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 prioritizing 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 the camera; eye contact with the audience
Media language is used to promote the artists in these two music videos, this is demonstrated when Avril Levigne makes eye contact with the camera, and the audience, whilst lip-syncing to the song Sk8er Boi in the music video making it seem that she is actually singing. This entices audiences to feel that her singing is authentic and an impressive display of talent, reinforcing her place as a music star, increasing her popularity, and encouraging more people to listen to the music she creates. Furthermore, the band Wheatus in their music video Teenage Dirtbag is shown performing the song Teenage Dirtbag in the gym hall of the school that the story takes place in, audiences seeing the artists play the instruments the song is comprised of would compel them to believe that they have immense talent and are compassionate about their work, this display of talent promotes the artists by enticing audiences to listen to more of Wheatus’s music and follow their new releases more closely so that they do not miss out on experiencing such talents. Additionally, Avril Lavigne is shown to be in the centre of almost every shot in Sk8er Boi and having many people following her and what she is doing, this prioritizing of Avril Lavigne makes her seem very important to others and that she must be very interesting because of the talents she has to make these people follow her, this may create a ‘Fear of missing out’ amongst viewers of her music video who aren’t already fans causing them to be more engaged and watch more of her content and consume more media from her such as music, possibly even sharing information about her to her friends. This promotion of her as an artist and personality increases how many people will listen to her song and watch the music video.
Succint and lucid work. Good subject knowledge and understanding shown.
ReplyDeleteWheatus – Teenage Dirtbag (TD) and Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi (SB)
• SB’s use of lip syncing to camera promotes Avril Lavigne as the artist as she is singing to the audience directly
• SB’s use of multiple close ups of Avril Lavigne, further emphasising her status as the artist and her distinctive grungy ‘look’ which she is known for
• SB’s use of a range shots of Avril Lavigne looking directly into the camera to connect with her audience
• Avril Lavigne’s dominance of screen time allows for the audience to understand that she is the artist.
• TD’s sweeping use of pans to show the band performing as a collective emphasising their musical skill and to promote this to their audience
• TD’s use of MCU of the individual band members playing their instruments to further emphasis their status as the main artists
• TD’s increased pace in edit as the video reaches its climax, accompanied by the adoring fans, promotes the band to the audience as we see them being appreciated by fans.