History of music videos

Cliff Richard- Summer Holiday (1963)
Summer Holiday is a British music film in this video we see cliff Richard, an artist fit into a narrative. He plays a character for the audience's entertainment. The video is part of a film. This is when films were very popular and for music to be promoted they would have to be a part of a film. People would go to the cinema to see there favourite artists and listen to there music in films and a narrative. As not everyone had TV's in the 1960's. The film is in colour, which appealed to a wide audience, and the film was non rebellious was what is expected which makes it family entertainment. Other artists like Elvis, played characters within a narrative in the 60's, however this change with The Beatles.


The Beatles- A Hard Days Night (1964)
A Hard Day's Night is a British black-and-white comedy film starring The Beatles during the height of Beatlemania. The film portrays several days in the lives of the group. Because The Beatles were so popular they played themselves in films, to promote there music instead of playing characters. This went against conventions and changed the face of music videos.


The Beatles-  Hello Goodbye (1967)
The Beatles really focus on the performance and technical codes in this video. Because the video was made at a time where there was no conventions to follow, there was no rules and this video allowed them to create an image for themselves. The beginning of the video where the curtains open is like the start of a show, making the audience feel like they are watching a live performance. With the video having no narrative and being highly performance based, allows most of the attention to be on the music. They used a wide range of camera shots, allowing us to see each member of the band. However some shots are too long. They are wearing extravagant outfits, not like how we have previously seen The Beatles. Its like they are saying 'Hello' to The new Beatles.


The Beatles- I am the walrus (1967)
The Beatles also created codes and conventions within music videos, Foe example the use of close ups and different camera shots, the element of performance, editing on the beat and the choice of setting/location. Creating an iconic image.  This happened when films become less popular, due to TVs, more and more households had TVs, so that music videos could be sent on video round the world.  The Beatles used this as a way to challenge values and society, by trying to influence people and send messages through the music and videos.


Bob Dylan- Don't Look Back  is a 1967 American documentary film, the video is basic, in a run down alley way, there is one camera shot through out with no edits. The star is stood to the right of the screen with the lyrics he's holding central, showing that the video is selling the song not the artist. There is no distractions to take away from the song and the important part of the song is highlighted with the cards he's holding.














Beautiful South- Song For Whoever (1989)
This video is substance over style as the video has a narrative and a message. The band are playing talent scouts, to find a new star. The video has strong ideology because they are mocking chart music and pop stars as the captions in the video say things like "you can't sing, you'll go along way" also because the made star is a jelly, its suggesting that celebrities are moulded and created, and that every pop star is the same.


Weezer- Buddy Holly (1994)
This video relates to Michael Shore's (1984) theory of recycled style/ style scavengers. Where the video has no meaning and is purely based on image rather than substance. Where videos take ideas and parts from previous media texts. Weezer takes scenes from American 1970's Sitcom Happy Days, set in Arnolds local coffee bar, like in the TV show. Happy days is the 1970's version/ interpretation of the 1950's, this is a cultural reference, based on other media texts understanding of reality. Other videos recycle style for example, Madonna- Vogue, taking ideas from icons like Marilyn Monroe. And Blink 182- All the small things, this video is mocking other music videos styles.








Rihanna- SOS (2006)
This video backs up the idea of Laura Mulvey's Male gaze theory, as we can see in the video, The star is wearing outfits the are revealing and look good to men, the camera emphasises the curves on her body. She is also dancing provocatively infront of a man, like she is there for a mans pleasure. The man has dominance in the video as she is dancing around him like she his his possession. The audience watch the video through the eyes of a male.




Beyonce- Run the world (Girls) (2011)




Jay Z- 99 Problems (2009)
This video is linked with society and a reflection of society, there is cultural understanding of when the video comes from and what it is based on. The video holds themes you would expect the video to have when linking with the genre. The video has themes such as:
Police harassment, Urban area, hoodie, jewellery/chains, dogs, jail, shooting, objectification of women, basketball, Stereotypes, hand held camera ect...