From Body-space to Technospace: The Virtualization of Urban Experience in Music Videos
Christophe Den Tandt Université Libre de Bruxelles Postcolonialism and Postmodernity Research Group January 2010
Music videos: expanding the realm of performance
. Music videos transport performers “out of a musical context—into the everyday (the street, the home) [or] into the fantastic (the dream, the wilderness)” (Simon Frith, Performing Rites: On the Value of Popular Music, 1996, p. 225)
The Cardigans: “For What It’s Worth”
Placebo: “The Bitter End”
The New Radicals. “You Get What You Give”
Music videos: expanding the realm of performance
Into the streets: Dancing in the streets (carnivalesque appropriation) Roaming the streets (alienated subjects in the asphalt Jungle) Dancing in the virtual streets (exploring virtualized urban space)
Dancing in the streets
Lavigne, Avril. “Sk8ter Boy.” Music video. Dir. Francis Lawrence. 2002.
Dancing in the streets
Appropriation of urban space Generational solidarity Subcultural channels Carnivalesque empowerment Roaming the streets
Avril Lavigne: “I’m With You” Faithless: “Insomnia.” Dir. Lindy Heymann. (1996). Placebo: “The Bitter End” John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle (1950) Dancing in the virtual streets
The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Californication. Music video. Dirs. Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. 2000. Dancing in the virtual streets
Postmodern pastiche Computer graphics / virtual reality Cf. Cyberpunk SF: William Gibson’s Neuromancer (1984); Virtual Light (1993); Andy and Larry Wachowski. The Matrix. 1998 Jean Baudrillard. Simulation and Simulacra ? Body-space vs. technospace
How can videos map the issues involved in the virtualization of urban experience? Music videos = performing artists transposed out of customary performance space to new locales Performance, agency (body-space) defined with regard to the technologies of the informational megalopolis (techno-space). Video special effects as metaphor/metonymy of virtualized urban space. Performing artists within a protean corporate city
Body-space
Hewitt, Jennifer Love. “Can I Go Now?” Music video. Dir. BMG video. 2003. Nelly and Kelly Rowland. “Dilemma.” Dir Benny Boom. 2003. Eminem. “8 Miles.” Pink. Family Portrait. Music video. Dir. Sophie Muller. 2003. Rowland, Kelly. Stole. Music video. Dir. Sanaa Hamri. 2003. Metallica. Hero of the Day. Music video. Dir. Anton Corbijn. 1996. The transfiguration into technospace
Nas and Lauryn Hill. “If I Ruled the World.” Music video. Dir. Hype Williams. 1998. Björk. “Big Time Sensuality.” Music video. Dir. Stéphane Sednaoui. 1993. The Cardigans. “For What It's Worth.” Music video. Dir. Amir Chamdin. 2003. Madonna. “Ray of Light.” Music video. Dir Jonas Akerlund. 1998. The Rolling Stones. “Love is Strong.” Music video. Dir. David Fincher. 1994. Subject positions in technospace
Techno-ecstasy Techno-alienation Techno-pragmatism / techno-consumerism Techno-resistance / disaccumulation Reasserting body-space: dissolving / resilient bodies
Techno-ecstasy
Ponty, Jean Luc. Individual choice. Music video. Dir. Louis Schwartzberg. 1983. Dire Straits and Sting. Money for Nothing. Music video. Dir. Steve Barron. 1985. Jackson, Michael. “Black or White.” Music video. Dir. John Landis. 1991. The Fifth Element. Dir. Luc Besson. Perf. Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman. Gaumont-Columbia TriStar, 1997. Techno-alienation
Kershaw, Nik. Wouldn't It Be Good. Music video. Dir. Storm Thorgerson. 1984. Placebo. “The Bitter End.” Music video. Dir Howard Greenhall. 2003. Massive Attack. “Special Cases.” Music video. Dir. H5 (Ludovic Houplain, Hervé de Crécy). 2003.
Techno-pragmatism, techno-consumerism
Lopez, Jennifer, featuring Jadakiss and Styles. Jenny from the Block. Music video. Dir. Francis Lawrence. 2002. Techno-resistance / Disaccumulation
Beck. “Beercan.” Music Video. Dir. Steven Hanft. 1994. Beck. “Loser.” Music video. Dir. Steven Hanft. 1993. Beck. “Mixed Bizness.” Music video. Dir. Stéphane Sednaoui. 2000. Beck. “The New Pollution.” Music Video. Dir Beck Hansen. 1997. Sum 41. « The Hell’s Song » Dissolving / Resilient bodies
Madonna. Die Another Day. Music video. Dir. Traktor. 2002. Guns ’n’ Roses. “You Could Be Mine.” Music video. Dir. Andy Morahan. 1991 Deja Move Meets Mr. Y. “Across Waters” Gnarls Barkley.