Music Video introduction blog task

This week's work requires Media Factsheet #69: Music Video. You'll need to log in to Google using your Greenford Google account to access this. Read the factsheet and answer the following 10 questions:

1) What is the purpose of a music video?

To promote the artist and there music.

2) How has the digital age changed the production and distribution of music videos?

The digital age has allowed audiences to access music anywhere anytime and have access to the full product.

3) Which three major record labels are behind VEVO? What is VEVO and why was it created?

Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music, Group and Abu Dhabi Media are behind VEVO. It was created and launched as a music video hosting site  where the content is synced to YouTube in the UK.

4) What are the key conventions of a music video?

Movement-  the rhyme of the song and can be achieved by physically moving the camera. 
Narrative- story line may relate to the songs lyrics and illustrated what is being said.
Band or artist- may feature them as they are also a product to be sold. The artist may be featured performing their music, either in the form of lip-syncing or playing instruments in the case of a band.

Intertextuality- Such references may be very obvious, a way to relate to another media text.

5) How can narrative be used in music video? Give an example of a music video that uses a narrative.

It can be used to show and describe how and what the song says. For example in Madison Beer’s Make You Mine music video it follows a similar story to the movie of Jenifer’s body to create a narrative which match with the lyrics of the song.

6) What examples are provided in the factsheet for intertextuality in music videos?
The examples are Blink 182 video for All the Small Things makes references to videos by pop artists such as Back Street Boys (I Want it That Way) and Christina Aguilera (Genie in a Bottle) by directly copying scenes.

7) Why do audiences enjoy intertextual references in media products?

They enjoy them as it allowes audiences to recognise other text and related them to one another.

8) Read the music video example analysis on page 3 of the factsheet. Select a music video of your own choice for each of the following headings and explain how each one links to the heading:

Madison Beer: Make You Mine

• Conventions (movement/narrative/artist)

There is many close up of the protagonist/ antagonist (the artist) and the victim character to show thee emotions and feelings towards each other. The protagonist is also a kind of antagonist as in the end they end up killing someone which isn’t a traditional protagonist role.

• Intertextuality

Intersexuality in the music video is very present as the whole music video is based of Jenifers body the film and has taken direct inspiration and you can see many things like the contacts and the blood and characters played in the music videos.

• Representation

In this video the representation of men is very stereotypical regarding they are infatuated with women and objectify them but the reoreseb of women is not traditional as they are seen as powerful and only seem to  show interest to the man for their own interest showing them as empowering and strong. 

• Audience

It must be aimed at teenagers 16+ as it does contains some violence and blood but it can also be targeted towards those who has watched and enjoyed the movie jennifer’s body. And also of course the fan base of Madison Beer.

9) Watch the video for Ice Cube's It Was A Good Day (1993). How did this video set the conventions for later hip-hop music videos?

The music video shows some conventions that may define hip-hop music videos this can include the low angle shots. This usually implies the artists high status and power as if looking down on the audience watching. Lots of tilted camera angles to show action as seen in the basket ball game or when they were throwing the dice, we could also see the frequent use of close ups that focus on the artist to empathises their importance as the main star. There was a lot of reference to the artists wealth such as his jewellery, car and clothes that became recognisable in hip-hop.
In the music video, we can see objectification of women where she is sexualised for the male gaze. This is often show to reinforce the dominance men have over women which is seen as a key convention in numerous hip-hop videos. This also suggests the fact that hip hop artists are mostly males who have the most attention on camera when surrounded by women. The music video has a link between its visual and written lyrics showing a narrative

10) How important do you think music videos are in the marketing and promotion of music artists today? Are music videos still essential to a band or artist's success? You need to form your own opinion here

I think music videos are very important to the marketing and promotion of music artist as it shows there creativity and established a brand for themselves. I think they are very essential to bands or artists and it shows there views and how they perceive there own music and how they can build there brand of that.