Voyeurism

The male gaze

Sean Kingston- beat it


In the beginning of the music video, we are shown straight away the girls legs and body and the way the camera is showing us is by zooming in on the legs and moving the camera sort of up the girls leg and this represents the mans eyes looking up from the legs. From what I know most guys look at the girls legs first and this is representing it in that way. There is also a shot in the video where the camera focuses on one of the women's butt. They use the effect to make the background blurry and only make the girls booty look sharp. This shows that the male only looks at the girls bum and making it almost, so that the camera is the male persons eyes and is looking at her from the down angle. This is also a sign for the male gaze because boys tend to look at girls bums too. When we are shown a woman coming out from the pool, the camera first does a short shot of her side body and her side face first and then cuts to show a medium shot of her fall body coming out of the pool. This shows that the man looking up her body as she comes up from the pool. Also when we are shown the medium long shot of the woman together, they are all showing skin. A lot of it as well actually. Through out the whole video all the woman are showing skin either on the top or the bottom or even both. This also tells us that male people do look at woman in a certain way and this is how they represent woman to show that they are sexy and beautiful. The camera is always acting throughout the whole music video, as its actually a male person who is looking at the women. There's also a part where the camera tilts down on the woman's body and that's the view from a mans point. When the camera does close ups of the woman's faces, it shows how the male also looks at the woman's face. The camera again here acts like that it's a male person looking at the girl. Also when we are shown a overview shot of the woman lying down, it kind of seems like that's how the men see the woman when they are in bed with them. This is shown by the use of the panning of the camera slowly panning across the woman. This can also show that the man looks down on the woman and the man is more dominant. Shows a bit of the stereotype between men and woman.

My 10 favourite music videos

My chosen 10 music videos


Pitbull Christina Aguilera-feel this moment

• I really like the use of multiple screens I think this makes much more interesting rather than just using one screen all the time.
• I like the use of lighting in this video. They edited the lighting so that it goes with the beat in the music which I also feel its engaging to watch
• I also like the way the editing pace fits with the beats of the music.
• The use of a lot different camera angles, long shot and close ups.
• Although this music video is in black and white, it gets me engaged because of the performance.

Katy Perry-roar

• I really like the use of the long shots
• I like the special effects that they used for the tiger when he was in the air.
• The different camera movements they used were really good, they used a range of panning which I found very interesting
• I also thought that the locations and they used for this music video really went will with the lyrics in the music.
• I also felt that the storyline fitted very well.

Jessie J-wild

• I really like how in the beginning the camera is moving with her footsteps.
• I really like the different camera movements that fit with the music
• Also the editing is very well fitted with the beat of the music as well
• In the beginning where she moves the camera with her hands feels like she's actually engaging with us.
• The panning around her and when she looks at the camera, lets me feel that she still is engaging with the audience.
• Not many locations at all but the way the camera and editing is shown it doesn't look boring at all.
• The use of turning the camera to let us know who is singing.
• I really most of all just love her acting. Even though the music video is in black and white it still makes it interesting for me to watch because of her performance.

Ellie Goulding- I need your love

• I like in the beginning when she's really looking into the camera
• I like the use of handheld camera movements, it makes it look really realistic
• The way they use handheld all the way is very different, so it gets me engaged
• The use of camera movements is really good, a lot of different panning.
• They really look in to the camera, that makes me feel that she is really trying to engage with the audience.

Demi Lovato- Heart attack

• I really like the use of close ups in this music video
• I like the way she looks into the camera a lot
• I like the use of when she say 'glow' the lights turn on. The way they edited that goes with the lyrics.
• The way the lighting and the editing go with the beat of the music
• When we are shown a front shot of demi and the band, it tells us that okay that's the band that's playing the music. Its not that common in music videos.
• I also really like the performance in this video, that gets me to watch the video more.

