The music video has reshaped and reformed the way we listen to and engage with music. This course intends to teach students how to make a music video, defined as the union of music and visuals for artistic or promotional purposes. This is a production class, with an emphasis on safe production during the COVID-19.

We will analyze three genres of Western music videos: performance, narrative, and concept. We will break down what typically characterizes each of these genres in terms of format and content. Cinematic structure will be analyzed alongside the music itself and small amounts of music theory will be taught in order to facilitate proper discussion about what it means to successfully promote a song. We will engage equally with popular and independently produced music videos across various musical genres. Additionally, we will go in depth about the topics of film aesthetics, choreography, authorship, and accountability.

It is important for artists to make things that are both meaningful and self-fulfilling while still being socially aware. To emphasize this, we will be critiquing problematic music video trends in order to encourage personal responsibility when creating a piece of widely accessible art, such as a music video. In relation to this topic we will discuss censorship, social concerns, and cultural discourses.

Failure to attend 3 lectures without a legitimate excuse will result in an automatic NP grade.

There will be a short written assignment due every week, by the beginning of the next class. The readings and screenings will help give a fuller understanding of the knowledge necessary to complete this assignment, so please do them.

The midterm will be a music video treatment relating to a song of the student’s choice.

The final will be a music video accompanied by a short paper (1-2 pages, double spaced) describing the classification of the music video with terms taught in class, how certain music videos taught in class inspired the music video, and anything the student would like the facilitators to know about the making of the film or thoughts/ideas that went behind it.

Grades will be based on effort, artistry, craft, and understanding of the course material. The quality of the images will NOT be taken into account. There are many fantastic music videos that have been filmed with little to no budget and equipment, some of which will be taught in this class, so whatever supplies the student has at home and whatever phone/camera the student might have will be enough.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course, students will have the tools necessary to break down the components of a music video and produce their own. These music videos should be artistically inventive, representative of something the filmmaker is interested in, and COVID-19 compliant.

COVID-19 PRODUCTION
Although this is a production class, it is necessary that all the music videos made in this class are safely made. For this reason, we will be using the city of Berkeley’s Health Officer Orders: Everyone is required to stay home, except for essential needs. When out, protect yourself and those around you by wearing a face covering, staying 6 feet away from others, and washing your hands often.