Music Video Essay
“Music
videos reflect the social and cultural context in which they were made”.
Discuss this statement through a comparison of
the two music videos you have studied. One music video from list A (CBR) and
one from list B (DG).
Both Titanium (David Guetta) and Stop Where you are (Corinne
Bailey Rae) contain references to the cultural context that they are set
within. However, the two videos have different social aspects and focus on them
by incorporating a variety of examples from the time period. The Music Video
for 'Titanium' centres around a young boy with super-powers attempting to
subvert the law enforcement for his own safety. The audience is able to tell
that the setting for this video is mid 1980's due to props, clothing and
scenery put to use (Mise En Scene). Strong examples for props representing this
are; corded telephones, vintage police vehicles/uniforms, retro television set,
stereotypical 80's American clothing… etc. The video also denotes old gender
roles and possible child deprivation that would have been an existing problem
for adolescence in the 1980's. This is portrayed by the lack of parents,
furniture mess and Television still playing at the boys’ home (living on his
own). Another example of how unequal gender role in the 1980's are represented
is the fact that Police and Swat in the story are all Male figures, but the
school teacher is a 'helpless' female.
On the other hand, 'Stop Where You Are' depicts the story of
not one person, but multiple figures within society during 2016. Theme's
represented are; Judgement, stereotypes vs reality and appearances…
The video reflects homelessness and class with the
collaboration of camera angles and props. A good scene to convey this is when a
'city business man' strolls past a homeless woman sat miserably on the concrete
floor pleading at him for some change. Throughout this scene, the camera angle
is high up so to look down upon the homeless woman. This also allows for her to
be cast by the shadow and silhouette of the business man as he walks past. The
aim of this camera shot is to represent how Homeless people are frowned upon
and ignored by higher 'classes' in society. However, soon after this, a similar
shot appears of the homeless woman, but the camera angle is at a lower height
in line with the woman's shoulders. Her figure is no longer in the shadows, as
the businessman appears again from out of shot to offer her a coffee and sit
with her to chat. Corinne Bailey Rae has done this to represent what should be
happening throughout society rather than what normally happens. The video
portrays the 'Wide variety' of cultures that exist today but including
different genders, ethnicities and clothing styles amongst the characters.