MKTO- Classic

• I like the use of fast cuts in the beginning. To the person who's singing and back to let the audience know that there is two people.
• They try and go back to the two shots of the performances to always let us know that its about these two people.
• The use of lighting when they use the side shot is very effective. 
• In  the second chorus the colour of the background changes, not much done to it but its still effective, you don't really realise it.  
• They edit to the other guy to let us know who's signing now.
• The use of camera movements is very good, its all matching with the music.
• They always look into the camera as well. Again engaging with the audience

Jason Derulo- The other side

• I really like the lighting used in this music video
• I like the editing which matches with the beat of the music
• I really like the different camera angles like the one from the bed
• I like the use of fast spilt screens
• I really like the fast cuts they do and the use of fast paced editing
• when they are dancing, I only see the main performer which I think is because he is really good at dancing.

Bruno mars-Just the way you are

• I think the way he looks straight into the camera makes me feel that he has talking to me directly
• I like the use of tape that they do and play around with effects.
• How the image they make match with the lyrics is engaging also because its something unusual that they use that in a music video
• the sun light they used makes my eyes go straight to that and that's where the performer is.
• The camera shot from the back and the blur where they show the tap image again is very effective, its different
• the close ups and the long short of him when he is on the piano is very good
• I like it how they show the tape image of him playing the piano and then the camera pans up to show the performer really playing it so it seems more realistic.

Rihanna-we found love

• the beginning, the close ups of her is really goof
• the special effect of using speed goes with the music and I feel that this makes it really effective
• I really like the use of colour. I feel like it really suits the performer
• The performance I feel that it is amazing and it keeps me engaged all the way
• She looks at the camera often which makes me feel she's talking to us
• the really fast cuts I think is really good, I think it makes it more interesting
• the use of long shots when she is on the swing tells us where she is
• the slow motion when the fireworks start is very effective and keeps me excited.

Jennifer Lopez-dance again

• I like the use of special effect on the main performer.
• I think this makes It really effective as it makes us only focus on her.
• even with all the people surrounding her, she still stands out.
• The different camera shots, the close up, the side shot and the shot from above is all very effective and because they use a range it still gets me engaged in to it.
• In the middle of the song where they add the dancing of just them two, this brings them out more and gets me more interested to watch it because they are really good
• They make me keep my eye on the main performer
• the use of fast cutting near the end is very effective
• I really like the lighting In it, the different colour of light they used is very effective.

What are the ingredients for a succesful music video?

The elements in making good music video

Editing
I feel that the editing is the most important in making a really good music video. I think that without the right use of effects it would look really boring and not so interesting for the audiences. Also I think that the editing should match with the beat of the music and the pace of the music. I feel that this will make it more exciting to watch and not so plain. I think also using different types of editing is very important. For example the spilt screen, you can put two clips in together and merge them. I think this effect is very effective that it will draw the audiences more. Even if you chose to use a kind of slow paced music, I think with the editing used very well it can make a slow boring music video into a actually quite decent and interesting video that people can get into.

Camera movements
I think that the camera movements are also very important. Depending on the genre of the music video, you need to use the camera differently e.g. indie rock. I think for the camera, you just need different camera angles which fits with the editing. This will make it more interesting and not boring to watch. Also using different camera movements is very important, like the panning or a close up. I feel that this will make the music video much more interesting than using the same camera movements. And I think using different camera shots, like a long shot or a medium shot or even a short shot. I think that this will make it more engaging for the audiences and will get them entertained to watch it.

Mis en scene
I think that mis en scene is as important as the editing. You need to have the right locations, props, costumes, makeup and cast to make it as interesting as possible. If you only have about 2 locations that you keep filming at, although you have a lot of good shots and editing it will still look a bit plain and boring. Also I feel that the costume is also important. You should match the costume that will suit with the music otherwise I think that really loses the appeal of the music video. For example, the music is about love and happiness but the actor/actress is wearing all black. That makes it seem like not a very happy music video although the song is because black usually means death and sadness. Also if the actor/actress is bad at acting, that will just make the music video unrealistic. And that will lose our audiences that I feel that the actor/actress is some of the reasons why the audiences get engaged into the music video in the first place. Like the music video 'wild' by Jessie J. The whole music video is in black and white but the actress Jessie J is amazing in the performance which makes us carry on watching the music video. It really good me engaged even though the music video was all in black and white.

