Images of America -
Analyzing Music Videos: Pop Up Videos
Integrated U. S. History and American Literature Class
Deborah Aufdenspring and Sandra Mings-Lamar
New Technology High School, Napa, CA
(Quick Links to related pages)
Below are some captured stills from a music video that will help you
understand the kinds of analyses you are expected to do. Remember that all
captured stills are the property of the particular music video copyright
holder. Stills are to be used in your scholarly work only and copyrights
noted.
A Word about
"Pop Up Videos"
Erykah Badu's "Next Lifetime" has been made into a "Pop
Up Video". "Pop Up Videos" is the title of a TV program on
VH1. Little text balloons of factoids are superimposed on selected music
videos. The factoids are generally tidbits about the star, or the director,
or the production of the video, or even interesting statistics about life
in America. At times they verge on celebrity worship. At other times they're
cheerfully ironic. "Pop Up Videos" can be cool for what they are,
but....
Usually, they are superficial in terms of what we want you to do in this
class. We want you to analyze the video for historical content, or for the
meaning of its images, or for its relevance to the "American Dream."
We don't want factoids about the star's dog's name.
All Erykah Badu stills copyright Kedar Entertainment / Universal
Records
Pop Up Video stills copyright VH1
The above still is an example of the type of "pop-up" information
that is irrelevant to our class.
Quick Links
Introduction - Analyzing Music Videos
Music Video Assignment
Analysis Tips
Comparing and Contrasting Music Videos
Grading Rubric
Stills of Sample Videos, with Sample Analysis Questions:
Billy Joel.....Erykah Badu.....Pop
up Videos.....Tracy Lawrence
Rage Against the Machine.....Vince
Gill.....Van Halen.....Aqua.....12
other videos
Videography
For Teachers...
For examples of recent student projects on analyzing music videos:
Student Work
E-mail me.
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