Codes & Conventions
Linear Narrative/maybe non-linear
Amplification of lyrics
Use of star
Some performance used
Close up of star
Main characters
Story lines
Simple special effects
Editing that matches beat
Set in realistic places
Elliptical editing
Lip sync
Image of star is used to portray/ suit genre
Mise en scene used to create character types
Range of camera angles
Use of crane (jib)
Tracking shots
Not much interaction between characters
Simple narratives
No dialogue at beginning
Mostly closed narrative
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Music Video Analysis- Fountains Of Wayne- Staceys Mom
Aspects of Performance/Mode of Analysis
There is not much performance as a band as the video is more narrative based. The band does play at various points in the video and this is direct as they are looking at the audience. When the video has Stacey, her mom and the boy in it is indirect as they are not involving the audience by looking at them.
Narrative
The narrative is non linear as things happen when he has been over previous times such as moving the lawn. There is flash backs to these times.
How Does the Video Create an Image for the Artist/Band
The band is seen as fun as they aren’t taking anything to seriously and there video is funny. They are also not sending out an important message for the audience
How Do the Visuals Relate To the Song
The lyrics are about how ‘Stacey’s mom has got it going on’ and it shows a young boy lusting after his friend Stacey’s mom. The visuals follow the narrative as it shows him mowing the lawn when he sings about it and shows her in a business suit when the lyrics are talking about when she came back from a business trip.
Mise-En-Scene
The video starts at school when Stacey is waiting to be picked up. A majority of the video is set at Stacey’s house and in her back garden around the pool area. Stacey’s mom drives a shiny red convertible and wears short skirts and low cut tops which shows her as the ‘desperate housewife’ type.
Use of Camera
It starts with a pan across of everyone’s shoes waiting to be picked up from school. A close up is used of Stacey’s mom when she comes in the car and pans and close ups are used of her body parts such as her legs when she is wearing a short skirt. Zoom in is used of the boys face when Stacey’s mom is undressing so that we can see his facial expression. A variety of camera angles is used when Stacey’s mom is pole dancing. Close ups, pans and mid shots are all used to show what she is doing.
Editing
The editing is slow paced until the part when Stacey’s mom starts pole dancing when lots of fast edits are made and lots of flashes between different camera angles are used.
Representation
Stacey’s mom wears low cut clothes and drives a sports car which represents her being a typical ‘desperate housewife’ in a huge house with a pool. When the boy opens a bottle it fizzes up and explodes all over him and this represents how he feels when he sees Stacey’s mom undressing. Stacey’s mom has long blonde hair, cleavage on show and very low cut clothing which shows her as a ‘Milf’ stereotype.
Special Effects
Special effects are used when the girl is jumping in to the pool it shows her doing it in slow motion. Also when the band is showed playing they are showed by cartoon graphics.
Genre
The genre for this music is Rock.
Audience
The audience for this band is teenagers.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Music Video Analysis- Bowling for Soup- Girl All the Bad Guys Want
Aspects of Performance/Mode of Analysis
We see a shop window and a TV inside with the band playing on the screen. This part is direct as they are looking at the audience. The rest is indirect as the other people are not looking at the camera screen.
Narrative
It starts with the start of a different song by the band being played on a TV screen then switches to the song the video is for. It has a non-linear narrative.
How Does the Video Create an Image for the Artist/Band
The video makes us not really take the band seriously and allows us to think that they are a fun band and that they are good guys and can’t pull off being bad like they want to be.
How Do the Visuals Relate To the Song
The band members are trying to be the ‘bad guy’ that all of the girls want. One of the band members in the video is smoking but keeps choking every time he inhales it and this shows us that he is not ‘bad’ like he is trying to be. The lyrics say ‘As I failed miserably’ and then shows them all failing to get the girl in the video as she walks off at the end and it shows them all failing at being bad.
