Analysis of music videos

Media Studies

Using your best terminology and application of concepts discussed in lessons, write up your analysis of your analysis of your three chosen pop music videos and add this to your blogs

Each video should be analysed in 200-300 words.

Try to identify any shared conventions.

Ensure you have answered all of these questions in your analysis:

1. Why did you choose the text you are analysing? Because I know that Charlie Puth has chilled, catchy songs. The song; How Long by Charlie Puth also appeals to the demographic of fun-loving 16-25 year olds. It will also suit the summer vibe due to its positive, upbeat manor.

2. In what context did you encounter it? I had searched for Charlie Puth songs since I knew that most of his songs are child-friendly and upbeat. I had stumbled upon this song and knew that it would fit for the style of the music video I am doing. It is also a pop song.

3. What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?

4. Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text? Charlie Puth is seen wearing a stylish outfit – suit. The music video is also slightly over 3 minutes; typical of a music videos time.

5. To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre? It is at night, which is fairly unusual to see in pop songs due to pop song conventions often being happy, joyful, sunny, etc.

6. Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre? 

7. What sort of audience did you feel that the video was aimed at (and how typical was this of the genre/style of music)? I believe that Charlie Puth’s target audience for this song is teenage girls aged 12-18. However, can be aimed at an older group due to the formal, smart suit and setting presented. 

8. What sort of person does it assume you are? Of young age, perhaps. This is due to the lack of bad words/taboo language used throughout the music video.

9. What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity? Lower class/middle class tend to be the main target audience for Charlie Puth. Also, his audience tend to be female due to Charlie Puth’s playful behaviour.

10. What interests does it assume you have? Perhaps It assumes that I have an interest in performance and am joyful.

11. What relevance does the text actually have for you? A lot since it has a fairly catchy and upbeat vibe to it, which will be effective for making a performance montage during the summer. It also doesn’t contain any swear words, thus appealing to the 16yr old demographic as well as the ‘fun-loving’ audience.

12. What knowledge does it take for granted? 

13. To what extent do you resemble the 'ideal reader' that the video seeks to position you as? 

14. Are there any notable shifts in the video's style (and if so, what do they involve)? Yes, throughout the end of the music video, Charlie Puth begins to walk up buildings, thus representing a fairly unique and original idea of a music video.

15. What responses does the video seem to expect from you? Surprised and impressed, however confused due to Charlie Puth walking on the walls during the end of the music video.

16. How open to negotiation is your response (are you invited, instructed or coerced to respond in particular ways)? 

17. Is there any penalty for not responding in the expected ways? No, the storyline is fairly basic and can be easily understood.

18. To what extent do you find yourself 'reading against the grain' of the text and the genre? 

19. How typical do you think this video is of Music Videos? The performance side of the video is fairly common due to Charlie Puth dancing which is a typical convention within music videos. Whereas, on the other hand however he is also seen walking up walls during the end of the music video, thus creating a more original, unique stylistic music video.