MUSIC VIDEO
We have
started studying our two set texts in class.
Wheatus Teenage Dirtbag
Avril Lavigne Sk8er Boi
This is
where you can see what we study in music videos on our blog.
PREP Watch
the two videos again, looking in particular at differences in representation,
camerawork and editing.
Your prep is
to identify how the two videos differ in their representation, camerawork and
editing. Pick only one example of each.
Representation
The
representation in Teenage Dirtbag is very different to the representation in
Sk8er Boi. Firstly, in Teenage Dirtbag, the main character is shown as quite lonely,
unpopular, shy and perceived as your typical ‘loser’. He spends most of his day
wishing his crush, Noel, would just notice him for once as he knows he can treat
her so much better than her current boyfriend. However, in Sk8er Boi it is quite
the opposite. Avril Lavigne is a rebellious, careless teenager who couldn’t be
any less bothered about love and even mentions ‘Well, tough, luck that boy's
mine now’ meaning she managed to take the girl’s boyfriend with ease. She tends
to try to live a fun, care-free life and do whatever she wants.
Camerawork
The camerawork
in Teenage Dirtbag is very steady and realistic to how things would be seen on
a day-to-day basis. The camera follows the main character around like a film as
it tries to focus on the story and it never breaks the fourth wall – apart from
the scenes where Wheatus is performing to the camera. However, Sk8er Boi is
filmed more like a live concert especially in the scenes when she is performing
on top of the cars. The camera is extremely shaky as it tries to keep up with
Avril’s fast and energetic pace. The camera mainly tries to focus on the music
aspect of the video instead of the story as there isn't much of one.
Editing
In Teenage
Dirtbag they use cross-cutting a lot when going from the boy in
high-school to the band performing in the gym or at prom. In the scenes at the
high school, they tend to be in slow-motion especially when he sees Noel which tells
the viewer that this is possibly a dream the boy is having or he likes her so
much that she seems like she is always in slow-motion to him. Teenage Dirtbag
is edited like it is a movie instead of a music video. In Sk8er Boi, the
editing is extremely fast-paced – almost like an action movie. It is also used
to highlight how much attention is gathered by Avril and the chaos which is her
music and it’s edited more like a concert than a music video.
Mark 10/10
ReplyDeleteRepresentation: you draw attention accurately to TD's hunger for approval and conformity. He is a love-sick puppy desperate to please Noel. You are right to contrast him with SB, who is a rebel and who rejects conventional society values (the kind of values of her boyfriend's first girl "all of her friends / Stuck up their nose"). However, SB does value real love and speaks critically of the first girl, who has betrayed her values and ends up alone ("She sits at home / Feeding the baby, she's all alone").
Camerawork: Very good. You note central contrasts. SB uses tracking shots and handheld. It also features extremes of low and high angle shots. The whole is very edgy and reflects the rebelliousness of an unofficial gig.
Editing: You contrast pace effectively and you note the movie versus the concert styles.