Analysis of Music Videos: Costume, Setting, Location

Analysis of Music Videos: Costume, Setting, Location

Usher - Burn (R'n'B)

Analysis:

One Direction - Best Song Ever (Pop)


Analysis:

Mumford and Sons - Hopeless Wanderer (Folk Rock)


Analysis:

Questions:
1. What do you notice about the amount of costumes in the videos?
The amount of costume changes within a video refers to the genre of the music video as all genres have different qualities. E.g. in a Pop music video, it is expected that there will be multiple costume changes as the genre is based on appearance, not just musical talent, like Indie, or Folk.

2. What differences are there between the genres in terms of the amount and style of the costumes?
As mentioned before, some genres are more appearance-based, meaning that multiple costume changes within their genre is expected as it is not all about the music and talents they have. Unlike, indie and folk which are genres that are purely based upon the artist's/band's musical abilities so they usually just show the artists performances in music videos.

3. Compare the use of setting and location between the three genres - what similarities and differences can you spot?
There are mainly differences between the three genres I chose to analyse. R'n'B uses the setting and location as a symbol of the wealthy lifestyle the artist leads. Whereas, Folk Rock use the simplest form of natural setting and location so that the audience's attention cannot be diverted away from the band's performance. Pop's use of setting and location was used to portray the band's wild side and to portray the band's capabilities of being young and having fun.

4. How significant is the use of props in the genres that you analysed?
The use of props is extremely significant within the genres. Folk Rock's use of instruments as props is the central focus of the whole music video, therefore without the props this video would not function the way it does. R'n'B's use of props is, again, for the purposes of showing the artist's lavish lifestyle and wealth. For Pop, the use of props are to convey the band's fun and wild side as they smash computers and rip up paperwork.