How is Location represented within Music Videos?

Many different locations are used within different genres of music video. As a result, these location are used fora certain (marketing) purpose and therefore have certain connotations, portrayals and representations. For example, below are a list of the supposed 'stereotypical locations' for each genre, along with the representations and the connotations:

• R&B and Dance- Locations used include studios and clubs which are stereotypically represented as 'sleek', 'polished' and extremely popular; extremely 'now'. These locations potentially reflect the 'sleek' production and energy of the music, as well as implying that that is where the music belongs; it is meant to be very current and danced to.
• Rock and Metal- Rock and Metal music videos tend to be stereotypically shot in one of two extremes; either dark, claustrophobic spaces and gigs, or large, bare and derelict spaces such as warehouses (with specific reference to 'Judith' by A Perfect Circle ). These locations are represented as very derelict and 'out of bounds' to which the music 'breaks' these rules and conventions.
• Acoustic- Acoustic music videos are often shot outdoors in spacious and  'naturally beautiful' locations, representing a sense of reflection, freedom and sometimes 'home' whilst all being very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. (Live) gigs also represent the talent and 'organic' down to earth, casual feel.
• Classical- Locations used within classical music videos are represented as stereotypically 'upper class', elegant and prestigious, by using such places a theatres and stages.
• Pop- It could be argued that pop videos use various locations, ranging from outdoor spaces to studios. Each location is represented a very 'fun', as well as the constant change in location portraying the energy within pop music.

Focus upon Representing location within Acoustic Music Videos:

The majority of the locations used in acoustic music videos are  represented as very natural and wholesome; whether this be indoor or outdoor space. Outdoor locations are often very natural and spacious such as beaches, forests and fields, which provide a lot of beauty and intrigue, as well as connoting a strong sense of freedom. If indoor locations are used, they are often casual, like a small gig, yet still very personalised. This therefore represents the location as very intimate and welcoming (A bedroom being a perfect example of an intimate and personal location).

Analysed Music Videos:

• Laura Mvula- Green Garden.

Although Laura Mvula's style of music s slightly more 'alternative', the representation of location is very stereotypical of acoustic music videos, and is very influential when it comes to representing location within our own music video.



The music video begins with the artist standing in an urban location. Represented as very bare, due to the white-washed colours, and a sense of dereliction portrayed through the rusty metal fence and worn shutters upon the windows, the location immediately and rather obviously contradicts the title of the song ('Green Garden') which appears over the top.This visual contradiction and unconventional location choice is somewhat intriguing for the audience, generating a sense of pleasure as they can see that the genre characteristics are being manipulated. However, it could be argued that the although the location is very 'angular', the vanishing point, that is constructed from the diagonal building and fence, leads our eye to the far background, in which there are some trees/shrubbery. By having this slight inclusion of nature, the 'natural' convention is still somewhat established. Moreover, this choice in location could also represent that the despite the location, there is an element of hope and freedom within it (or more so acoustic music provides this), symbolised by the trees.

The urban location is also represented as very much an undesired and unwanted place, enhanced by the lyrics 'take me outside, sit in a green garden' and the action of the protagonist and dancers moving away (shot 1.21) from that particular location, to a more natural one. Therefore, the concrete surroundings could be represented as an incentive for escape, to which the open space of nature provides this freedom.

 within this shot the protagonist and dancers are walking up a hill, representing the spacious, green location where they shall arrive as somewhat heavenly and idyllic to both the artist and the audience. Once at the desired location, the light flare and smoke further supports these 'heavenly' connotations.

There is a lot ore variety within the types of shots when filming the 'forest' scene; long shots in particular highlighting the spacious qualities and therefore no restrictions (freedom).

Stereotypically when representing location, there are may worms eye shots. For example, when the camera looks up towards the trees, this represents a sense of awe and intrigue associated with nature, and how it is all-consuming; a powerful source of 'natural beauty'.

In terms of action, the dancing is more flamboyant within the green space, therefore representing the location as a place of relaxation, happiness, freedom and solace; shown through the artist comfortably sitting on the grass.

• Ellie Goulding- Your Song

Ellie Goulding's music video for 'Your Song' represents both indoor and outdoor locations. Whilst the outdoor space is represented as a place of adventure and intrigue, the indoor space is very intimate and artistic.

