Theorizing Music Videos of the Late 2010s A Prosumer’s Study of a Medium

The work formulates a status quo of the music video medium in the late 2010s and shows which trends, aesthetics and (new) standards have established themselves. Particularly the role of the prosumer amidst evolved technical conditions is highlighted in this context, which strongly influences the evolution of music video in this period. Moreover, the author understands music videos as socio-political actors and examines the resulting questions of their interaction with culture.

Introduction.- Summarizing the research status.- Reconsidering contemporary music videos.- Prosuming a music video in the late 2010s.- What is music videos’ cultural impact?.- Conclusion.

Leo Feisthauer is a musician, filmmaker, researcher and teacher based in Kassel, Germany. His work in both art and academia focuses on audiovisual studies and new media.