music video - genre

What genre of music would you associate with these

signifiers?

To be able to outline a musical genre (level 2)To be able to map out a musical genre with reference to detailed examples (level 3)To be able to outline a musical genre with reference to specific examples and theorists (level 4)

Choose a genre which you are going to work in. This may be informed by your client or it may be a conscious decision you are going to make.

For this genre you need to map out all of the conventions that you can think of. For each one you need to provide examples from bands/artistes.

Genre Mind Map


ClassicalBehaviour

Instruments

Dress

Settings

Usually impeccably mannered.Perhaps slightly elitist and conceited.

Occasionally rebellious.

Andre Rieu

Nigel Kennedy

Black tie or very smart.

Orchestral instruments, often violins and cellos (quartets) and pianos.

Grand, historic such as Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall.

Music Culture

Many people use music to define themselves, to fit into social groups and sub-cultures: emos, geeks, gangstas, skaters,

metallers etc.

What music you like is often connected to your look and style, your values and beliefs, your life aims and goals.


Ideology and ValuesEach genre of music has a different set of ideology and values (ways

you think and feel about people and the world).

Each genre of music has its own sub-culture which supports this ideology. For example, you wouldn’t expect someone who is into hip-

hop / rap music to have the same attitudes, values, beliefs and approach to life as someone who is into classical music.

BUT: this is dealing with stereotypes and broad definitions. There might be occasional rare individuals who like both rap and classical

music; ideologies and values can overlap and change; but on the whole, each genre of music appeals to different types of people, who

have different ideologies.


Match the values with the music genre and its typical audience / sub-culture (again, this is stereotyping, but this

is often how texts position themselves)

Values / beliefs Subculture / music genre– Poetry is cool– Looking pretty is important EMO– Guns are cool– Making money is important GANGSTA RAP– Men are more important than women– Being different is cool POP– Women are equal to men– Falling in love is important– Big cars are cool

Ideology and sub-cultures / genres


Add to your genre

mind maps a list of

ideologies that you

think are associated

with it.


For each of the theorists on your hand-out, try to find examples in music videos to support these ideas

How far do you agree with what they are saying?Have you found anything that disproves what the

theorists have said?

Genre Theory and Music


You need to create a genre study for your chosen musical genre.

First, you must make sure you have a complete mind map for that genre.Why have you chosen this genre to work in?

Then you should list the particular music videos you will use to investigate this genre further. This will probably be an on-going list.

You then need to examine these videos for conventions of the genre and start constructing an overview of this genre,

including reference to theories.

Your Task

music video - genre

Education