comparing characteristics of different genres in music videos

The two genres I have chosen to compare are the R&B/Rap genre and Indie/Folk genre. I have chosen these two very different genres to show how large the production style differs between music categories due to what is expected of producers mainly by their target audiences as well as the record labels themselves.

1) clothing and props

This is the first main difference most people will notice between the two videos after watching them both through. The 50 cent video features no visual instruments as the majority of the soundtrack will be created using a synthesiser. This is to allow a unique, repetitive sound that can be very difficult to replicate using conventional instruments. The clothing worn by the 'rappers' largely consists of tank tops, flat peak caps and sports jackets which is clearly to exaggerate the 'gangsta' image to it's audiences. Again large gold chains, gold teeth, grills and fancy cars are carefully placed to boost the 'macho' 'gangsta' image and represent the rappers as wealthy and idolised.

Comparing this to the Mumford and sons - little lion man video, which features only instruments such as guitars and banjos as props. The country style clothing worn by the band match well with the genre of folk and add a slightly more rural feel to the members themselves. The clothing does not glorify the band as powerful or rich but in fact does the opposite. They appear more like the average man, and more scruffy which is what is expected from the audiences of Indie, or folk.

2) imagery used

P.I.M.P by 50 cent contains a large amount of revealing women who again are there to show that the artists are wealthy, sought after, and loved. The women are shown as objects belonging to these men, even the name of the song 'Pimp' suggests ownership of these women as the classic role of a pimp is to own prostitutes. This is a good example of the male gaze theory, as these women are shown as sexual objects by the men. For example at one point in the video, women can be seen wearing leads, depicting them as animals. Micheal Shore believed that music videos were simply recycled styles and therefore largely contained male fantasies. He believed that these videos contained excessive levels of speed, power, women and wealth, being presented through cliche, soft pornographic imagery. This can be clearly linked to 50 Cents video as the artist is shown in a powerful situation with wealth, as well as semi-naked women almost worshiping him.

Comparing this to Mumford and sons song, no revealing imagery is used. In fact the only real footage shown is the band themselves performing on a stage. This gives the audience the feeling of a more 'live' performance.

3) cuts and camera angles

Mumford and sons video - 'Little lion man' seems to follow a common pattern where cuts and camera angles are concerned. The video appears to play a mesh of close ups of varying between the band and the instruments they use. These close ups then appear to follow onto an establishing shot of the entire band which seems to hold for several seconds whilst they mime the song. The reason for the quick cutting between close shots is obviously because unlike the 50 cent video, the scene does not change, so it is a tool used to keep it's audience entertained for the entire length of the song.

50 cents song 'Pimp' however takes a slightly different approach than the Mumford and sons video. Close ups and mid shots of 50 cent himself rapping establish the artist in the production and after several short cuts the images change to a clip of the artist performing a task with several other people, e.g getting changed or walking around. This is to create the feeling that the two clips are running parallel to one another. moving through the video, lots of mid and tilt shots are used to show off the women to the audience as sexual objects, and could be described as 'time fillers' to increase video content and make it last throughout the duration of the song.