The 'Male Gaze' Theory - Laura Mulvey

The Male Gaze

The term 'Male Gaze' was constructed by Laura Mulvey, a British feminist film theorist in 1975. She believes that film audiences are forced to 'view' characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male. This makes women appear as objects to men.

Some of the key features of the male gaze include the camera lingering on the curves of the female body or when the female body is being sexualised even when it is irrelevant to what is going on in the scene or advertisement.   

Some examples of videos which use the Male Gaze are:

In this video we can see Megan Fox being objectified by her clothing being quite revealing which will appeal to heterosexual males as well as the position she is put in, as the male character is seen to like her. The camera shots here emphasise that the audience should be focusing on her body when there are shots showing her body from her legs to her face. The way as she walks away he is looking at her, this puts the audience in the position of the male character so everyone is forced to look at her. 

 Another example of a video which uses the Male Gaze is:

This video also objectifies women as Nicki Minaj is shown in her bikini which highlights the Male Gaze because me are being forced to look at the women in a sexual manner. The close ups of the women's bodies are the main focus throughout the video, therefore this supports Laura Mulvey's theory.

These images show Nicki Minaj as being confident with her body by the poses she does in order to make herself stand out and emphasises the Male Gaze however, she is creating a certain image for herself which will make females not attracted to her even though the intention is to draw in the male audience.

The long shot of the women all standing together with hardly any clothes on highlights their intentions to the audience as they are performing extremely confidently and looking at the camera shows their expression towards what they are doing. The stretching of their legs here is another sexual image which will reel in the heterosexual males.

This image of Nicki Minaj standing by herself in her bikini allows the audience to engage with her and feel like they can look at her body as she is exposing herself freely. The extra women in the background are also exposing themselves but not to the same degree and their sexual poses emphasises the nature of the video and its purpose. 

Vernallis Analysis for Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"

Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"

Carol Vernallis' Theory

Vernallis' Theory

Vernallis' theory centres around 4 key concepts whcih all relate to the construction of a music video. 

Narrative:

Vernallis says that the video is a visual response to the music. She also believes there may not always be a clear resolution at the end. Another opinion of hers is that the structure of the video may appear disjointed. 

Editing:

She thinks that the editing may match the musical phrases or the beat, also she says that the video may break the rules of continuity editing. This could be used with jump cuts, breaks of the 180 degree rule and extreme changes in pace. 

Camera Movement and framing:

Vernallis believes that extreme shots are very common as well as close-ups and establishing shots as they show the different extremes of the video. The camera may move on the lyrics or move in time with the music. 

Diegesis:

The diegesis may be revealed quite slowly and actions are not necessarily completed. Vernallis says that there may be gaps in the audiences understanding of the diegesis and there may be many repetitions. 

Collage of CD Covers/Digi Packs

Analysis of Rihanna - "Only Girl In The World"

Analysis of Rihanna - "Only Girl In The World"

I have chosen to analyse Rihanna's song to represent Goodwin's theory on the key features which distinguish the music video as a form. 

This video highlights Rihanna's use of a relationship between visuals and lyrics which is shown when Rihanna says "night" and the image automatically changes to a dark scene with fireworks to also compliment the lyrics of her being in love. Here we can see that Goodwin's theory is exemplified as the visuals are illustrating the music.

There are many close-ups used in this video which is very common in music videos as they really show the accuracy of the lip syncing which has been done during the editing process. Rihanna's video doesn't do extreme close-ups of the eyes or lips which slightly contradicts Goodwin's theory however, the use of close-ups of her entire face emphasises the emotion of the lyrics.

Rihanna's song has the lyrics 'Only girl in the world' where she has the sun shining to cover the intricate details of her face and make her look like she's floating with happiness. This is a lovely shot as it really reflects and amplifies the lyrics of the song. The mise-en-scene here doesn't necessarily fit in with the song however, it's open to interpretation which I really like because it shows that you can do anything with the video and you don't have to follow typical conventions by using the lyrics to write the narrative of your entire video.

These images signify the feelings and emotions which are shown through her increase into the air and her actions to show she's the only girl for the man she's singing about. Once again this follows Goodwin's theory on illustrating and amplifying the lyrics matching the visuals.

