Tropes and Memes

I have previously talked about memes and tropes in my magazine task and the same meaning applies with music videos as well.

When someone has created an 'idea' or thought, others will then favour this and incorporate it into their music video. When so many artists have featured that meme then it becomes a trope. A trope is an established meme which continuously keeps getting used.

There are a lot of memes and tropes which apply to genres of music. For example in hip hop and rap music, it is common for a bouncing car to be in the video as well as a lot of 'sexy' women who have large assets and tend to be in big groups and crowds. The artists tend to wear a lot of jewellery and show a lot of hand movements and head nodding, apposed to synchronised dancing which is more in pop music videos. All of these tropes and memes are evident in Dr Dre's video of Still Dre.

In comparison to this the indie/folk memes and tropes tend to be much more senstitive as they don't objective women in their videos like hip hop ones do, there is no sign of sexism, no sign of aggression or there wasn't any predictions. The location to where they are shot, seem to be much more glamourous and 'beautiful'. The indie artists tend to look like a group of close friends in their videos. All of these memes and tropes can be evident in Mumford and Sons videos.

There is a video by All Time Low called I Feel Like Dancing whihc shows memes and tropes in humourus ways. They take aspects from other artists videos and reconstruct them to their own way and act them.

This is them re-acting Katy Perry's California Girls video.

This is them re-acting Lady Gaga's Bad Romance video.

Andrew Goodwin's Theory

Analysing music videos

Andrew Goodwin produced a book which stated all the different characteristics which can be found in a music video. Below are the main characteristics which can be found in a typical music video...

'Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics' - It is typical to find that each genre has a specific way of presenting their video. Oftenly a metal band would be on a stage performing wildly and in a boy/girl band it is expected they would be doing so kind of synchronised dance routine.

'There is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals' - There are three main ways in which artists create/perform in their videos. They can be very illistrative; this is where they act out and do the movements in which the lyrics suggest. They can also amplify the video but exaggarating all the actions and meanings of the song/lyrics. The last one is contradicting what is being said and going against the meaning of the song. This can either be ironically or satirically.

'There is a relationship between music and visuals' - This is very similar to the point above - the categories can either be illustrative, amplifying or contradicting.

'The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style)' - This is exactly what it says. Throughout the video the main focus would be on the artist and follow them on every move. Motifs which recur is something which will be the same or similar in every video what they produce/create. An example of this is that in several of Nicki Minaj's videos her bum is the main focus and a lot of UV lighting is used.

'There are frequent references to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic/erotic treatment of the female body' - This can sometimes be dependent on the genre as not all videos display women in an objective manner.

'There is often intertextual reference' - This can either be with tv programmes, films or other videos. A good example to this is All Time Low video of 'I Feel Like Dancing' where they copy and exaggarate previous music videos done by other artists.

Types of Music Videos

There are several types of styles that a music video can fall into. Below are some of the main kinds that you will find when watching a video.
Performance

Narrative

Informative

Related to the theme

Lip sync vs non lip sync

One take video

Artist absent

Cartoon/anime

Random videos 

Intertextual (reference / re-enact other videos)

Extreme theme

Conventions of Music Videos

Just like films, music videos have similar conventions to one another.  Some of the music videos which were published not long ago still portray some conventions to what they did in the early years.


In class we watched two videos: The Exciters - Tell Him and One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful. 


The Exciters - Tell Him 1962 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah-tui1ubnU

What's involved:

close ups

synchronised movements

miming 

tracking shots

location changes

look towards the camera

camera followed them

Budget:

One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJO3ROT-A4E

What's involved: 

fades

dissolve

zoom out

mid shots

high/low angle

change of outfits, time of day and location

loads of fast cuts

look towards the camera

built a narrative

tracking shots

Budget:

What's different?
Even though both videos had a lot of cuts, the most recent one of 'What Makes You Beautiful' has much slicker and better quality editing and the cuts are much more frequent and quicker. With the One Direction video the budget was much bigger allowing better cameras and a equipment to be used, digital filming and better locations. Throughout the video the positioning of the artists move all around the location they are in compared to the 'Tell Him' video where they are in more of a basic setting along with the time of day setting and the fact they change outfits. There would have been a huge difference with the high production value and as I've previously said and in the budget which is empha. 


What's the same?
Both of the videos display the artists singing towards the camera and therefore singing the the audience.  Similarly to this the camera often follows the artist to make them center of attention and so the audience become more familiar with them and make them more popular. In both of the videos the artist bands/groups stuck to minimal dance moves however the moves they done were very synchronised. Other features what were similar, is the fact that a tracking shot is used to follow the artists throughout the video.

Roses are Red Analysis

http://vimeo.com/31029632

Throughout the short film several tracking shots are used which follow the girl, Rose (and sometimes the boy) when they are walking through the setting. This is a great technique used as it suits the meaning and plot of the short film well - it could allow the audience to 'follow' the journey and emotions that the boy is feeling about losing his girlfriend. It adds emotion to the film making the audience feel more involved. In support of these ideas, several mid shots and wide shots are used to capture the characters and the setting/location in the background which could show nobody is around and evoke ideas that the boy is lonely without Rose. There is also a high angle shot of him looking down at the picture of Rose, which could connote the misery he's feeling.
Non diegetic sound is used continuously in the short film up until he goes to approach 'Rose' in the car. The music may have been stopped here to show a sense of normality and brings him back to real life. The key minor music is produced on a piano which slow soft notes demonstrating his sad mood and these are repeated throughout which could show signs of his repetitive feelings of pain and upset. A voiceover is also added towards the end of the film where he is looking down at the picture and subconsciously recalling the news report on Rose's death in his mind. This is a good technique to use as the report informs the audience of what is happening and gives the audience everything they need to understand it. Diegetic music and ambient sounds such as the door unlocking and the glass picture smashing and crumbling could add a sense of reality to the film and the crumbling noise could allow the audience to feel for his 'crumbling' heart for his loss. 
At the beginning and end of the film there is an opening scene of which the title is only printed on and credits at the end which has a plain black background and white writing - using the WOB effect. This could signify the dull, lifeless atmosphere without rose there and suits the mood and emotions that the film creates. In the middle of the film, there is a fade which turns black until the next scene which could heighten ideas that he is in grieving for Rose and is in a 'dark' place. The cuts are all slow when he thinks he can see Rose which could portray ideas that he is longing and wishing for her back. 
Seeing as it was shot during the daytime, the lighting was relatively high key making it look more natural - however it was quite a dull/windy day which could also mirror his feelings. The idea of the weather is reinforced by the 'costumes' as characters were in coats which are suitable for the conditions. An important feature of the film is the red rose which could show a sign of beauty and the colour red could portray ideas of the love he had for her. The location is used cleverly as the building (university) are appropriate and suit their age range and makes it look more realistic. As there are not many people present it could also suggest signs of his isolation.