Group feedback-ranking music videos

Group feedback.

Video	Why
1.       13B6-Ike & Tina- Jamie T	I really like this video because first of all the lip singing is really good. It actually seems like he’s singing it. There are also very good camera shoots like the use of the hand to turn the camera around. There were very good locations and the cuts matched with the beats in the music. I thought that this video was very fun to watch and all the quick cuts made me engaged to keep watching it more. I thought the acting was really good as well.
2.       13E4- If you wanna- The vaccines	The person who is the actor his very good. He suits with the music and the lip singing is good here too. The way they represented him was really good. I really like the spilt screen they use near the end of the video. I thought that, it made it very more interesting. I also think that the storyline fits well with the music lyrics. There is some good panning of the camera as well. The lighting is also quite good in this music video.
3.       13A2- Life happens- Brandon & leah	This video to me was very realistic. The girl suited very well with the music and the video and made me actually feel that it was her own music video that they made. Her lip singing was good as well and there were some good camera shots. The storyline for this video goes well with the music also.
4.       13A3-Nine2five- The ordinary boys	I thought for this video the acting was really good and that it suited with the beat of the music. The lip singing was also quite good and there were lots of different locations which made it less boring. There were really good camera shots and editing in the beginning.
5.       13E7-12 Rounds- Jester	The lip singing, the rap was really good in this video and it suited the actor. There were quite good camera angles and close ups in the video but there is a lack of location which made it a bit boring for me to watch.
6.       13E6- Go in, Go hard- Angle	There are some good shots on top of the building. The lighting in this video is okay but is too the same. There are some good locations and some of the camera movements are good. The lip singing was okay but it wasn’t great.
7.       13E9- Today I cried- Professor green	The spilt screen in this music video was really good. The cuts matched the music in the beat and there were some good locations. There were also some good camera shots. He seemed like he was actually singing it. The random clips of a film are a bit strange and it doesn’t really make sense but it wasn’t as bad. The actor doesn’t really look into the camera.
8.       13A1- Sparks fly- Taylor swift	In the beginning there were good camera shots of the feet. There were some good shots and close ups but some shots didn’t really make sense and some were a bit confusing. There were some good editing going on but it was a bit boring because they didn’t have much of a range of edits. I also thought that the lip singing was quite bad; I think it looked too fake.
9.       13B1-Rewind- Paolo Nutini	The setting matched with the music video. There wasn’t much singing shown but the actor suited the role. There were too many long and medium shots. This made it boring for me to watch. The 2 girls at the end I really didn’t understand and it made me confused.
10.   13B3- What we started- J R Aquino	There is a good storyline and some good camera shots. The lip singing was bad but it went with the lyrics. I didn’t really understand the random London shot. But the bridge shot was quite good. It was a bit boring for me.
11.   13B4- Lost- Paper aeroplanes	There were some good locations and there some good shots in the beach. I thought that the lighting was really bad, It looked too dull and boring for me and it wasn’t really interesting. It was kind of just longing on the shot which made it more boring to watch.

 My own response.
How will you avoid these issues?

I will try and use a lot of different range and style of camera movements not just short, medium and long shots but other range of shots like a panning shot. I will also when we are doing this in a group, to pick an actor who is confident and who we think will match with the music well and that it suits the person. I would like to use a spilt shot in my music video as I find this very interesting. I think to use more quick shots and making the editing very quick and not dragging it on for too long will make less boring and more fun to watch. Also with the lighting, I will change the lighting for clips that may need the lighting changed either to more brighter or even more darker. I want to make sure our music video has a good storyline that fits with our chosen music and to use a range of locations and not just the same locations because that makes it boring for the viewer.