Week 1 - analysing 3 music videos

To start off our music video analysis we analysed 3 different music videos that displayed illistrative, dysjuncture and amplification according Andrew Goodwin's theory that there are three different types of music video. This gives us a range of different music videos to analyse to see which type of music video we liked best and which genre we enjoyed the most.

One Direction - steal my girl


This song is clearly a pop song and has the stereotypical qualities of a boy band pop music video such as focusing on their faces rather than them playing instruments or doing a dysjunctured music video where its all about something other than the band. This is because boy bands generally owe their fame to their looks more than their talent so its most important to see their faces not only individually but also together to show that they are unified. This is shown by the use of allot os close ups and long shots to show them as a whole and how big and important they are now that they can afford this set and this director and close ups to see individual faces. Cross-cutting is used between shots of different members of the band showing the link between them promoting the idea of unity. This is a good example of a dysjunctured music video as they are doing seemingly random actions such as dancing with a marching band and singing with a monkey which has nothing to do with what they're singing about. This connotes the idea that they are young, vibrant and crazy young men that are very fun loving as this is also reinforced by the use of bright colours and key lighting. The editing is at a fast pace which is in accordance with the pace of the music.


Ed Sheeran - The A Team

This is an example of an illustrative music video where it tells you a story. This music video is very different compared to the one direction one as ed's face is rarely seen and is only in it for 2 or 3 scenes as his music and artistry is what sells his music. Only black and white is used connoting a depressing and dreary atmosphere which represents the woman's feelings about her life. Jump cuts are used to show one part of her life jump to the next. The use of a time-laps shows the world moving fast around her as she sits watching showing that her life is moving too quickly around her for her to cope with or get out of showing ed wants to portray a gritty and real portrayal of a homeless person which subtly tells us a good life lesson to stay away from drugs.  Tracking shots are also used to show the characters daily life.

The Editors - Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors

This music video is an example of amplification which amplifies one aspect of the song which is the hospital being negative. A handheld use of camera is used to make it look rough which fits the theme of indie rock. Low angle shots of the girl are used to empower her and to show that she can now go everywhere with her new found freedom. The pace of the song matches the videos pace by using evenly paced editing and cross cutting from the hospital worker and the girl.