3. Ibiza
Ibiza is used in music videos globally, Ibiza music videos typically contain;
• Sex
• Drugs
• Parties
• Wealth
• Alcohol
Bright colours throughout the music videos portray the positive moods of
those who are in Ibiza. An example of a song shot in Ibiza is by Wham!, ‘Club
Tropicana’, this song is shot around the pool of a club named, ‘Club
Tropicana’. The swimming pool promotes sex as the women are wearing
bikinis around topless guys. Alcohol is also promoted as they are drinking
cocktails throughout the video.
Ibiza has both a positive and negative representation. To 18 to30 year olds
Ibiza has a positive representation as the place to be for parties and a good
atmosphere however the location also has a negative representation to the
older generation and those that are younger than 18. It teaches them negative
influences such as drugs and alcohol.
4. London
London, the capital of England is renowned for its heritage and
history. London is the setting for many music videos, these videos
usually contain;
• Cold Winter streets
• Typical London heritage
• Popular sights, subway, Buckingham palace, London eye, Madame
thussauds, Big Ben.
London has a high population naturally in a high numbers of homeless
people. Ed sheeran shot, ‘A-team’ which has a story line of
homelessness. This video is shot entirely at night which portrays the
dark lives and moods of those whom are homeless in London.
Actors that are in London music videos are usually dressed in coat,
boots and hat. This shows that London is typically cold.
London has a positive influence on those watching the music video,
the videos are usually raising awareness making the viewers feel
sympathetic and inspired.
5. Miami
Miami is known as a party location for the rich and famous, this is
reflected in the music videos that are shot there.
• Pitbull- ‘Hotel room service’ shows men wearing suits and the
woman wearing bikinis and throwing money around. This music
video sexually objectifies women suggesting that they should have
no clothes on, the fact they are throwing money around suggests
that money is the only reason that they are there.
• Miami has hot weather and upbeat music giving positive summer
vibes, this reflects the mood and life of those who are there. The
bright colours and exotic backdrops such as palm trees, beaches and
villas all suggest wealth and reflect a happy lifestyle.
• Miami has a positive representation, it shows the viewers the
positive lifestyle and how the upper class live, however this may
have a negative effect on how people feel about their lives.
6. Mansions
Posh mansion
A civilised place, generally the older
generation who use these, all actors are
dressed in sophisticated clothing.
Long dining tables and loads of food
suggest wealth.
Taylor swift’s ‘Blank Space’ shows her
wearing a long expensive gown and
posh vehicles. However in this video
she beings to destroy paintings and
portraits which could suggest that she
is too rich to care about peoples work
or property she is showing no regard to
her or other peoples possessions.
Posh mansions portray a positive
representation, there will be some
negative songs maybe about loneliness
showing that money isn’t everything.
Party mansion
A wild place with loud music playing till
sunrise, usually filled with the younger
generation 16-30 usually alcohol fuelled.
These music videos are usually based
around swimming pools so that woman
can wear bikinis. This promotes sex
which is what makes a video sell. Out if
the 2 types of mansion videos the party
mansion will sell more as it often
contains violence and sex which is what
sells in the current market.
One Directions, ‘Best song ever’ contains
17-18 year olds running riot in a mansion.
They show no regard for anything
reflecting on how rich and free they
already are.
Party mansions are all about the positive
representation, all Party mansions make
positive dance music and positive vibes
given to the user.
7. Berlin
• Berlin is full of cultural diversity, this is shown by the
berlin wall, since its fall there has been a bringing
together of both sides, they are no longer separated, they
are free. This is reflected in their music, they are upbeat
happy songs usually at a party. There are usually
establishing shots to show the viewer the city and how it
contrasts with the people, there are young people
dancing and partying around the buildings. An example
of a music video shot in berlin is Stay U2.
• Berlins cultural diversity gives a positive representation
of berlin in music videos. Berlin is represented to have a
party atmosphere but also some good attractions and
historic places to visit.
8. Gender
• There are three gender types that are represented in music videos,
Male, female and transgender, usually objectifying men and women.
Woman are seen as sexual objects in music videos, they are
portrayed as weak and vulnerable, whereas men are seen as the
strong independent sex. Men are usually in good health and shape,
if an over weight man stars in a music video it is usually for
humorous purposes. An example of a music video showing gender is
Britney Spears, ‘ I am a slave 4 U’. This video is Britney posing as a
slave for the male sex showing that the male sex is stronger, the
female sex is always lacking in clothing. In contrast to this,
LMFAO’s ‘I’m sexy and I know it’ shows a male wearing no clothing
dancing in a stereotypically ‘female’ way. However the intended
purpose of this video is for humour, showing that a male dancing in
minimal clothes is comedic and not usual.
• Gender is portraying a negative representation as they are
demonstrating females as sex objects.
9. Class
• There are three different types of class, Upper Class, Middle Class, Lower
Class.
• Upper class- Mansions, rich actors, wild, parties, this class is the most
common for music videos as the artist is usually famous therefore they feel
like they need to show wealth and power.
• Middle Class- Normal sized houses, cannot afford fancy cars. An example of
a video is wherever I go by one republic as this song displays how work is
boring.
• Lower Class-Rarely seen in music videos, the lower class is only ever shown
for sympathetic purposes. An example video is Ed Sheeran’s, ‘A-Team’.
• Upper class music videos are represented in a positive way, they are shown
to live in a positive life, there are no issues or problems whereas middle and
lower class videos demonstrate how they feel like they are being treat
unfairly, most videos talk about the upper class and why they do not like
them. This applies more to the lower class.
10. Costumes
• There are millions of costume combinations that can
be seen in music videos. In hot countries men and
women can be seen wearing minimal clothing in
music videos, these are usually upbeat positive
songs. In slow negative songs it is usually cold which
is shown by the coats hats that are worn by the
actors in the music videos.
• Gothic clothing is commonly associated with heavy
rock bands playing fast music in dark places.
• Slow romantic songs display the woman in long
expensive gowns and the men in tuxedos.
11. Age
• Age is less commonly represented in music videos
however there are some elements of representation
shown.
• Adults are shown to be more responsible and
mature than the younger generation. The older
generation are shown to not care about what other
people think whereas the younger generation are
insecure and care about what other people think
about clothes and attitude.
• A great big world & Christina Aguilera, ‘Say
Something’ shows the stereotypical representation
of older generations, these two videos demonstrate
the three generations of age.
12. Ethnicity
• Ethnicity is represented in music videos. Rappers
are shown as black people. This typical stereo type
was broken by Eminem. Another broken stereo type
is in ‘Love this town’ by Dizzee Rascal, there are
black people dressed as thugs acting kind to others,
when the usual stereotypes suggest that black thugs
are violent and unkind to innocent people.
• There is usually a negative representation in music
videos where ethnicity is concerned. Black people
are usually seen as thugs or people who are going to
harm innocent people. However in some videos
there stereo is broken to show black people as nice
and friendly people.
