The Music Video:

Music Analysis Method: (print this out to use for your project)

1. Pre-Analysis
- Who are the musicians involved? Who wrote the song? When did the song come out?
- Who is the director of the music video? What have they done in the past?
- Based on these previous questions, List three concepts or ideas that you might
expect to see based on the title of the song/music video. List some people who
would be the audience for this music video.

1. The Song (both lyrics and instrumental)
- Form: What is the pattern? What Rhymes? What doesn't rhyme? What repeat? What
doesn't repeat?
- Imagery and symbolism: What is the story being told? What is the heart of the
lyrics?
- Diction/Connotation: What is the tone of the song? Words have meaning when
placed in a certain way. If a song uses "slither" and then "sneak", it
conjures up images of a snake. The connotation is snake, even if it doesn't
outright say "snake." What is the "feeling" of the song?
- Imagery and Visual: What images and what visuals does the song conjure when you
listen to the song?
2. The Music Video: (multiple viewings)
- What happens in the Music Video? (plot/summary)
- What is the overall theme (the implicit message) of the Music Video?
- Cinematography: What does the director show in the music video? What kind of
colors and shots does the director use in the music video? How does this reflect
the theme?
- Props/Scenery: What props, lighting, costuming, or scenery does the director use
to engage the audience? How does this reflect the theme?
- Editing: How does the director transition between scenes? What is the pace of
the scenes? Is the music video fast or slow?
- Gender: What are the men/women doing? (Dancing, sitting, swimming, etc.). How
are the men/women dressed? How much skin is revealed? Describe the body language of the men/women: are they sitting, standing, gyrating, mugging, etc.? Do the men/women have power? How do you know?
- Race: What races do you see represented? Are there any dark skinned women shown? How many? What is the race of the person at the focus of the video? What are the black/Latino/Asian/white/Native American/Pacific Islander people doing?
- Sexuality: Who is more sexualized – men or women? Both? Are there sexually explicit lyrics or messages? How are subjects of the music video dressed? Describe the relationships between the men and women: Are they long or short term?
- Materialism: Are any brand names shown? How is wealth defined in the video? Are products mentioned in the song lyrics? What’s the message of the song? What type of music is the song?
- Violence: Describe any violent body language. Describe any violent actions or weapons that are shown. Describe any self-mutilation or violence.

3. Post-Analysis
- List things that you mentioned previously that were validated by your viewing
of the motion picture.
- What is the central message(s) of this music video?
- Consider the effectiveness of this film in communicating its message.
As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses?
- How do you think the band/director wanted the audience to respond?
- Does this music appeal more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel?
- List two things this music video tells you about life in the Untied States
at the time it was made.
- Write a question to the artist(s)/director that is left unanswered by the music
video
- What information do you gain about this event that would not be conveyed by a
written source? Be specific.