Mise-En-Scene
The girl in the video is stood on a street looking in to a shop window where there is a TV showing the band on it performing. The girl is a typical pretty rock girl with long dark hair and an interesting look. The band is performing in a warehouse and there are lots of props used such as a toilet, band equipment and boxes. Some of the scenes are set in someone’s house when the man is smoking and flicking through pictures then accidentally sets it on fire. Different costumes are used when the band dress up as convicts in orange jail jumpsuits and they also dress up as slipknot with the masks that they wear.
Use of Camera
An extreme close up is used of a cigarette that the man is smoking. Close ups are used of the main singers face and the other members of the bands instruments which are being played. Mid shots are used to show the whole band on one screen playing the song together. A long shot is used in the flat scene where it is on fire and the man is trying to put it out. Pans are used when the whole band are playing together so that we get to see each member.
Editing
Shot reverse shot is used with the girl and the TV she is watching with the band playing on. It flashes from the TV screen to her face and back again. Flashes are used to show us different people in all the other locations doing different things like the man in the flat, the man on the toilet and the band playing. The editing is fast paced as it constantly changes quickly between camera angles and to the other locations and people.
Representation
All the members are tiring to be the bad boy that the girl in the video wants. One of them is trying to smoke but keeps choking which represents him trying to be bad as smoking is considered something bad boys do but he is choking which shows he is failing at being bad. A man is song writing which also shows him trying to be bad as girls like bad boys in bands and this is what he is trying to do. One man is playing noughts and crosses on his own and looking at pictures of a white fluffy small dog and this represents the fact that he is not bad at all. At the end all the band are jumping around, wrecking their guitars and ripping there clothes off and partying with pretty girls showing that they can be bad and do what rock stars do.
Special Effects
Special effects are used when the man is in his flat and it shows flashes of him moving about rather than showing his whole journey
Genre
The genre for this music is Rock.
Audience
The audience for this band is teens to young adults.
We see a shop window and a TV inside with the band playing on the screen. This part is direct as they are looking at the audience. The rest is indirect as the other people are not looking at the camera screen.
Narrative
It starts with the start of a different song by the band being played on a TV screen then switches to the song the video is for. It has a non-linear narrative.
How Does the Video Create an Image for the Artist/Band
The video makes us not really take the band seriously and allows us to think that they are a fun band and that they are good guys and can’t pull off being bad like they want to be.
How Do the Visuals Relate To the Song
The band members are trying to be the ‘bad guy’ that all of the girls want. One of the band members in the video is smoking but keeps choking every time he inhales it and this shows us that he is not ‘bad’ like he is trying to be. The lyrics say ‘As I failed miserably’ and then shows them all failing to get the girl in the video as she walks off at the end and it shows them all failing at being bad.
Mise-En-Scene
The girl in the video is stood on a street looking in to a shop window where there is a TV showing the band on it performing. The girl is a typical pretty rock girl with long dark hair and an interesting look. The band is performing in a warehouse and there are lots of props used such as a toilet, band equipment and boxes. Some of the scenes are set in someone’s house when the man is smoking and flicking through pictures then accidentally sets it on fire. Different costumes are used when the band dress up as convicts in orange jail jumpsuits and they also dress up as slipknot with the masks that they wear.
Use of Camera
An extreme close up is used of a cigarette that the man is smoking. Close ups are used of the main singers face and the other members of the bands instruments which are being played. Mid shots are used to show the whole band on one screen playing the song together. A long shot is used in the flat scene where it is on fire and the man is trying to put it out. Pans are used when the whole band are playing together so that we get to see each member.
Editing
Shot reverse shot is used with the girl and the TV she is watching with the band playing on. It flashes from the TV screen to her face and back again. Flashes are used to show us different people in all the other locations doing different things like the man in the flat, the man on the toilet and the band playing. The editing is fast paced as it constantly changes quickly between camera angles and to the other locations and people.
