Exam Q

·          “Music videos reflect the social and cultural context in which they were made” Discuss this statement through a comparison of the two music videos you have studied. One mv from list A (CBR) and one from list B (DG)
 

 CBR's track 'stop where you are' shows an urban London setting, revealing some cultural contexts in a negative light, stereotyping people's perceptions and the backgrounds they are from. CBR aims to present the people and how bad behaviour can inflict on people, making them feel like they aren't good enough or that people will automatically look down on them. As an audience we see isolated people that show pain or suffering, suggesting they have been pushed out of society; disregarded for being homeless, mentally ill, violent, for their sexuality or appearing like they are a member of a gang. The music video shows that despite someone’s background, you shouldn’t be judgemental, and the lyrics clearly represent the idea that an appearance, age or ethnicity doesn’t determine who you are as a person. We see her interreact with the characters in the music video, which suggests that whilst she may be of a higher class, she can reach out and help those who need it. CBR symbolises a wealthy woman; she is dressed in a bright red dress alongside heels – despite being in a warehouse, not typically a scene for well-dressed people. Red signifies pain but also love. Therefore, the dress can show that she carries the pain and embraces the moment she is in. She aims to show hope within the loss in a society that can be negative at times. 

In the music video there is a key shot that presents a close-up levelled shot of man covered in tattoos. The tattoos are the first thing that the audience see due to the fact that the camera shot has been blurred. This is to symbolise the lack of understanding in society; that despite the man’s qualities and characteristics, the first impression people have on him are the negative connotations with tattoos. Staging the shot this way makes it apparent that people can have perceptions before knowing a person. The representation of the character can show the young man as naïve or stupid because of his age, for the reason that teenagers can have the stereotype of being immature or careless – not thinking about their long-term future plans. On the other hand, the ink on his body could connotate to the idea that the needles create pain when you get a tattoo. So, if the man is in physiological pain then creating a psychical numbness will balance it out. He is seen on the edge of society by being placed in an environment that isn’t cared for – suggesting he isn’t either.   

In contrast, the ‘Titanium’ music video presents a boy with supernatural powers who is overwhelmed and constantly under pressure to escape from reality and people that fear his strength. The lack of knowledge and open-minded people has created a wedge in between him and the rest of society, making him isolated from everyone else. Which in a way, in similar to the way society has turned away from homeless people, teenagers or those portrayed as less important. The themes shown are inner strength, adults vs. children, standing up for what you believe in – as well as super natural and power. In a key shot it presents the boy running away from his school in the local town, to his house. It is positioned as a long shot, low angled whilst tracking in towards his house – directing the shot from a low angle from afar shows how small the boy is in comparison to the house. Connotations show that the size difference and what he is up against, contrasting with the powers and strength he has. His body language suggests fear through a slouched and fast speed pace – signifying his urgency to escape.

The cultural contexts show an American setting with large houses and policemen that have guns. Although other states and countries use guns, it is known for America’s society to use them regularly and sometimes for unjust reasons. Using this shows the differences in cultures and how they haven’t tried communicating better considering the person being targeted is a young boy. Context shows how guns and shooting is normalised in America and presenting these themes feels scary when watching the music video – the director wants to give us an insight as to the kind of day-to-day behaviour that occurs. He is frightened, alone and there is no sign of his parents, which makes the audience feel sorry for him as his emotions are made clear through the camera angles and fast movement used. He also appears small against human nature in the scene where he is walking through the woods alone. The camera shot is an extreme long shot which emphasises the size difference to show how he is also been pushed to the edge of society. Similarly, to show CBR presents the characters in her music video. 
 

In conclusion, both music videos clearly exemplify the themes of disregarding people and how we should be kinder to one another. It shows the lack of understanding of society and the supernatural/things we aren’t used to seeing. The idea is that by creating the videos in the way they are, shows the negative things that happen in the world, in the areas that it happens in, and how you should embrace who you are, where you are from and what you look like. Overall the director’s aim is to show that children shouldn’t feel like they have to escape from a young age. They should be doing the things they enjoy, playing with teddies (referring to titanium) and being around people (referring to stop where you are). People should also be given the chance to show who they are without perceptions being made being knowing a person (referring to homeless or tattooed people, teenagers, or those that stand out amongst a crowd). Society should make changes and that is the overall message.