60-411 Advanced Studio: Visual Music
10 units, Carnegie Mellon University
This course explores the art and craft of music video production, combining theoretical analysis with handson practical experience. Students will examine the historical development, cultural impact, and aesthetic principles of music video while developing the technical skills to create their own. The course begins with a comprehensive overview of audiovisual experimentation, tracing its roots from early visual music pioneers through movie musicals, the MTV revolution of the 1980s, and into todays digital landscape. Well analyze how music video has evolved as a unique art form, influencing art and popular culture, shaping artist personas, and pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. Students will study landmark videos and directors, examining their cultural context and lasting influence on the medium. Throughout the semester, students will learn the entire music video production process, including concept development, preproduction planning, cinematography, lighting, postproduction editing and VFX. By the end of the course, students will have worked on their own and collaboratively to produce experimental music video projects, demonstrating their creative vision and technical proficiency. They will leave with a deeper understanding of music video as an art form and the skills to contribute to this dynamic field.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Spring 2027
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