Representation
All the members are tiring to be the bad boy that the girl in the video wants. One of them is trying to smoke but keeps choking which represents him trying to be bad as smoking is considered something bad boys do but he is choking which shows he is failing at being bad. A man is song writing which also shows him trying to be bad as girls like bad boys in bands and this is what he is trying to do. One man is playing noughts and crosses on his own and looking at pictures of a white fluffy small dog and this represents the fact that he is not bad at all. At the end all the band are jumping around, wrecking their guitars and ripping there clothes off and partying with pretty girls showing that they can be bad and do what rock stars do.
Special Effects
Special effects are used when the man is in his flat and it shows flashes of him moving about rather than showing his whole journey
Genre
The genre for this music is Rock.
Audience
The audience for this band is teens to young adults.
Notes On Music Videos
Music videos are a marketing device used by record companies so the aim is to create record sales through making the song popular. Music videos have only been main stream since the 1980's. It could be argued that 'The Beatles' contributed to the music video. As in 1964, the film 'A hard days night' contains songs with 'The Beatles' and some narrative was attempted. Therefore, it was a musical sequence rather than a video. In 1965 'The Beatles' began to produce film inserts as a promotional tool. Other bands began to follow suit 'The Beatles' lead the way with 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Penny Lane' both of which being produced by Peter Goldman and were considered avant-garde, slow motion and unusual camera work. Through experimentation they were more sophisticated than previous musical sequences. In the 1980's, music videos became mainstream with the launch of MTV in 1981, with the first song being aired 'Video Killed the Radio Star'. Music videos became standard for bands and artists as they could be cheaply produced with hi-tech equipment and effects such as the chroma key.
Censorship
Products need to be censored. Music videos are moderated by the BBFC. Music Videos are mini films which is why the BBFC regulate them. Censorship much be considered when making a music video. In 1991, Michael Jackson's 'Black or White' video was censored as Michael Jackson was said to have inappropriately touch himself. Other videos have also been censored such as The Prodigy's 'Smack My Bitch Up' video and also Robbie Williams' 'Rock DJ' video.
Music Video Theory
Some would argue that music videos have made pop superficially based on image. Are pop songs enough on their own to make meaning and pleasure for the audience.
"A good music video is a clip that responds
to the pleasure of music, and in which that
the music is made visual, either in new ways
or in a way that accentuates existing
visual associations." - Andrew Goodwin (1992)
1) Music Videos demonstrates genre characteristics such as dance routines shown in girl/boy band music videos.
2) the relationship between lyrics and visuals either contradicts or illustrates the lyrics.
3) The relationships between the music and visuals will either illustrate, amplify or contradicts whats happening on screen.
4) The demands of the record label will include lots of close ups of the artist(s) may develop motifs which reoccur across the style and video.
5) Frequent reference to the notion of looking voyeurism of the female body.
Censorship
Products need to be censored. Music videos are moderated by the BBFC. Music Videos are mini films which is why the BBFC regulate them. Censorship much be considered when making a music video. In 1991, Michael Jackson's 'Black or White' video was censored as Michael Jackson was said to have inappropriately touch himself. Other videos have also been censored such as The Prodigy's 'Smack My Bitch Up' video and also Robbie Williams' 'Rock DJ' video.
Music Video Theory
Some would argue that music videos have made pop superficially based on image. Are pop songs enough on their own to make meaning and pleasure for the audience.
"A good music video is a clip that responds
to the pleasure of music, and in which that
the music is made visual, either in new ways
or in a way that accentuates existing
visual associations." - Andrew Goodwin (1992)
1) Music Videos demonstrates genre characteristics such as dance routines shown in girl/boy band music videos.
2) the relationship between lyrics and visuals either contradicts or illustrates the lyrics.
3) The relationships between the music and visuals will either illustrate, amplify or contradicts whats happening on screen.
4) The demands of the record label will include lots of close ups of the artist(s) may develop motifs which reoccur across the style and video.
5) Frequent reference to the notion of looking voyeurism of the female body.
Music Video Questionnaire
1) How old are you?
...............
