Music Video Textual Analysis

Across your 3 videos, identify any shared conventions. Consider the following:

  • Visual Style (Camera Work, Mise-en-scene, editing)
  • Themes
  • Narrative (Do similar things tend to occur at the start middle and end)
  • Are any social groups represented in a particular way?
Spandau Ballet - Gold

Genre Characteristics: Both Performance and Narrative, falling in love with a girl and being brave etc to get her.
Relationship between lyrics and visuals: Singing about gold and there is golden and rich imagery.
Relationship between music and visuals: Slow paced music paired with slow paced edits and slow motion shots.
Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?: Many close ups of the lead singer looking woeful and longing for the woman in the video.
Is there reference to the notion of looking?: He doesn't really look at the woman in a sexual manor but she is presented as weaker and has (on occasion) less clothing than the men in the clip.
Are there reference to the notion of looking?:  Occasional but not constant, wasn't really a thing in the 80s.
Are there inter textual references?: Indiana Jones references, films were out at a similar time to the song. 
Is the video category, illustration, disjuncture or amplification? how much of each?: Mainly Illustration.

David Bowie - Star-man

Genre Characteristics: Just Performance
Relationship between lyrics and visuals: No relationship other than bright lights in background
Relationship between music and visuals: Not strong, mainly spacey set and space age costume
Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?: Yes
Is there reference to the notion of looking?: Not really
Are there reference to the notion of looking?: Not really
Are there inter textual references?: Space
Is the video category, illustration, disjuncture or amplification? how much of each?: Primarily Illustration


Commodores - Easy

Genre Characteristics: Performance
Relationship between lyrics and visuals: None
Relationship between music and visuals: Some
Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?: Yes
Is there reference to the notion of looking?: Not really
Are there reference to the notion of looking?: Maybe
Are there inter textual references?: Not really
Is the video category, illustration, disjuncture or amplification? how much of each?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIRGNzVIz6Y

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