Music Video: index
Your final Music Video index should include the following:
Your final Music Video index should include the following:
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
this is america
1) The video of the music song This is America by Childish Gambino the key music conventions that are shown are the artist being included in the music video but also since this is a rap song and stereotypically things like violence, death, gun, and dancing are included.
2) The video is depicting gun violence as a bad thing which critics the use of guns in America and the normality but also when there is violence caused by a gun, the music continues which could show how there is a various amount of gun-related deaths but people have become desensitised to the violence caused by guns. The video could be talking or critiquing American culture by showing how even there is a problem going, people ignore it and would rather focus on other things.
3) The video could be referring to Gilroy at the beginning as it used vocals and music that seems Caribbean and African which is then contrasted when it changes to rap song which could link to Gilroy's theory as it shows the native country the person comes from and the place they live in.
The video could also be referring to Hall's theory by showing the artist as "the Native" because he does things like killing a man and shooting a choir which makes the audience associate them with primitive, cheating, savage, barbarian and a criminal. The video could also depict the artist as "the Clown/Entertainer" as he is shown to be dancing but also uses exaggerated facial expressions when doing so.
The video could be referring to Rose as when Childish Gambino uses dance moves that can be considered being part of black culture.
The video could be referring to Dyson as the music video includes black teenagers which could be referring to the idea of youth which was expressed by Dyson in the music video but also the video refers to and sheds light on politics, history and race.
4) " invocation of the racial caricature Jim Crow. Another suggested Glover was accusing black performers – even himself – of “coonery” "
“Childish Gambino’s dance moves distracted all of us from the craziness that was happening in the background of the video & that’s exactly the point he’s trying to make.”
"Glover distils the distorting way black men are seen by police with “tool”, meaning the gun. In the video, the camera pans up to black men filming the chaos on their phones."
5)
"It's just music."
"It's just music."
" The people on the girders with their mouths taped filming it on their phones.The man on a horse that goes past like General Lee when they are rioting.As a protest piece of visual art, it’s stunning."
common letter to free
Common - Letter to the Free
1) Common has been involved in the move Selma which is about an "Alabama city which became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965."
2) "The Thirteenth Amendment (Amendment XIII) to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. In Congress, it was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House on January 31, 1865."
3) "The Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states in 1865 and 1866 in the United States after the American Civil War with the intent and the effect of restricting African Americans' freedom, and of compelling them to work in a labour economy based on low wages or debt."
4) As the impact of slavery still resides in America to an extent. Areas in the south have racial views and slavery mainly happened in the suburbs of the south. Black African-Americans mostly reside of the east-coast of America where the Underground slavery line was found and dug. Things like the KKK group attacked and lynched prominent members in the black community as a way of degrading black people.
5) Ava DuVernay stated that one of the reasons why she made the movie and presented it to Hollywood was because "People in the real world are doing work and have been. My job is just to reflect it."
6) The most significant tie for hip-hop was the late 80's to the 90's which was due to prominent figures arising in the hip-hop scene such as NWA, Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac, Biggie Smalls etc. This is also due to the crack epidemics which started from 1984 to 1990. The crack epidemic severely effected the black communities leading to members and people using hip-hop as away of talking about their problems.
7) There are rappers such as Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and Jay Z who talk about politics and the current affairs in America.
8) The song Letter to the Free is featured on the album Black America Again. The critical reception for Black America Again was stated to be "received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 88, based on 13 reviews.[8] Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "All that's here, dark or bright, is vital."[9] Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune said, "One of the year's most potent protest albums."
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Billie Jean Case study
1) What was the budget for Billie Jean? How did this compare with later Michael Jackson videos?
The budget for "Billie Jean" was 300,000 dollars
2) Why was the video rejected by MTV?
Billie Jean was rejected by MTV as it was argued that it didn't suit their demographic of middle-class America.
3) Applying Goodwin's theory of music video, how does Billie Jean reflect the genre characteristics of the pop music video?
Goodwins's Genre theory suggested that media products appeal to audiences through repetition and difference. Billie Jean accomplishes the repetition element of this through the following conventions: lip-syncing, dance routine. performance, expensive/high fashion wardrobe and lyrics linking to the video.
4) How do the visuals reflect the lyrics in Billie Jean?
Even though there isn't a direct reference, Billie Jean is referenced throughout the song, as a character who is claiming that MJ got her pregnant. A clear reference between visuals and lyrics is when MJ says that the babies "eyes were like mine" and then there is a freeze frame around his eyes. Then there are also other minor things like Michael Jackson dancing and clapping with rhythm and on the beat.
5) Why does the video feature fewer close-up shots than in most pop videos?
This may have been done in order to focus more on Michael Jackson's innovative and unique dance moves, which only became even more iconic at the famous Motown concert in 1983.
6) What intertextual references can be found in the video?
