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Music Video Analysis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHp2KgyQUFk
Beyoncé – best thing I never had
Genre elements Conventions presented in the Best Thing I never Had
Video
Performers/Characters – The music video is staring a famous pop singer named
representations, Beyoncé so instantly the viewer knowswho’s the video
stereotypes, is. Beyoncé is walking around in her underwear
behaviour, body flaunting her body and also singing to the camera
language, specific pop showing her emotion to the lyrics. At the end Beyoncé
stars closes the video with her walking off in a very elegant
way in her wedding dress.
Genre Type: The genre type of the video is narrative. This is because
Performance, Narrative throughout the video there is a love story being told
or Conceptual? Are which involves Beyoncé showing older videos from her
there elements of younger days going out with a boy who didn’t love her
each? Describe them. and then going to recent dates and showing her
If there is a narrative, wedding with a man who does love her. The lyrics link
what type of narrative with the video as they are saying she got away from a
is it? (Linear/Non bad relationship.
Linear?) There is also a sense of performance within the video
when Beyoncé is on the hill top singing directly to the
camera.
Iconography – props, In the beginning scene she is holding a flower and
symbolic codes showing us a dress which shows she is getting ready for
her wedding. The flower is white and shows her
innocence. A priest is used in the wedding scene so
people have a good idea that it is a traditional wedding.
Rings are exchange in the wedding scene also as this is a
traditional thing to-do. At the reception scene of the
wedding the groom is pulling of the brides garter which
is a symbolic item used at a wedding which brides wear
on their legs.
Setting- mise en scene Opening scene of the music video is showing Beyoncé in
lacy underwear, hair and make-up done ready for her
wedding. The lacy underwear shows her provocative,
feminine side and this attracts the male audience as it is
good to look at. Even though she is wearing underwear,
the colour of the underwear is white showing her
innocence. In the wedding scene itself, Beyoncé is
wearing an ivory wedding dress and vale showing a
traditional wedding theme, with the guest all in suits

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and formal wear. The next scene then moves onto the
reaction area of the wedding and everything is colour
themed white which can be a traditional colour for
weddings. Beyoncé changes into a more simple white
dress for the night time.
Technical and audio In the opening scene the light used is bright, natural
codes – camera use, light which is a positive representation. There is many
editing, lighting, mid shots and close up of Beyoncé to show she is the
diegetic/non diegetic main character throughout. Also, the non-diegetic
sound, sfx sound is her own song which she is singing. A flash back
is used in the music video showing a previous time in
Beyoncé’s life. This is effective within the video as it
gives the audience more detail in the story being told. A
close up shot is used nearer the end of the final couple
at their wedding. This is used to show the love between
the couple and that they are going to live happily ever
after.
Neale’s ‘Mental Convention – This pop video has elements of a typical
Machinery’: How does pop video such as bright lighting used and colours
the text meet audience throughout, a narrative theme, telling a story which a
expectations? How typical pop video would have and also other characters
does it conform to used to help tell the story.
convention and/or In convention – There aren’t many features in the video
deviate from that goes against a typical pop music video other than
convention? maybe the provocative clothing wore at the beginning
of the music video as viewer may find this inappropriate
when watching.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r00ikilDxW4
Green Day – 21 Guns
Genre elements Conventions presented in the 21 guns video
Performers/Characters – The characters used in the music video are a young
representations, male and female who becomes a love interest to each
stereotypes, other. A famous band whose video it is, is Green Day.
behaviour, body
language, specific pop
stars
Genre Type: Throughout the video a performance genre is used as
Performance, Narrative the band is set in a room with all there equipment
or Conceptual? Are playing and singing to the music. A narrative genre is
there elements of also used as well as the scenes skip from the band
each? Describe them. performing to character acting out a story. The story
If there is a narrative, begins with the couple distanced from each other
what type of narrative showing tension and a bullet placed in the male’s hand.
is it? (Linear/Non Police lights are showing through the window showing
Linear?) that crime has taken place and may have involved the
male and female who are acting out the story. The
couple then begin to kiss which shows a love story
being produced.
Iconography – props, A bullet is used in the opening scene which links with
symbolic codes the name of the song as it involves guns. The band use
guitars, drums and microphones as this is what a typical
rock band would use to create there music.
Setting- mise en scene At the beginning a male and female are set in a dull
room with no bright colours involved. Then the band is
shown in the same room the couple were in. The room
has writing on the walls and only limited house hold
things in the room. This may show that the characters
aren’t wealthy and are only young. It may show this is
there first house or hotel as they haven’t looked after
the walls and we know this through the drawings on it.
The clothing used on the band is very casual and are
dark coloured. This shows that the band don’t really
care about their appearance only the music they make.
This also relates to the clothing used on the characters.
Everything is very simple and not eye-catching yet
effective due to the genre of the band itself.
Technical and audio The lighting used in the video is dull and dark showing a
codes – camera use, negative representation of the video. There is a close-
editing, lighting, up shot at the beginning of the lead singer of the band
diegetic/non diegetic and this is important so the audience know who the
sound, sfx song is by. A spot light goes onto the couple when they
are kissing to make the kissing important and show the

