Music Videos

Music videos could come up as an industry in component one section A, the unseen part of the first exam. If music videos come up for media language, it will be a 15 mark question, and you will be asked to analyse an unseen video that will be screened in the exam room. If music videos come up for representation, it will be a 30 mark question that will ask you to compare a music video with something else you have studied, not necessarily a music video. Please note that advertising, music videos, newspapers, film marketing, and potentially anything could come up for the unseen print and audio-visual texts in component one. This can be tricky to get your head around, so make sure you're prepared!


Introduction to music videos






Beyoncé - Formation (2019 +)




How are themes of conflict encoded in the video to Formation by Beyonce? (video)


Applying pick and mix theory to Formation (video)


How are representations of women encoded in media products? (video)


How does Formation use media language to construct a diverse and complex representation of black people?


Empowerment or subjugation - How gender is encoded in the red costume dance routine shot in Formation


Formation: explore how representations of social groups are constructed through media language in this image


How can audiences ‘pick and mix’ the ideologies and messages of Formation?


Exploring how Beyoncé's self representation has shifted over time


How does Formation explore complex representations of black identity?


Applying Gilroy to Formation (video)


Hyperreality, bricolage and Formation (video)







Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under (2025+)








Vance Joy - Riptide (2019 -2024)






Comparing the representations in Riptide to White Noise by Will Wood


Unseen analysis examples