Music

In class: watch the video once

The second time you watch the video you should pay attention to:

 - Symbols
 - The different roles Lady Gaga has in the video
 
Ask yourself:

 - What kind of story does she try to tell?
 - Is there anything, which caught your attention?

Take as many notes you can, while you watch the video the second (third and fourth) time

What kind of music video is this?

1.     Classic-epic

The classic-epic video tells a story that fits the song. The classic-epic video uses the genres we know from films such as horror, science fiction etc. Many classic-epic videos are ironic. The artist/band rarely plays an important role in the video. 

2.     Lyric-narrative

In the lyric-narrative video the artist/band plays a more important role, and the story in the video is told in symbols or short scenes.  The video often cuts between footage of the artist/band and a narrative that tells a story.

3.     The fragmented music video

The fragmented video is pictures and scenes that in a high pace which blows the viewer away. There is not a classic story told in this kind of video. The message is hidden in the symbols and pictures shown in the video.

Music video assignment

 

alone or in pairs:

 

1. Choose an artist (a singer or a band). The artist should be a native English speaker. I recommend that the artist is somebody, who has been around for a while or dead (then you can find more personal and credible information)

 

2. Choose a song. The song may not be a song from a film and your teacher needs to approve it.

 

3. Analyse the song (use the analysis sheet)

 

4. Prepare a presentation, where you show the music video and tell the class why you have chosen this song and what makes it interesting (use your findings from the analysis)

 

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A critical view on your sources

When you find a source you need to ask yourself/the source

1.       Who has written this text?

2.       Why has he/she/they written this? And why this way?

3.       Where do they have their information from?

4.       Could the writer have angled the information in a way? Why?

 

Analysis sheet

Name of the song:

When is the video made?

Who is the artist/s? (Short biography in your own words)

What happens/is shown in the video? (Summary)

Sound

1.       Genre

2.       Sound effects

What kind of music video are we looking at?

1.       Classic-epic

2.       Lyric-narrative

3.       The fragmented music video

How does the music video style influence the music?

What kinds of symbols are used in the video?

How is the video shot?

1.       Point of view

2.       Color, lighting

3.       Frame cuts

4.       Camera moves

How is the connection between the video and the song/lyrics?

1.       Allegories

2.       Picture versus lyrics

3.        Contradictions

Message