An intertextual reference in the video is the director paying homage to film noir as there is a clear use of black and white/shadows in the beginning, as well as the main character being a detective, a common role in these types of films. Another minor reference in the tiger skin, which is a clear link to the "Thriller" album cover when MJ poses with a baby tiger
7) How does the video use the notion of looking like a recurring motif?
At first, the detective is looking at MJ, almost trying to investigate him. We then see multiple Polaroid cameras looking at MJ, whereby he was not captured on the images, giving this mystical aura about him. Further, in the video MJ is frozen in frames within frames, allowing us to look at him for an extended period of time, and in the latter stages of the video, we see the detective become the voyeur.
8) What representations can be found in the video?
Michael Jackson is represented as slick, smooth and arguably as if he is the Messiah, as some of his other videos and behaviour have provided evidence towards. This is displayed where he turns the homeless old man into a rich playboy, it is here that we see MJ perhaps being arrogant, being that he can turn anyone into a superstar. It was as if he believed that everything he touched turned to gold.
Close-textual analysis of the music video
1) How is mise-en-scene used to create intertextuality - a reference to other media products or genres? E.g. colour/black and white; light/lighting.
The use of lighting, in the beginning, uses chiaroscuro, which is an intertextual reference to film noir which utilized this lighting theme quite often to create a mysterious and perhaps tense atmosphere. There is a further reference to film noir where the main character, who is white, is a detective, trying to find a culprit. Also, the fact that the setting is pre-built is a subtle reference to musicals and how the characters may break out into song and dance, like how MJ does in this music video. It can also be argued that this references to Bollywood movies as well.
2) How does the video use narrative theory of equilibrium?
The ethnicities of the main characters are used to create narrative due to the fact that the detective is white and MJ is black, this creates narrative as in other genres, like film noir, the white person would be the protagonist, and the black person, who would be the antagonist. This creates interest and appeals in the video as the director us doing something different with the genre, in that we are made to like MJ, who is thought to be the antagonist, and dislike the detective, who would typically be the protagonist.
4) What is the significance of the freeze-frames and split-screen visual effects?
I think that the freeze frames were used to highlight the dance and improvisation skills of MJ. Doing this helps build him as a performer and an icon in the long run. Also, the effect of the freeze on the eyes was to emphasise the fact that a fan was trying to say that he was the father of her child.
5) What meanings could the recurring motif of 'pictures-within-pictures' create for the audience?
This can be to give the idea that MJ is being watched by the detective, as well as the viewers, almost as if we are invading his privacy, which he has said before has been an issue as he has even made songs about the topic.
6) Does the video reinforce or subvert theories of race and ethnicity - such as Gilroy's diaspora or Hall's black characterisations in American media?
This music video arguably reinforces race theories, one of which being black characterisations as MJ can be seen as the "Entertainer" in this video. This is due to the fact that he is lip syncing and dancing throughout.
7) Does this video reflect Steve Neale's genre theory of 'repetition and difference'? Does it reflect other music videos or does it innovate?
This video does reflect the idea of repetition and difference, this is due to the fact that throughout the video we see MJ singing and dancing, clearly showing a performance, which is normal for a music video of this genre. The difference element perhaps comes through the setting of the music video, as it is sound stage, which is normally used in live performed musicals, which is clear intertextuality.
8) Analyse the video using postmodern theory (e.g. Baudrillard's hyper-reality; Strinati's five definitions of postmodernism). How does the 'picture-in-picture' recurring motif create a postmodern reading?
The picture within a picture motif creates postmodern reading for the viewers due to the fact that supports the idea of having a private detective, which is what we can assume the person following MJ is, therefore the pictures within pictures motif could represent him taking pictures. It can be argued that this declines the idea of letting the police and government handle the whole love child situation and take matters into your own hands.
The budget for "Billie Jean" was 300,000 dollars
2) Why was the video rejected by MTV?
Billie Jean was rejected by MTV as it was argued that it didn't suit their demographic of middle-class America.
3) Applying Goodwin's theory of music video, how does Billie Jean reflect the genre characteristics of the pop music video?
Goodwins's Genre theory suggested that media products appeal to audiences through repetition and difference. Billie Jean accomplishes the repetition element of this through the following conventions: lip-syncing, dance routine. performance, expensive/high fashion wardrobe and lyrics linking to the video.
4) How do the visuals reflect the lyrics in Billie Jean?
Even though there isn't a direct reference, Billie Jean is referenced throughout the song, as a character who is claiming that MJ got her pregnant. A clear reference between visuals and lyrics is when MJ says that the babies "eyes were like mine" and then there is a freeze frame around his eyes. Then there are also other minor things like Michael Jackson dancing and clapping with rhythm and on the beat.
5) Why does the video feature fewer close-up shots than in most pop videos?
This may have been done in order to focus more on Michael Jackson's innovative and unique dance moves, which only became even more iconic at the famous Motown concert in 1983.
