Experiencing Music Video: Aesthetics and Cultural Context - Softcover

Vernallis, Carol

Softcover

ISBN 10: 023111799X ISBN 13: 9780231117999

Publisher: Columbia University Press, 2004

Synopsis

Music videos have ranged from simple tableaux of a band playing its instruments to multimillion dollar, high-concept extravaganzas. Born of a sudden expansion in new broadcast channels, music videos continue to exert an enormous influence on popular music. They help to create an artist's identity, to affect a song's mood, to determine chart success: the music video has changed our idea of the popular song.

Here at last is a study that treats music video as a distinct multimedia artistic genre, different from film, television, and indeed from the songs they illuminate―and sell. Carol Vernallis describes how verbal, musical, and visual codes combine in music video to create defining representations of race, class, gender, sexuality, and performance. The book explores the complex interactions of narrative, settings, props, costumes, lyrics, and much more. Three chapters contain close analyses of important videos: Madonna's "Cherish," Prince's "Gett Off," and Peter Gabriel's "Mercy St."

About this title

Book Description:

Here at last is a study that treats music video as a distinct multimedia artistic genre, different from film, television, and indeed from songs themselves. Carol Vernallis describes how musical, visual and verbal codes work together in music video and reveals modes of representing race, class, gender, and sexuality that characterize the music video form.

About the Author:

Carol Vernallis is associate professor in the Media Arts and Studies Division of the Communication Department at Wayne State University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 023111799X
• ISBN 13: 9780231117999
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480