Illustration - Eminem ft. Rihanna "Love The Way You Lie"

Illustration

Illustration in terms of music video's is a key feature identified by Andrew Goodwin when a music video’s visuals are used to represent the lyrics or message of the song. Illustrating a music video exemplifies to the audience what the song is really about. Illustration is often the most commonly used method of linking lyrics with visuals in music videos as it is the most basic and ensures the meaning of the song is not missed through a distracting music video. An example of how illustration can be used within music videos to represent lyrics can be found in the song “Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem ft. Rihanna. He uses illustration in many of his videos as his lyrics are often very narrative driven, therefore they need consistent visuals.

Intertextuality - Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years"

Intertextuality

An example of intertextuality is Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years". This was the soundtrack from the Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 2. The video features scenes from the film, amongst shots of Christina Perri  in a room surrounded by candles. Additionally, the video includes a wedding scene and Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson saying they love each other.

A vast amount of music videos now incorporate cinema in them. The use of synergy when recording the soundtrack for a film not only promotes the film but also advertises the new music video. If this is successful, the artist themselves can become more well-known.

Here are some screenshots that show the mixture of Christina Perri in her own video, but also shots of scenes from the film:

These screenshots show intertextuality as we can see the wedding scene in the movie which is where the song plays in the film and this makes it significant to this film which has promoted it a lot because the Twilight series were all very popular, therefore the song would have then made a lot of money from it.

Amplification - Rihanna "Disturbia"

Amplification

Amplification in terms of music video form is a key feature identified by Andrew Goodwin when the video's visuals are used to enhance the meaning of a song by reinforcing the lyrics or message of the song. Essentially, by amplifying a music video you are taking the lyrics and making them more meaningful by creating visuals that not only support the lyrics but also make them stronger. Amplification is often used within music videos if an artist is trying to get across a new star image to their audience or if they want to make a weaker song more successful. An example of how amplification can be used within music videos to echo an artist’s star image is  “Disturbia” by pop star Rihanna. She uses amplification in many of her videos as her image is constantly changing and therefore needs to stand out to  powerfully presented to her audience.

Animated Animal Edit

Animated Animal Edit

Our task was to use pre-made footage to edit together a clip trying to use as many skills as possible with the special effects and editing using final cut. One of the tasks was to edit the clips to the beat of the music. This preliminary task was very useful as it refreshed my memory about all the techniques I used for my thriller and allowed me to think of ideas for editing my music video.

Genres of Music Videos

Video Genres

Gag Videos:

A gag video relies on visual tricks and effects. They can be shot live, also known as executing the visual effects "in camera" such as using dolls that look like the band for the performance rather than the band itself, or using special prosthetics to visually alter the artist or lead actor in the videos. The visual tricks can be post production effects, such as giving the artist an unrealistically long tongue, or setting the video in a location impossible to real life, such as outer space. 

Performance Videos:

Performance videos feature the artist or band performing and often take place in various locations with the performers wearing something different in each shot. 

Concept Videos:

Concept videos have neither the artist nor band performing, or many times appearing in the videos. These videos portray only stories or images, never performances. 

Narrative Videos:

Narrative videos are story videos with a clear beginning, middle and end, which is intercut with footage of the artist or band performing. The artist may or may not be the a character in the story. 

Dance Videos:

A dance video features choreographed dancing. 

Animated Videos:

An animated video features animated images which the artist or band may or may not be depicted. 

A Party or Club Video:

A party or club video features scenes that take place in a dance club or at a party. 

A Film-Clip Video:

A film-clip video is used when a song is features in a movie soundtrack. The video will contain clips from the film that are intercut with the music video.

Analysis of Stay by Rihanna

Analysis Stay - Rihanna



This video is one I would like to analyse as it is the genre I am looking into creating. I really like the visuals in this video however the lighting although it fits in with the narrative, I don't think it is the best that could have been used here. There are many shots from this video that I would consider replicating in my own. 

The video begins with a piano introduction which is played andante at quite a low pitch to set the mood of the song. The image is of water which has been slowed down to create a nice droplet effect also reflective of the tone of the piece. it then continues to show Rihanna getting undressed which helps build the narrative as we work out she's going for a bath and the first shot was the bath running. The pace of the video is all quite slow which could represent an unmotivated person and by the lyrics 'I want you to stay' we can infer that it's referring to a relationship and the man is walking away. 