6) What intertextual references can be found in the video?
An intertextual reference in the video is the director paying homage to film noir as there is a clear use of black and white/shadows in the beginning, as well as the main character being a detective, a common role in these types of films. Another minor reference in the tiger skin, which is a clear link to the "Thriller" album cover when MJ poses with a baby tiger
7) How does the video use the notion of looking like a recurring motif?
At first, the detective is looking at MJ, almost trying to investigate him. We then see multiple Polaroid cameras looking at MJ, whereby he was not captured on the images, giving this mystical aura about him. Further, in the video MJ is frozen in frames within frames, allowing us to look at him for an extended period of time, and in the latter stages of the video, we see the detective become the voyeur.
8) What representations can be found in the video?
Michael Jackson is represented as slick, smooth and arguably as if he is the Messiah, as some of his other videos and behaviour have provided evidence towards. This is displayed where he turns the homeless old man into a rich playboy, it is here that we see MJ perhaps being arrogant, being that he can turn anyone into a superstar. It was as if he believed that everything he touched turned to gold.
Close-textual analysis of the music video
1) How is mise-en-scene used to create intertextuality - a reference to other media products or genres? E.g. colour/black and white; light/lighting.
The use of lighting, in the beginning, uses chiaroscuro, which is an intertextual reference to film noir which utilized this lighting theme quite often to create a mysterious and perhaps tense atmosphere. There is a further reference to film noir where the main character, who is white, is a detective, trying to find a culprit. Also, the fact that the setting is pre-built is a subtle reference to musicals and how the characters may break out into song and dance, like how MJ does in this music video. It can also be argued that this references to Bollywood movies as well.
2) How does the video use narrative theory of equilibrium?
The video starts with Michael Jackson walking through the street, and the detective looking for him. The disequilibrium is when the detective does not manage to capture MJ on the Polaroid camera. The new equilibrium of the video could be the detective getting caught by the police and going to jail.
3) How are characters used to create the narrative through binary opposition?
4) What is the significance of the freeze-frames and split-screen visual effects?
5) What meanings could the recurring motif of 'pictures-within-pictures' create for the audience?
This can be to give the idea that MJ is being watched by the detective, as well as the viewers, almost as if we are invading his privacy, which he has said before has been an issue as he has even made songs about the topic.
6) Does the video reinforce or subvert theories of race and ethnicity - such as Gilroy's diaspora or Hall's black characterisations in American media?
This music video arguably reinforces race theories, one of which being black characterisations as MJ can be seen as the "Entertainer" in this video. This is due to the fact that he is lip syncing and dancing throughout.
7) Does this video reflect Steve Neale's genre theory of 'repetition and difference'? Does it reflect other music videos or does it innovate?
This video does reflect the idea of repetition and difference, this is due to the fact that throughout the video we see MJ singing and dancing, clearly showing a performance, which is normal for a music video of this genre. The difference element perhaps comes through the setting of the music video, as it is sound stage, which is normally used in live performed musicals, which is clear intertextuality.
8) Analyse the video using postmodern theory (e.g. Baudrillard's hyper-reality; Strinati's five definitions of postmodernism). How does the 'picture-in-picture' recurring motif create a postmodern reading?
The picture within a picture motif creates postmodern reading for the viewers due to the fact that supports the idea of having a private detective, which is what we can assume the person following MJ is, therefore the pictures within pictures motif could represent him taking pictures. It can be argued that this declines the idea of letting the police and government handle the whole love child situation and take matters into your own hands.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Music Video: An introduction
The purpose of a music video is to sell products such as things like albums.
2) How has the digital age changed the production and distribution of music videos?
The digital age has changed the production because of the new technology able to enhance videos using different types of software furthermore distribution is also enhanced due to the social media influence in today's world, there is many ways to now distribute music videos
3) Which three major record labels are behind VEVO? What is VEVO and why was it created?
Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and EMI.[6, Warner Music Group (WMG)
It was supposed to be a music streaming service.
4) What are the key conventions of a music video?
lip syncing
pace
dance
narrative
5) How can narrative be used in music video? Give an example of a music video that uses a narrative.
Narrative can be used to captivate an audience, a music video that uses narrative is :
This video uses a crime narrative.
6) What examples are provided in the factsheet for intertextuality in music videos?
7) Why do audiences enjoy intertextual references in media products?
8) Read the music video example analysis on page 3 of the factsheet. Select a music video of your own choice and write your own analysis using the following headings:
- Conventions (movement/narrative/artist)
- Intertextuality
- Representation
- Audience
- Institution
9) Watch the video for Ice Cube's It Was A Good Day (1993). How did this video set the conventions for later hip-hop music videos?
10) How important do you think music videos are in the marketing and promotion of music artists in 2018? Are music videos essential to a band or artist's success?
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