Possibly during the post-production process, an overlay has been placed on top of the footage, implying a sense on reflection, nostalgia and beauty associated with the locations (for example, many memories are made with friends in the park, etc). Also similar to the connotations that Laura Mvula's music video portrays, the casual locations combined with the overlay suggest that 'natural beauty' can literally be found anywhere.

The locations of the woods, inside a house and the park are also very well known and familiar places for the audience. The fact that we as an audience can instantly relate to these locations further represents them as being intimate, as they generate our own memories; ones similar to Ellie's.

A sense of welcoming and familiarity is represented through the naturally lit location and also, the mise-en scene of blanket and throws. A variety of close up's and tilt shots also seems very intimate and personal, reflecting the representation of the location.

Both indoor and outdoor locations are represented as very romantic due to the overlay, focus pulls and natural light flaring; suiting the 'love' themed song.

• Kodaline- All I Want

Not only do Kodaline's music videos 'All I Want' exhibit a great narrative and concept, but also represent several locations; in particular, the concept of solace and home.

The first location is a corporate office building. The work place is instantly represented as extremely mundane and monotone through the grey scale, whilst tilt shots represent the office as an extremely claustrophobic area. This is because many of the obscure shots have blurred objects in the foreground, obstructing the audience's view, further implying that an office location is very much 'restricting' and inescapable. The urban outside space is similarly represented as bleak through the grey scale and extreme amount of concrete. Notably, the lack of bright, natural light suggests that this particular location is not 'beautiful' and 'wholesome'. This is potentially because acoustic music is stereotypically, and evidently, not 'industrial' in terms of marketing, production and representation. Therefore, this location choice highlights these values by representing it as an unappealing area.

However, although the office plant is a stereotypical object for within this location, it can potentially have the same connotations as the tree within Laura Mvula's video; there is an element of freedom, nature and 'beauty' in any given location.

With particular reference to the second part of the music video, the urban locations of streets are represented as unfamiliar, lonely and scary. This is because we see the dog walking through the streets and the protagonist hopelessly searching for him. This fearful representation is emphasised by the darkness and large, angular buildings as well as the panning up shots to reveal the sheer height and intimidation of the urban location. This consequently, represents the rural fields and parks within the music video a more welcoming, as the audience can make a clear comparison between the two locations.

Within the protagonist's house, the curtains are closed. Although initially representing the location as quite secretive and unwelcoming, it soon becomes very intimate and personal as we see that behind these closed curtains, the protagonist partakes in a lot of activities such as painting and cooking. This further represents the location as a creative space; similarly expressed through the house in Ellie Goulding's video, in which she is playing the piano.

However, I feel that the most important representation of location is exhibited through the park/field scenes. As the camera cuts to this spacious location, there is an evident relationship between the visual and music. This is because, structurally, the music picks up (in terms of dynamics) and the camera tracking is also faster. By following the movement of the running dog, combined with various long shots, the park location connotes a sense of enjoyment, freedom and release, which is evidently seen on the dog's face (emphasised through the slow motion editing and the stags running to the key change within the second part of the music video).

As well as being represented as stereotypically beautiful, the fields/parks are also depicted as a place of solace and 'home' for both the dog and the protagonist. This is because both the dog and the protagonist go there when they are feeling 'lost'. However, focusing upon aesthetic representation, the focus pulls, and close up's add to this quality, as well as somewhat reflecting the camera movement and shots within the protagonists house, further implying that this location is as personal, and as much of a 'home' as his real house.

Finally, the slow panning shots of nature and the reaction shots of the protagonist is similar to that of Ellie Goulding, representing the location as intriguing and awe-inspiring.

Influences on the representation of location within our own music video:

By fully reaserching and anaylsing these music videos, several aspects have influenced the representation of location within our own music video. These are:

• The indoor space of a bedroom- this particular location will be represented as very intimate and personal accompanied by the use of focus pulls and close up's to further enhance this representation. This is because from the research, the majority of the indoor locations are personal spaces; a convention that we are therefore sticking to.
• Forest location- This particular location represents a vast expanse of space, as well as intrigue, further supported by the arrows. We have also been influenced by the variety of shots in order to represent the 'awe' and intrigue.
• Sense of freedom- represented through the natural, open spaces, in which we see a sense of 'release' from the female protagonist.
• 'Urban' location- The element of concrete and 'urban'  represented as 'harsh' will be depicted through the smashing of the mug on the cold, concrete flaw, representing this particular location as bare and destructive, similar to the representation of the office and city within Kodaline's videos.