The close-up of her in the bath not only shows her emotions, it creates a soothing feeling as bathing can be extremely relaxing. This could be seen as her way of calming herself. The expression on her face tells the audience that she is in deep thought and is not happy. As the words come in, she isn's shown to be singing which could signify the deep concentration on whats going on. 

Rihanna is presented as almost naked to represent her exposing her emotions. It could be said to imply she's putting her heart on the line and this is done my revealing her body as a metaphor for her emotions. 

The camera angle here suggests she is being looked down on as being vulnerable due to her revealing herself however, this is not presented in a provocative manner. The bath is used as a way of releasing her feelings into something. It's partly concealed and the water represents the feelings floating about and festering inside of her. The name of the song 'Stay' is clearly presented here when she holds on to the bath like she doesn't want to let him go. 

As the male character enters he is shown to be sitting on his own in a dark room talking about the female character. He appears to be lost about what to do about her. He doesn't know whether to stay or leave. The lighting is extremely dark here but the daylight shining in could represent him hiding away from the real world and the situation or decision he has to make. He is fully clothed which opposes Rihanna's miss-en-scene which could symbolise the concealment of his feelings.  His lyrics 'Not really sure how to feel about it' shows his indecisive nature and his ability to shut his feelings away. This contradicts Rihanna has she is lying naked letting all her feelings out. 

The song ends with Rihanna singing 'I want you to stay' and she slowly descends her head into the water but only slightly. This could symbolise her giving up on him or that she is so lost in her feelings that she does't know what to do. 

Prelim Task - Call Me Maybe

Call Me Maybe - Lip Sync Task

For this task, we had to choose a song and mime the lyrics whilst performing ready to edit together using a new skill we hadn't done before, lip syncing. We uploaded our footage to final cut and edited it to make the lip sync in time with the original song. In order to do this I downloaded the original track and used markers to help make the lip sync more accurate which is something I will definitely be transferring to my music video. It was a challenge at first but after a little bit of practice, I found it a lot easier. I really enjoyed making this video as I learnt a new skill and I now feel more confident about lip synicing my music video.

Conventions of a Music Video

Conventions

Camera Movement: (Illusion of speed)

• Pans
• Handheld
• Whip pan
• Crane shots
• Tilts
• Tracking
• Circling
• Fast 

Editing:

• Fades
• Jump cuts
• Wipes
• Dissolves
• Narrative continuity is avoided
• Cut to the beat
• Fast pace/montage editing

Camera Shots:

• Close ups of the artists face 
• Extreme close ups of mouth and eyes
• Close ups of instruments
• Mid shots of singers
• Long shots of whole group

Mise-en-scene: Overall concept/colour scheme

• Unusual costumes (colourful)
• Unusual props 
• Cars
• Hair
• Expressive lighting
• Multiple locations - linked to the genre

Sound:

• Song is usually foregrounded but not always
• Occasional diegetic sound

Other:

• Voyeurism 
• Incongruous elements 
• Iconography
• Intertextuality
• Climbing in and out of the screen

Special Effects

Types of Videos

1. Narrative 
2. Performance
3. Concept

Andrew Goodwin's Theory

I found a couple of slideshares online which really identify the key features of his theory.

Andrew Goodwin has identified a number of key features which distinguish the music video as a form:
- There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.
- There is a relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the music.
- Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography
- Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of the main artist or vocalist. Videos allow artists to present and modify their 'Star Image' to the public.
- Voyeurism is present in many music videos, especially in the treatment of females, but also in terms of systems of looking. Some examples are screens within screens, cameras, mirrors, etc.
- There are likely to be intertextual references, either to other music videos or to films and TV texts; these provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewers/fans.