2) Are you male or female? (Please circle)
Male Female
3) What is your favourite music genre? (Please list your favourites)
.........................................................................
4) What type of music video do you like? (Please circle your favourites)
Comedy Sci-Fi Action Dance Tranquil Happy Sad Romance
5) Do you like the artist/band to be in a music video?
Yes No Don’t mind/Depends
6) Do you prefer males or females to be in a music video?
Males Females Both Don’t mind/Depends
7) What music magazines do you read? (If any, circle appropriate)
Q Kerrang NME Rolling Stone Mojo Jazzwise
Other (Please specify) .............
8) Do you prefer a music video to be colourful or black and white?
Colourful Black & White Don’t mind/Depends
9) Do you prefer a music video to have a more retro or modern style?
Retro Modern Don’t mind/Depends
10) Do you like music videos that are easy to follow or more of a challenge to understand?
Easy Hard Don’t mind/Depends
11) Do you like special effects in a music video?
Yes No Don’t mind/Depends
12) Should a music video be more dramatic or soft?
Dramatic Soft Don’t mind/Depends
13) Should a music video be slow or fast paced?
Slow Fast Don’t mind/Depends
14) Do you prefer a more light hearted video or something scarier?
Light Scary Action packed
15) Do you like stereotypes in a music video?
Yes No
16) Do you like festive/seasonal music videos?
Yes, more santa! Bah, humbug!
17) Do you like more historical or futuristic settings?
Historical Futuristic Present
18) Should the narrative of a music video have a genre? (Eg. Action, romance etc)
Yes No
19) Should the video amplify, disjuncture (contradict) or illustrate the lyrics?
Amplify Disjuncture Illustrate No preference
20) Do you watch any music channels?
Yes No
21) If so, which ones?
MTV VH1 4Music Kerrang Kiss TMF Other (Please state) ......................
22) What’s your favourite music video and why?
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
23) What’s your least favourite music video and why?
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
24) Will you buy an album if you like music videos?
Yes No, I’m a pirate
25) Any additional comments?
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
...............
2) Are you male or female? (Please circle)
Male Female
3) What is your favourite music genre? (Please list your favourites)
.........................................................................
4) What type of music video do you like? (Please circle your favourites)
Comedy Sci-Fi Action Dance Tranquil Happy Sad Romance
5) Do you like the artist/band to be in a music video?
Yes No Don’t mind/Depends
6) Do you prefer males or females to be in a music video?
Males Females Both Don’t mind/Depends
7) What music magazines do you read? (If any, circle appropriate)
Q Kerrang NME Rolling Stone Mojo Jazzwise
Other (Please specify) .............
8) Do you prefer a music video to be colourful or black and white?
Colourful Black & White Don’t mind/Depends
9) Do you prefer a music video to have a more retro or modern style?
Retro Modern Don’t mind/Depends
10) Do you like music videos that are easy to follow or more of a challenge to understand?
Easy Hard Don’t mind/Depends
11) Do you like special effects in a music video?
Yes No Don’t mind/Depends
12) Should a music video be more dramatic or soft?
Dramatic Soft Don’t mind/Depends
13) Should a music video be slow or fast paced?
Slow Fast Don’t mind/Depends
14) Do you prefer a more light hearted video or something scarier?
Light Scary Action packed
15) Do you like stereotypes in a music video?
Yes No
16) Do you like festive/seasonal music videos?
Yes, more santa! Bah, humbug!
17) Do you like more historical or futuristic settings?
Historical Futuristic Present
18) Should the narrative of a music video have a genre? (Eg. Action, romance etc)
Yes No
19) Should the video amplify, disjuncture (contradict) or illustrate the lyrics?
Amplify Disjuncture Illustrate No preference
20) Do you watch any music channels?
Yes No
21) If so, which ones?
MTV VH1 4Music Kerrang Kiss TMF Other (Please state) ......................
22) What’s your favourite music video and why?
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
23) What’s your least favourite music video and why?
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
24) Will you buy an album if you like music videos?
