The Musical Video

Unfortunately, MTV popularized the music video. 


It is unfortunate not because music videos are bad, but because the music videos on MTV are bad. Music videos, I think, are actually very good. The music video is a fantastic medium, and I think it should be more highly academically regarded--but it's not, because of the likes of MTV.


The music video is a wonderful medium. In combining music with moving images, a new meaning and purpose is conveyed by both the music and the video; there is a synergistic, new piece of art that means more than either could mean separately. We, automatically it seems, impart meaning and connection between the music and video, and this effect is particularly powerful when the artist takes care to reinforce the connection. In a way, the well-done music video is more than the music or the video could ever be.


Additionally, and practically, it makes both aspects more interesting. Video is captivating, and can really make an audience member listen closely to a piece of music that maybe they would have otherwise overlooked. 


In other words, music videos are awesome! To prove the point, here are two videos by the DJ group NASA.


N.A.S.A. "The People Tree" (feat. David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift Of Gab, & Z-Trip)
and


N.A.S.A. "Money" (feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, & Z-Trip)