Music Television (Discussion)

Types of expression

Allan contends that one can group music videos according to types of expression -- separate from genres based on content. That is, genres such a rock, pop, rap, country and R&B are the most common way of grouping music videos, but cutting across those genres are certain expressive forms. Allan lists four of them:

1. Performance - Group 1
2. Narrative - Group 2
3. Nonnarrative - Group 3
4. Graphic - Group 4

Each group should be prepared to explain one type of expression to the class, and describe one video that exemplifies it.

Then, each group should choose one well-known song and pretend they're video producers. Imagine how a video for that song could be created that uses the narrative, nonnarrative and graphic types of expression.

All groups

1. How does the Replacements' Left of the Dial break the conventions of the music video? Be as specific as possible and draw examples from the video.

   http://www.tcf.ua.edu/tvcritgallery/main.php/d/236-2/Fig03-20_Replacements01.jpg

2. List the five principal antecedents of (or influences on) music television and explain the specific aspects they contributed to music TV.
3. Aside from genres and types of expression, what generally characterizes the music presented in music videos? Allan calls it "The Sound of Video."

Sample analysis

• Tom Waits - "I Don't Want To Grow Up"
• Tom Waits - "God's Away On Business"
• Tom Waits - "Hold On" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knII3S0MZtY On MTV.com
• Los Lobos - "Shakin', Shakin' Shakes"
• Los Lobos - "Kiko and the Lavender Moon" (directed by Ondrej Rudavsky, 1992), QuickTime version
• Billy Bragg - "Waiting For The Great Leap Forward"
  • How does this video use these types of expression? Is one type dominant?
  • Does it fit the generalizations about the sound of video that Allan specifies?

Bibliography

1. Butler, Jeremy G. Television: Critical Methods and Applications. Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007.

External links

• http://music.yahoo.com/