Initially emerging as a way of promoting singles, music videos have become a platform for artists to create or explain the background or story to the lyrics in their songs, in more recent years, music videos have come to challenge conventions by acting as artists' confessions or opinions, political statements and most notably, controversial pieces of media.
1. The Prodigy- Smack My Bitch Up
released in the mid-90s, 'Smack My Bitch Up' caused massive controversy as a single alone. The video includes hard drug use, violence, sexual scenes and a supposed 'twist' at the end (the video is from the point of view of a woman and not a man, the safest justification). For my first textual analysis I looked at this music video, specifically because of the controversy it received upon release and continues to receive in present day. Prodigy Textual Analysis.
2. Frankie Goes to Hollywood- Relax
Released in 1983, this song and especially the music video sparked outrage among the public, mainly for its references to homosexuality (which, in the 80s, was still considered to be wrong) and its sexual themes (including BDSM).
3. Closer- Nine Inch Nails
With the song itself being highly explicit with its sacrilege and sexual lyrics, as well as swearing in every chorus, the video clearly wasn't going to be a poster for MTV. This music video includes nudity, inferences to animal cruelty, religious mockery and other stuff. It is basically a naughty video.
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