Research into existing products
Each
genre goes through four phases of existence:
·
The experimental
·
The Classic
·
The Parody
·
The Deconstruction
The Experimental
This
is the phase of very early film, which explore and experiment with horror
themes in its narratives. Films such as:
·
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1919)
·
Nosferatu (1922)
These
films helped to formalise the narrative conventions of the horror film in it’s
easiest phase.
The Classic
This
is the phase of films which established the narrative conventions of the horror
genre in its most successful and defining period. Films such as:
·
Dracula (1931)
·
Frankstein (1931)
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By Universal
The Parody
These
are the films that have mimicked the horror genre in some comical way. Films
such as:
·
Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein (1948)
·
Carry on Screaming (1968)
·
Scary movie (1998)
Deconstruction
These
are the films that have taken the generic elements of the horror genre and
amalgamated them into varying sub-genres. Films such as:
·
Se7en (1995)
·
The sixth sense (1999)
·
The Blair witch project (1998)
·
Scream (1996)
Music Videos
Like
films have their genres Music Videos also have certain archetypes which define
them, which can be seen in all music videos after closer inspection.
The
three types of music videos are:
Performance based music videos
·
These are music videos which commonly depict the song artist
performing their song to the viewer, potentially with choreography etc. as it
is a performance
·
Bands such as U2 and The Rolling Stones, sometimes Beyoncé.
·
These music videos can mimic the appearance of live performances.
Narrative based music videos
·
These are music videos which depict a story within the video which
would be supported by the song, conveying imagery that may match the music.
·
These types of music videos wouldn’t show the artist of the song
unless they were acting in a part of the story, otherwise they wouldn’t be seen
performing at all.
·
Artists such as Ed Sheeran are known for narrative based music
videos.
Abstract/Artistic/Surrealist music videos
·
These are music videos which do not seem to be a performance or
story-driven, and instead can be difficult to interpret due to being so
abstract.
·
These types of videos can seem more metaphorical and or
psychological and attempt to convey artistic ideals through abstract imagery.
·
Gotye – Somebody that I used to know is a song which is known for
being quite abstract
·
Lady Gaga has also been known for depicting abstract music videos.
·
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Just
like films can merge genres in order to create sub-genres music videos can
merge different types of their music videos in order to create sub-types in
order to add to the experience of the video. Components of each type can be
merged in music videos, such as a performance and narrative types being merged
and depicting both a story as well as a performance. Beyoncé often interprets
this type of sub-type in her music videos.
Homage/Pastiches
·
“Pastiche” is a word commonly used in Art, which essentially means
to take another artist’s work and reimagine it. This is the same with music
videos.
·
Certain music videos may take minor inspiration from existing ones
·
Or there can be music videos which outright copy existing music
videos shot-by-shot, however these are usually seen as parodies or used to make
a statement.
·
Weird Al Yankovic is known for making clean parody music videos of
existing music videos, usually with word play on the lyrics.
·
à “Eat it” was
a Weird Al parody of Michael Jackson’s “Beat it”.
·
Shania Twain made a performance music video for her “Man! I feel
like a woman” song, which depicting a frame-by-frame homage to Robert Palmer’s “Addicted
to love”
·
The original song depicting a man centre stage (fully dressed and
average looking) surrounded by several women dressed in sexualised ways acting
as eye-candy
·
Shania Twain reversed these roles in her song, depicting her
centre stage non-sexualised with several men around her dressed in sexualised
outfits, now using them as eye candy. The music video was renowned for its
themes of female empowerment.
