performance based This controversial song went viral & made the artist popular

Dance led video with interesting lighting

Good example of cutting to the beat -Dance led video using smart choreography & switches between colour (I challenge you count how many cuts!)

Lip sync by another performer

Innovative reverse video by Spike Jonze

Innovative one take performance video

Student examples

The following are screen shots from student videos in the past year that utilise good lighting

Techniques

Split screen

Simple and effective lighting

The Videographers Guide Ep. 1 - The Music Video