PREP Explain how music videos use media language to promote their artists. Refer to the pair of music videos you have studied from the list below in your answer.
Our music videos are Wheatus Teenage Dirtbag Avril Lavigne Sk8ter Boi
HOW TO ANSWER: Media language points to consider:
the prioritising of the star / the group; the privileging of the star / the groups in the frame
authenticating the star's performance / the band's performance to show their skills
the use of close ups; lip syncing to camera; eye contact with the audience
It indicates that the artist may relate with the theme of the music video themselves and may have had a crush on someone like Noel and loved iron maiden as well when they were younger. The video may be narratable. We see the high school world the teenage dirt bag is trying to fit in with. The middle class environment in which the music video is set where the boy is bullied for being odd and atypical shows how authentic this music video truly is.
Media language is used to promote the artists in these two music videos, this is demonstrated when Avril Levigne makes eye contact with the camera, and the audience, whilst lip-syncing to the song Sk8er Boi in the music video making it seem that she is actually singing. Avril Lavigne is also the main star in the central splash of the music video. This is because she is the only artist who sings the song 'skater boy'. She is privileged in the frame. Avril kind of lives with the story and enacts it.
Have a look at the points below to see how you could be more analytical and detailed.
ReplyDeleteWheatus – Teenage Dirtbag (TD) and Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi (SB)
• SB’s use of lip syncing to camera promotes Avril Lavigne as the artist as she is singing to the audience directly
• SB’s use of multiple close ups of Avril Lavigne, further emphasising her status as the artist and her distinctive grungy ‘look’ which she is known for
• SB’s use of a range shots of Avril Lavigne looking directly into the camera to connect with her audience
• Avril Lavigne’s dominance of screen time allows for the audience to understand that she is the artist.
• TD’s sweeping use of pans to show the band performing as a collective emphasising their musical skill and to promote this to their audience
• TD’s use of MCU of the individual band members playing their instruments to further emphasis their status as the main artists
• TD’s increased pace in edit as the video reaches its climax, accompanied by the adoring fans, promotes the band to the audience as we see them being appreciated by fans.