Reflecting back on AS year: what I learned about music videos

 At the end of the AS year I discovered that music videos were in some ways incredibly different than movies and dramas and in others rather similar. Music videos use certain symbols known as generic signifiers to announce the genre of the video; so this means that all Hip Pop videos will feature women, expensive cars and aesthetics and the imagery of wealth and money. Another signifier I discovered for the genre of any video is that bands and groups tend to dress similarly to each other which helps to promote them individually while still showing that they are a unit.

 Within mainstream videos the use of branding is another major generic signifier as they help create a sense of familiarity among viewers while at the same time they draw attention to the genre.

 I also discovered that music videos are filled with special effects and a variety of shot types; they range from use of slow motion and flashes to close-ups on the singers faces.