Planning - Analysing Other Music Videos

Analysing different music videos 

Content and visual style

Video 1: Sia- Elastic Heart

Whilst analysing this music video I was particularly interested in the content and visual style of the video. 

• Themes apparent: Themes evident in this music video include; Isolation, struggle, connection, escape. These themes are similar to our chosen themes, as we would also like to show connection and struggle promoted through the narrative. 

• Lighting and colour: Natural lighting, top and back lighting, no added colours. The use of the natural lighting makes the music video more realistic, and the top lighting adds to the effectiveness, showing the characters in a clear manner.

• Body language and facial expression of the characters: Both characters have flexible and bendy body language throughout as they are dancing and moving around, this is supported by their emotionless facial expressions at the beginning, which then turns to aggressive facial expressions. This creates suspense and tension for the audience.

• Setting: The narrative takes place inside an empty white room, with a large cage in the middle, which is used by the characters who dance inside the cage. The use of the cage represents imprisonment.  

• Iconography/ objects: There is no iconography evident within the music video other than bandages wrapped around the male characters hands, portraying his struggle. 

• Character representation: The characters are represented in an unconventional manner, as they are perceived to be looking dirty and having no emotions, simply expressing themselves through their dancing, which is their form of communication. They are not reflective of mainstream characters and therefore, this music video is likely to be targeted at a niche audience. 

• Artist representation: This is not evident in the music video as the artist is not evident. 

• Editing: slow editing is used at the beginning of the music video, as the characters are emotionless, and towards the end when the male character is trapped and struggling to let go of the female character. Fast editing is evident in the middle of the video when the characters begin to show more emotion. 

• Use of camera work: There are drastic panning shots around the cage, establishing shots allowing the audience to see the surroundings as well as the characters, and extreme long shots and long shots capturing the characters when they are dancing together. 

After analysing this music video, we have identified similarities to our music video as we will also portray themes of struggle and escape throughout our video, between the boys who will be fighting for the tarot readers love. We will also have the male characters fighting in an abandoned and empty location where they will also fight each other through homoerotic dancing, like the characters in Sia's 'Elastic Heart' music video. We have similarly decided to  use fast paced editing during the fight scenes to increase suspense supported by the use of panning shots and long shots around the artist and the male characters. 

Artist representation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wagn8Wrmzuc

                                       Video 2: Lady Gaga- Judas

Whilst analysing this music video, I was particularly interested in the artist representation which was promoted through the camerawork capturing her, her costume, hair and makeup, her facial expressions and body language throughout the video and her interaction with the other characters.

• Body language/ movement and facial expression of the artist: The artist has a straight face, expressing her lack of emotions which contrasts with her free body language as she is dancing and moving continuously. Towards the end of the video, her facial expressions adapt as she begins to show emotion as the artist cries, with tears streaming down her eyes. Her body language also becomes vulnerable as she is unable to aid herself, requiring support from other characters.

• Costume, hair and makeup: The artist has a unique costume consisting of long blue jacket supported by a red bandana she wears over her head and forehead. Her makeup is also unique and differs from mainstream artists makeup as she has face paint under her eyes promoting the artist as different and intriguing the audience.

• Interaction with others: The artist is portrayed as interacting with the other characters through leadership as she dances, leading the dance, with the other dancers following her. However, towards the end of the video, she promotes vulnerability which contrasts with her dominance at the beginning of the video as she holds on to the other characters needing their support. 

• Camera work around her: The camera captures close up's of the artists face giving the audience a clear insight into the artists thoughts and feelings through her facial expressions and the camera captures her through long shots when she is dancing. 

From this analysis, I have found similarities associated with my artist as my artist will also have an unconventional outfit like Lady Gaga, consisting of a black cloak and a black bandana covering the artists head and forehead. Her makeup will also be unique as she will have dark makeup, such as long black lashes, black eyeshadow and dark lipstick. Her differing look will allow our artist to follow the stereotype of her character, but also to promote her individuality. My artist will also show leadership as she will be controlling the male characters through her powers and dominant body language. From doing this analysis, we have decided to take some ideas including the way in which we capture our artist, like the existing music video we will also present our artist through close up's and long shots so the audience can connect with her, and relate to her.

Structure and artist representation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrgqUZaeRuc

                     Video 3: Chris Brown- Fine By Me

Whilst analysing this music video, I was particularly interested in the structure and  character representation. 

Performance from the characters: The characters in this music video are fighting against each other through dance when performing. I also want my characters to reflect this by fighting through dance in my music video.

Concept/ abstract ideas: The abstract ideas within this video include the characters body movements, which are unique as the characters move in a slow manner. 

Narrative within the video: The artist follows a girl and is led to an empty room, where he must might fight against three supernatural males. The artist manages to escape however, the girl is instructed to follow him.

Character representation: 

• Character 1: The male character has an angry facial expression and an upright posture. He also has face paint over his face concealing his identity to the audience. The lighting surrounding him includes back lighting and dark colours including black and red. 

• Character 2: The second character conceals his entire identity as he has a cloak on covering his body and head, and he wears a mask to support this. He also has dark lighting surrounding him, reinforcing his evil persona, and unpredictable behaviour.

• Character 3: The final male character is the only character that reveals his identity, the male only wears bottoms and no top, allowing the audience to see his weird movements that he does using his stomach and chest. 

As a result, I will be using similar ideas, as i will also portray my characters in a mysterious and unpredictable way, through their dark coloured costumes, upright postures and angry facial expressions which connote danger and anger. This evokes fear and suspense for the audience.