Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Scopitone


Scopitone is a type of jukebox featuring a 16 mm film component. It was a forerunner of music video. The Italian Cinebox/Colorama and Color-Sonics were competing, lesser-known technologies of the time.[
Here is an example of a scopitone clip:

Len Lye



A New Zealander who was highly experimental and influential in early film making.
Short film that illustrates the way visuals and music have often been related.

Stylus Magazine's Top 100 Music Videos

Although a little dated now being from 2006 and 2007, the above article shows a huge variety of music videos here. Perhaps some inspiration might be found.

Music Video Analysis

How to analyse a music video...
Andrew Goodwin writing in ‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’ (Routledge 1992)

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
6. There is often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).

Sunday, July 18, 2010