Andrew Goodwin uses the term ‘Star Image’ and refers to the ‘image’ an artist will portray themselves as in order to appeal to their target audience.  Goodwin stated ‘the creation of character identities for stars provides a point of identification for the audience, which is especially important when lyrics lack depth.’ This highlights the way in which an artist is represented as being crucial. Furthermore, the star image is the best way for an artist to reinforce their new persona, which is often shown through close ups in their videos. Miley Cyrus is a perfect example of how an artists star image can be radicalised over time and the impact their star image can have on their success. I have divided Miley’s star images into three categories:

Sweet and innocent Miley:

In this video which was released in 2008 whilst Miley was starring in Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, we can see that she is presented as being a better role model to her TV audience. The clothing she wears is a unique style however, it is suitable for the children who idolise her. Therefore, she has to appear to be a sweet young girl so that parents will be happy for their children to be watching her programmes. 
Dancing Miley:



'Party In The USA' was released in 2009 and this is where Miley started to relax and find herself. Her video now included more provocative dancing in comparison to '7 Things' and she now has more dancing girls who are dressed in a more revealing way as is she. It was soon after this that Miley stopped filming Hannah Montana and therefore she didn't feel as though she had to be someone her audience wants her to be. 

Sexual Miley:

My final comparison is this video which was released in 2013. In this video, we can see a drastic difference in her clothing which has turned into not wearing very much as well as her provocative dancing which we can see in this picture where she's on all fours and sticking out her bottom to show her sexual attitude. 

As we can see, there has been a huge change in Miley Cyrus' star image in just 5 years of fame. She has now become more sexual and  provocative which is definitely inappropriate for young children. As Goodwin said that an artist will portray themselves in a way that will appeal to their target audience. In this case, Miley was young herself in 2008 and therefore her target audience was people her age who watched her programme. Recently, her image changed as her target audience changed due to her growing up and maturing as a person. She has developed her image and made herself appeal to people more of her age group now. 

Previous A2 Music Videos

Previous A2 Music Videos - Analysis

To start off the course, I thought I would watch and analyse some of the music videos from last years students in order to develop my own ideas for my music video. Also, this will help me to understand what is expected of me this year.

I started by looking at this video:

I like this video because it really connects with the audience because of the relationship presented through the narrative which is built through the lighting and mise-en-scene. I think the use of close-ups really helps to develop the narrative and makes the audience more engaged.

This example highlights the relationship between the lyrics and the visuals as a lot of what is said matches the image on screen. For example, 'These eyes that I'm staring at' then the image is off her eyes. This is repeated throughout the video which supports Goodwin's theory of lyrics matching visuals.

There is good use of lighting in this video to emphasise the emotion between the characters as well as the change in background when the main male character is singing on his own. I also really liked the slow motion images to make it fit in well with the lyrics as well as the special effects which give a hazy effect to link in with the drugs we see on the table. I think this was a really well put together video however, it could be considered slightly too literal to the lyrics. I prefer videos to be left slightly to my imagination.

The next Music Video I looked at from a previous student was this:

I thought this video was extremely well put together. I loved the change in speed to create an unsettling mood which worked really well with the colours in the miss-en-scene too. The reds and blacks help build the narrative as they are generally seen as quite dark or devilish colours.

There is a repeated close-up of the main characters lips which also matches in with the colour red. This shows the lip sync is well done and also, there is a slight relationship between the lyrics and the visuals when it said 'Go back and tie it' then it showed the hands being tied up. I thought the reversal of that was really neat and cleverly done as it rewinds the footage.

The lighting is generally quite dark too which also reflects on the narrative however, there is a light shining at certain parts when there is a white piece of clothing being flown around the woman which creates a kind of silhouette which is really effective and keeps the audience enticed throughout. This creates the image of the main character being watched because of the perspective we are looking at her from. It looks as if she's on a stage but I really like the effect this gives.

I then watched this video: http://player.vimeo.com/video/47925628?byline=0&portrait=0

This talks about how over the years music videos have become a lot less important to many people and therefore, not as much money is being spent on making them because they are so easily made now with modern technology. I think that although this is true, somehow professionally made Music Videos always appear a lot better. They seem to have better narratives, better lighting and are able to produce it to a high standard and of good quality, Homemade Music Videos can also produce good quality ones however, you can still see the difference between the two in my eyes.
Making these Videos requires a lot of money for it to look decent but people only have small budgets.  I think it's great that young people can make their own videos and practice if they are aspiring directors as it's a great starting point. It is extremely difficult to create a high standard video with such a low budget whilst still be creative enough to engage an audience.