MUSIC VIDEOS: MUSIC LANGUAGE

 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

In the music video "Wheatus" it is made clear who the main band is. We see close ups of the lead singer, the drummer, the guitarist and the bass guitar. The affects of a close up is that it shows us who the main people are in the music video, and who we need to be looking at. We get a panning shot of the band to highlight who is in the band and to show us the whole band itself, these two shots also show us to see the bands skills and what they can do with their instruments, which proves to us that it is the band playing the song. In the shots of the band there is a large crowd gathered around them enjoying the bands music, this emphasises that they are the main important artists in the video. Close up shots also allow us to see the lip syncing and direct eye contact of the artist on the camera, when the artist stares deeply into the camera we automatically think that they are the star of the video, which is what we are wanted to know to help promote the artist In "teenage dirtbag" the band is singing but also someone is acting to relate to the words of the song. We again have a close up of the Teenage Dirtbag to show us that this is the boy they are talking about in the song.  

In "sk8ter boi" it is made extremely clear that Avril Lavigne is the main star of the video. We see lots of close ups of her and her actions, she makes direct eye contact with the camera highlighting to us that she is the main character and the artist of this song. Her eye contact can also come across as quite intimidating as it makes it seem as though she owns the place and she wants us to know that. We get panning shots of her and her band while they perform on top of the car, which is also followed by a whole crowd of people around them enjoying their music. We are also presented with close ups of the bands skills, we see each member doing their part, shown by a close up shot. Avril laviegne is lip syncing the song which shows to us that she is the singer/artist. It emphasises to us that this is her music and no one elses.