What was 1980s pop like?
It was heavily visual, catering to generation x and the MTV generation. Also influenced by disco
What provided access to cultural trends even for those outside major cultural centres/
Music Videos
Music videos helped to emphasize non-musical aspects of pop stardom, what are some of these things?
style, dance, artistic demand
Music videos didnt start with MTV, where did they start?
Artists, like the Beatles, filmed promotional short videos and air them worldwide so they didnt always have to perform on live TV
What show regularly aired performances and videos in the UK?
Top of the Pops
Why was MTV revolutionary?
It made music videos the main way people discovered music. Songs were no longer just heard, they were seen and artists had to now be visually compelling.
How did MTV work constantly to advertise
videos sold songs, artists sold styles, and styles sold products. Music and marketing became tightly linked
Why exactly did music videos rise in the 80s and not before?
- Record labels could now track sales and data which allowed targeted marketing
- New tech - handheld cameras came out which made it cheaper to produce videos
- Cable tv created more channels leading to narrowcasting (targeting specific audiences)
How can popular music challenge normative ideologies and codes/rules
Music videos shape how people dress, act, and style themselves. Pop stars challenge or reinforce ideologies. They need to change identity over time to remain relevant
Why is Madonna called the Queen of pop?
She became a major global pop star when music video culture came to be. She was constantly reinventing her image and dominated music and film
Madonna and control over her own songwriting and production. Why was this important?
It challenged the way female pop stars were manufactured, showing she had artistic power within the music industry
What does Jon Pareles mean by calling Madonna a “virtuoso of the superficial”
He argues that Madonna mastered surface elements (like fashion and image) and used them strategically to gain cultural power
Why is Madonnas work debated in terms of feminism?
Some see her sexual presentation as empowering, some see it as objectifying
How does dance function in Madonnas performances and videos?
dance becomes a form of rebellion as it expressed freedom and identity, and a sense of control.
When were the Jackson five formed? and when did Michael Jackson leave?
1964, he transitioned to a solo career in 71
Who did Michael Jackson meet in 78 that was crucial to his solo career
Producer Quincy Jones, made first album - off the wall
What was really important for the Jackson 5 and Michael Jacksons music
Dancing and coordinated movement, which later became central to pop performance
What album of Michael Jacksons became an international phenomenon and the best-selling album of all time? And what year was it released?
Thriller - 1982
What were Michael Jacksons music videos like?
They functioned as mini-films with professional actors and clear narratives.
Why was Jackson seen as a “total performer”
Because he combined singing, dancing, and acting. He set a new standard where pop stars were expected to be fully visual performers and not just vocalists.
What was the main issue raised in Bracketts quote about MJ and race?
Main issue is the tension between a black artist achieving mainstream white appeal and accusations of selling out racial identity in pursuit of success
Why was ‘bad’ criticized despite its success?
critics said that his fame created impossible expectations that later work could not satisfy
How does MJ’s song ‘black or white’ address race and identity
The song confronts racial difference and unity using controversial visual effects
Who was Bruce Springsteen?
A serious rock artist from the 70s (1975) who was rooted in American rock n roll traditions
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Week 1 readings11
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Week 1 things to know22
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Week 2 things to know25
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Week 3 things to know30
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Week 4 things to know28
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Week 5 things to know23
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Week 6 things to know30
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Midterm Songs21
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Week 844
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Week 940
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Week 1047
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Week 1232
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Week 1348
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Week 1417
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Music pt115
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Music pt.218
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Music pt.312
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Music pt4 (old)11