Yes No, I’m a pirate
25) Any additional comments?
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Monday, 12 October 2009
Music Video Ideas
Before we start filming the music video we have brainstormed some ideas for the song 'Army Of Nerds' By Edible Zoo. This is the song we are doing our music video on.
Music Video Ideas
• Actual army of nerds
• Bird watching (both kinds of bird watching e.g. females and animals)
• Humour used throughout the video
• Bullies to bully the nerds
• Chasing butterflies as the lyrics say
• Playing chess
• Playing computer games due to reference to them in lyrics
• Sword fighting due to the reference in the lyrics of fantasy games
• Red vs Blue (team red, team blue etc)
• Sci-fi- star trek, star wars, classic doctor who.
• Computers and video games
• Space invaders
• Mario
• Dungeons and dragons
• War hammer
• Complex maths
• Wedgies/ nipple twisting
• Binary
• Penny arcade
• Set on field
Music Video Ideas
• Actual army of nerds
• Bird watching (both kinds of bird watching e.g. females and animals)
• Humour used throughout the video
• Bullies to bully the nerds
• Chasing butterflies as the lyrics say
• Playing chess
• Playing computer games due to reference to them in lyrics
• Sword fighting due to the reference in the lyrics of fantasy games
• Red vs Blue (team red, team blue etc)
• Sci-fi- star trek, star wars, classic doctor who.
• Computers and video games
• Space invaders
• Mario
• Dungeons and dragons
• War hammer
• Complex maths
• Wedgies/ nipple twisting
• Binary
• Penny arcade
• Set on field
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Music Video Analysis- Lily Allen- Smile
Aspects Of Performance/Mode Of Analysis
Lily sings to the camera at various points in the video and this is direct. It becomes indirect when she is seen getting revenge on her ex boyfriend and starts to act and show performance. The artist herself plays the main role in this music video
Narrative
The narrative is non-linear at the beginning as she is seen sat on her bed upset and then there is a flash back of her and her ex boyfriend when they were happy and cuddled up in bed. The rest of the video follows a linear narrative as the beginning is clear from when she is upset. Then the middle when she is getting revenge and finally the end where she has broken her ex down and he is relying on her.
How Does The Video Create An Image For The Artist/Band
It makes us see her as normal and not very celebrity like as this kind of thing happens all the time to regular people and we generally dont think it happens to celebs. She comes across as powerful and independent as its showing that no-one messes with her and gets away with it and that she can cope on her own. It also puts her across as being a bit spiteful.
How Do The Visuals Relate To The Song
The visuals amplify the song as the song is about her being cheated on and breaking up with her boyfriend and taking revenge and in the video we see exactly this.
Mise-En-Scene
It is first set in her house as she is sat on her bed singing to the camera. She then meets a guy on a street corner and hands him some money obviosly to do something dodgey as we can tell he is dodgey from the way he presents himself and the way he dresses in scruffy clothing. The man then talks to some chavs and gets them to beat up her ex boyfriend while some of them trash his flat. All these places are seen as normal places and shows us that Lily is just a regular person like us. She also has her trademark dress with trainers combo and gold earrings.
Use Of Camera
In the bedroom lots of andles are used including lots of closeups to show her face when she is singing. Also mid-shots are used to see her sitting on the bed and pannings around her room. Flashes of quick camera angles changes are used when the chavs are trashing the flat. A long tracking shot is used to show her walking at the end down a street.
Editing
Shot reverse shot is used when her and her ex boyfriend are in the cafe having a conversation and also when she is in the street talking to the man on the corner. The editing is fast paced as it changes camera regularly and changes back and forth to different scenes.
Representation
Lily is seen as a regular person as everyone has to go through a difficult break up. When she seeks revenge on her ex she is seem as spiteful but also as powerful as she is doing something to get back at him for hurting her.
Special Effects
No special effects are used in this video.
Genre
The genre for this music is pop.
Audience
Teens to young adults.
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