Art imitating life: What might modern music videos reveal and/or say about current society/culture?

Topic: Art imitating life: What might modern music videos reveal and/or say about current
society/culture? Note: for the purposes of this assignment, we will be defining “modern” as any
music video made in the last twenty years.
Purpose: It’s often been argued that art imitates life. Music videos, i.e. cultural
creations/artifacts, are considered by many to be reflections of the society and culture in which
they are produced, i.e. what that society/culture believes in, values, desires, where it’s headed,
and/or current trends. Songs that say something about us as a people are important to analyze
and question. Why can we relate to certain songs and not others? Why do some resonate with
us, while others fail to? By analyzing and reflecting on their respective messages, can we gain a
better understanding of ourselves, both personally and collectively?
For this paper, you are asked to examine one music video and to identify and explain two
aspects/revelations about our society/culture it might reveal or contain. Let me repeat that. The
point of this paper is to answer this fundamental question:
What, based on your own observations, are two revelations the music video possibly
contains/reveals about current society and/or culture, i.e. what does it say about the
times in which we are living; who we are; what we believe, desire, value; where we’re
headed; and/or current trends?
Your thesis will probably end up reading something like this: “Two revelations and/or aspects
this music video may reveal about our society are . . . .” Your essay should be three to four
pages long. Try to be creative in your analysis. Seek to explore the deeper, more complex
messages and meanings in the video while avoiding the obvious. To prove your points, you must
incorporate evidence from the music video in question. You must have two pieces of evidence to
back up each of your points. For music videos, your evidence might include the following:
 Lyrics
 Images
 Symbols (which could be found in lyrics or images)
 Choreography
 Tempo (speed of music)
 The combination of lyrics, images, and choreography. Remember, none of these are
completely separate from each other. All three work together to convey a certain
message or messages.
 Anything else covered in class
 Many of the points you’re asked to analyze on the “Music Videos Questions” Sheet
Requirements of the paper:
 A creative main title and sub-title.
 An engaging first few lines.
 A sentence that sums up the artist’s name, the song title, and when it was published on
YouTube.
 A summary of the video (usually one page).
2
 A thesis (at the end of the summary) which clearly answers this question: “What does this
music video say about our society/culture?”
 Two clearly stated reasons in the form of topic sentences at the top of each body
paragraph.
 Clear and smoothly integrated transitions that indicate to readers when one point ends
and another begins.
 Two pieces of evidence from the music video in question to back up each of your reasons
along with explanations of the significance of each piece of evidence, i.e. explain to
readers what each means and how it supports the reason you are discussing.
 In text citations: an even mix of paraphrases and direct quotes that are clear and
accurately formatted in MLA style (and a Works Cited). A good rule is 1/4th or less
quotations and 3/4th or more paraphrases.
 A conclusion which briefly states whether you think the music video’s message is harmful
or beneficial to society. In other words, sum up what you believe the long-term
implications/consequences of this message could be. Render a verdict. Could it be good,
bad, or both? Explain why.
 The paper must be between three to four pages long.
Music videos to choose from:
Pop/Rock/Alternative:
 “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”—Panic! At the Disco at
v=vc6vs-l5dkc
 “Someone New”—Hozier at
 “Look What You Made Me Do”—Taylor Swift at
v=3tmd-ClpJxA
 “Royals”—Lorde at
 “6/10”—Dodie at
 “Follow You”—Bring Me the Horizon at
tVWt2RDsoM
 “#SELFIE”—The Chainsmokers at
 “High Hopes”—Panic! At the Disco at
Country:
 “The House That Built Me”—Miranda Lambert at
v=DQYNM6SjD_o
 “My Church”—Maren Morris at
 “REDNECKER”—HARDY at
Rap/R&B :
 “Formation”—Beyoncé at
 “APES**T”—THE CARTERS at
 “This Is America”—Childish Gambino
 “HUMBLE.”—Kendrick Lamar at
 “Blood // Water”—grandson at
 “Bezz Believe X Forgiato Blow” – Proud American at
v=bK-_SxdKHrA&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1z2-
YSGi3dJjKjebhTSmOHKSJxHHa_O7ycfMyEWyFlSULp0TcsF2hhN2g

Requirements For All Papers:
Format must be in Times New Roman, 12 Point Font, Double-Spaced. You must also have page
numbers in the top right header along with your last name. You also must have your name, the
teacher’s name, the class title, and the date on the top left of the first page in descending order.

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