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couples love for one another. The same spot light then
goes onto the lead singer of the band showing his
importance and fame. When the spot light is shown on
characters and band member, the camera is tracking
round showing a full view from all angles. It also shows
the mess of which the guns have made. The camera
then cross cuts from the characters to the lead singing
at a fast pace showing that the video is intense.
Neale’s ‘Mental Conventions – Since the genre is rock, the band are
Machinery’: How does using instruments that they have used to make the
the text meet audience music. Guitars are used throughout which is symbolic
expectations? How for a rock band to use. The lighting is dark and dull
does it conform to which links with features a typical rock video would
convention and/or have as most of their videos are negatively represented.
deviate from In conventions – A narrative genre theme is used
convention? throughout of a love story which may not happen in all
rock videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVkUvmDQ3HY
Eminem – Without Me
Genre elements Conventions presented in the Without Me video
Performers/Characters Dr.Dre at the beginning of the music video who is a
– representations, world known rapper. A young boy who is acting
stereotypes, throughout the video. Eminem, the artist himself is
behaviour, body playing the hero throughout the video. Dressed as
language, specific pop Robbing and Dr.Dre is batman.
stars
Genre Type: The genre of the music video is a narrative genre due to
Performance, the film like feature throughout. Throughout the video
Narrative or there are many parodies. For example, the first parody
Conceptual? Are there we see is a comic book and different comic hero’s
elements of each? flashing through telling us that ‘Shadies’ back who is a
Describe them. new comic book hero who happens to be Eminem
If there is a narrative, himself. Another parody the music video does is of talk
what type of narrative show as Eminem plays 2 people on a talk show with
is it? (Linear/Non their problems being questioned by a woman who is
Linear?) presenting the show. Another parody is of a reality TV
show like big brother and Eminem is playing one of the
housemates. Someone who is playing Elvis Presley is
also a parody as there is a symbol for ‘E!Entertainment’
which is a celebrity news channel. Lastly, there is a
parody of another reality TV show named ‘I’m a
celebrity, get me out of here!’. All these parodies are

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important in the video as it’s quirky and audiences
recognise who the artist is trying to copy. At the end of
the music video, the heroes are able to save the day just
like a typical hero action film.
Performance is also involved within the video as there
are scenes of Eminem singing to the camera with the
words of his rap.
Iconography – props, CD as this is the CD sold in real life for Eminem’s new
symbolic codes music. Super hero outfit’s used to represent the hero’s
the artiest are playing. A Lamborghini is used as this
symbolises the hero’s getaway car or in this care the
bat-mobile.
Setting- mise en scene The setting is in many different locations throughout
the music video. It begins with Eminem’s bedroom,
which has silk bed sheets to represent a sexual feel to it
as he has 2 girls in his bed with him. The bedroom
colours are red to represent love as this shows where
the artist takes his female friends back. The second
setting is a general shopping super market where the
CD is purchased. A hospital is shown in the video which
then moves onto different real life TV settings such as a
reality TV show set, a chat show TV set and a news
channel.
Technical and audio The lighting used is bright and eye-catching so
codes – camera use, audiences are intrigued. It also gives a positive
editing, lighting, representation as it is bright and gives off a happy
diegetic/non diegetic mood which fits in with the comedy genre of the music
sound, sfx video. There are many long shots to show what is
happening throughout the video and it gives out more
information to the story than a close-up would. There
are few mid-shots to show a main character such as
Eminem himself. There are some fast edits to show the
fast pace in the music video to match the fast rapping.
This then links in with the diegetic sounding in the
music video as its Eminem rapping his new song.
Neale’s ‘Mental Conventions – The music video follows the conventions
Machinery’: How does of a rap video with their being a narrative story
the text meet audience throughout. There is also a rapper dressed in clothing
expectations? How that a normal rapper would normally wear and this is
does it conform to comfy clothing yet expensive such as a tracksuit.
convention and/or In conventions – This music video is a comedy and
deviate from doesn’t show anger or violence. It’s almost going
convention? against all conventions of a typical rap video as
everything is high lighting and taking the comedy route.