Music video comparison:
Explain one way in which music videos use media language to
differ from each other. Refer to one example of contrasting media language in
two music videos you have studied to support your answer.
One way in which music videos use media language to differ
from each other is the type of shots that each scene was filmed and
transitioned into. On one hand we have the music video for ‘Teenage Dirtbag’
which has quite simple shots and the cameras doesn’t move around too much. The lyrics
and the video match up as the video are a literal presentation of what the band
is singing about. It has traditional shots as the video is supposed to
represent a traditional American High school feel as it based on that environment.
You have the typical popular girl and her annoying Jockey and a quiet boy who
wants to be what the boyfriend is to the girl. There aren’t many hectic shots,
the video takes its time with each scene and doesn’t cut halfway through to
show another to show another aspect of the American life. Most of the shows in
this are eye-level ones and some close ups so we see the corny expressions on
the faces of each character. The transitions
are also very basic and they all build up to the biggest night of their year…
prom. The scenes start to get more hectic as it goes on and they get more
exiting and different types of shots come into play. For example: the scene
when the girls tell the boy he has tickets and it slowly zooms into her and
then cuts from time to time of the band.
On the other hand, the ‘Sk8ter boy’ music video does the
opposite. The shots are very hectic which I think really captures the lyrics
and feel of the song. The video is set in an edgy alternative scene to most
videos and shows the grunge side of America. The videos really contrast here as
one is hectic and edgy and the other is traditional and bright. A common shot
in this video are high-angle shots and birds eye view. This is to show that
they are different from the rest and could want people to look up to them
because they are trying to be different. The teenagers are trying to rebel from
their parents and so the video is very choppy and so you have to watch carefully
or you might miss a scene. It really represents them trying to break free of
the reins of parents and trying to experiment in their own creative way. This
is also shown by the different shots. The transitions vary in this music video
which I think shows how the relationship between the boy and his ex and the boy
and the girl varied and then when they were dancing on cars, everything was
finally figured out and it has stopped being hectic.
IN conclusion, I think that the shot types and transitions
alone create a massive difference in the two videos. One is very bright like a
kids magazine and the other moody and exiting like a teenage, more grown up
one, experimenting as they go.
