Music videos typically have specific conventions. Specific shots are used over and over to help the video appeal to a wide audience. The main shots used are:
-Voyeuristic shots (male gaze)
Usually used in videos that star young, attractive females. This is to help the video appeal to a male audience.
-Close up and extreme close up
Used to help form a bond/connection between the viewer and the artist
-Low angle shot
Used to show that the band/artist are powerful or in control
Almost all mainstream artists, such as Lady Gaga, Jason Derulo and Cheryl Cole follow these conventions. However, many artists break the rules in their music videos:
Bat for Lashes - What's a girl to do
This video is simply one long shot of a woman riding a bike whilst singing. No cuts are used, which means that no close up/extreme close up shots are used. We would expect a lot of voyeuristic shots to be used in a video with a female artist, but here we see none.
The White Stripes - The Hardest Button to Button
This video also doesn't follow the typical conventions. There are no extreme close up shots, and there are no voyeuristic shots. It has not been filmed in a studio, like most mainstream videos, but on location.
Alistair Dickson
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