Research into Music Videos

There are three main types of music videos:
-Performance based such as a live band on stage with the performer present e.g. Adele's "Hello" video.
-Narrative Based where a storyline is evident, doesn't have to artist present e.g. Avicii's "Hey Brother".
-Abstract/Artistic music video is creative and animation e.g. Christine and the Queens's "Tilted".

-Most videos are a combination of both performance and narrative in a traditional sense.

We can apply the "Christian Metz" Model of Genre Development to Music Videos, according to Metz there are four types of Music Videos:
1) The Experimental: Visser/Musicals/Beatles
2) The Classic: Thriller/Beat it/ Durran Durran (Early 80s)
3) The Parody: Weird Al Jankovic  "Eat it
4) The Deconstruction: Robert Palmer "Addicted to Love"

Explanation of 4 Phases-
By Experimental phase this refers to the phase of filmmaking which explored and experimented with how to film a band or artist whilst they are performing. An example of this is the world's first ever music video which was created in 1925, the clip uses mostly a medium shot, the artist is juxtaposed in the centre of the screen using a static camera.

Musicals were important when music videos were first being established. Musical videos such as "Diamonds Are a Girl's Bestfriend" from the film "Gentlemen prefer Blondes" (1953). The performance is filmed mostly in long shots with pans left and right with some tracking towards the artist- mostly a long take with no cuts.

By Classic phase we mean the phase of music videos which established the conventions in most successful and defining period (1980's). Richard Lester helped formalise and establish the codes and conventions of how to film a band; close ups of lead singer, cutaways of instruments being played filming band together and separately, cutting to the beat of the song, filming a live performance. Certain angles, shots, postitiions and movements are still used today. 

The 1980's acted as the defining period for music videos with Michael Jacksons "Beat It" and The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" setting standards high for the music video industry. MTV became a crucial medium for pop culture during this era, most artists used TV as a medibum to share music videos. The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" was first aired on MTV on August 1st 1981. TV and channels such as MTV were crucial to artists and the music video industry as it allowed them to boost record sales and publicise their music. 

By Parody we mean videos that have mimicked famous music videos in some comercial way, for example "Weird Al Jankovic: Eat it" was a parody of Michael Jacksons hit "Beat it". 

By Deconstruction we mean videos which have taken the generic elements of another music video and amalgamated them into something else, this is an example of homage. One of the most well known examples of deconstruction is Madonna's 1985 video for "Material Girl' (directed by Mary Lambert) which was closely modelled on Jack Cole's staging of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". Both music videos take key elements of one another.