- Links between Lyrics and Visuals
- Links between Music and Visuals (Complimentary, Contradicting or Amplification)
- Genre characteristics
- Intertextual reference
- Notions of Looking (objectification of women)
- Voyerism (direct gaze, other people looking at artist, insight into artists life, screens and mirrors)
- Demands of the Record Label (representation of the artist)
- Performance based, Narrative based or Concept based music videos
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Goodwin's Theory of Music Videos
Information about Music Videos
- They follow specific genre conventions
- ..OR they are experimental/abstract
- The video lasts the length of the music (sometimes even longer)
- Can be performance, narrative or concept based
- Music and moving images have long gone together
Some people believe they are a distinctive art form which can allow directors to create really interesting, creative opportunities.
In the 1920s & 1930s there was a lot of experimental film.
The 'Soundies':
- early US jukebox
- allowed the first time for people to see the artist perform
In the 1960s music video promos were produced, which were used on 'Top of the Pops' in the 1970s. They were used as a substitue for when the band was on tour.
When MTV was produced there was a boom of promo videos in the 1980s. Spin-off music channels were also produced, such as 'Smash Hits' and 'Q'. There are now separate music channels set up in order to specialise in one genre of music, i.e, 'MTV Base' and 'MTV2'.
Example of Goodwin Analysis (taken from main blog source)
How to analyse a music video...
Andrew Goodwin writing in ‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’ (Routledge 1992)
Andrew Goodwin writing in ‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’ (Routledge 1992)
- Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).
- There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
- There is a relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
- The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).
- There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
- There is often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).
Monday, 28 September 2009
Auteur Presentation 2
S1 Autuer Presentation - Spike Jonze
View more presentations from Media Studies.
Auteur Presentation 1
S1 Auteur Presentation - Hammer and Tongs
View more presentations from Media Studies.
Analysis of Jay-Z Poster
Compared to Mika's bright and eye-catching poster, Jay-Z's poster is simply black and white. This may be to make the artist appear more professional and 'grown -up' to appeal to his audience.
I think that the normal demands of the record label used for a video do not apply within the poster either, as in a video normally the record label require many shots of the singer to make sure he is essentially being sold to the viewer as an artist they will want to listen to, whereas this poster does not include a single image of the artist. This shows that they believe that simply the use of his title 'Jay-Z' is enough for people to recognise him.
Although the poster does include all of the needed information, (listed in the 'Analysis of a Mika Poster' post), personally I do no think that the poster is very effective as the lack of colour and images means that nothing is there to catch the readers attention, as the poster is not eye-catching.
I think that the normal demands of the record label used for a video do not apply within the poster either, as in a video normally the record label require many shots of the singer to make sure he is essentially being sold to the viewer as an artist they will want to listen to, whereas this poster does not include a single image of the artist. This shows that they believe that simply the use of his title 'Jay-Z' is enough for people to recognise him.
Although the poster does include all of the needed information, (listed in the 'Analysis of a Mika Poster' post), personally I do no think that the poster is very effective as the lack of colour and images means that nothing is there to catch the readers attention, as the poster is not eye-catching.
Analysis of Mika Poster
This is the magazine add and video for Mika's new song We Are Golden. The magazine and the video are very similar in the way that there is a lot going on and there are lots of bright colours.
The bright and ''busy'' image on the poster also reflect Mika's personally lively image that he's known for.
The poster holds the ket conventions that we will need to include on our own poster:
- Artist name
- Photo of Artist
- Album name
- Date of album release
- Songs that are included in the album
- Record label
- How it's available (CD, Deluxe CD and Download)
About Butch Walker
His latest album cover:
Butch Walker Information:
Butch Walker (born Bradley Glenn Walker on November 14, 1969) is an American recording artist, songwriter, and
(sources from Butch Walker website and Wikipedia)
Project Outline and Deadlines
Deadlines:
- Music Video Shooting Deadline: Monday 19th October 9am
- Music Video Rough Cut Deadline: Last lesson of week ending 23rd October
- Music Video Final Deadline: Last lesson of week ending 13th November
- Ancillary Products Deadline: Last lesson of week ending 27th November
- Evaluative Writing Interim Deadline: 9am to Moodle Monday 7th December
- Evaluative Writing Final Deadline: 9am to Moodle Monday 14th December
- Before the rough cut deadline, you will be able to take a camera for 2 overnights or 1 weekend. The first opportunity you will have for filming is Friday 2nd October from 4.10pm.
- Between the rough cut and the Final deadline, you will be able to have a camera in the lessons and for 1 overnight. No weekends.
- You can have a stills camera in the lessons and for 1 overnight, from the point where filming commences. It is possible to have your video and stills cameras at the same time. This actually might be advisable.
Cd Cover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s00Kgm-KjicThis band is called eagle-eye cherry, they are also very similar to Butch Walker. But there is a difference this band are a bit slower paced and i think that the cover shows this. The lead singer looks quite sad and a little wierd. The picture is taken in a sepia affect, which i think increases the sad feeling you get from the image.
Research into Digipaks
A digipak is a style of CD or DVD packaging, often used for special addition CDs and DVDs.
They are one of the first alternatives to jewel cases and became popular amoung recording artists in the 2000s.
Digipaks typically consist of a book-style paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside.
They are less likely to crack compared to jewel cases, but the plastic teeth used to hold the disc in place inside the packaging is brittle and can easily snap and break if the digipak is trodden on or crushed in some way.
Digipak manufacturers are trying to make the digipaks more environmentally friendly by introducing recycled components into the product.
Example of a Digipak:
They are one of the first alternatives to jewel cases and became popular amoung recording artists in the 2000s.
Digipaks typically consist of a book-style paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside.
They are less likely to crack compared to jewel cases, but the plastic teeth used to hold the disc in place inside the packaging is brittle and can easily snap and break if the digipak is trodden on or crushed in some way.
Digipak manufacturers are trying to make the digipaks more environmentally friendly by introducing recycled components into the product.
Example of a Digipak:
CD Covers
This cover is from a band called Arctic Monkeys, a similar band to the one we are using. The cover is very simple but i think that it is very appealing to the eye. I really like the dull colours mixed with the very bright colours. The bands name is on the cover and the writing is the writing they use for all there covers and posters. It is a Arctic Monkeys trademark. There are no band members on this album but as it is not there first album they don't need to. I don't think from this cover you would know the type of music you would be listening to.
Track 3, main idea
Our pitch for track 3 is as the initial idea expresses it,
Our main idea is generalised over the band and the instruments and artist, We start this idea with cameras following the band members walking around until they meet up at a random point and then switches into the band playing music in a random field with mixed camera shots that mold to the music beats and flow with the rhythm.
The music video changes as it follows different musicians from the band for example; follow the guitarist down the street playing his part or the singer walking through a park in some random locations to keep the interest in the video and the audience entertained until as i mentioned before they meet up.
The scenes you witness in the video will change rather dramatically so it doesn't keep repeating the same bland places.
We also had an idea, that we mentioned in our idea for track 11, where we have the singer sat on a sofa some where in a house maybe and he turns channel onto a shot of a band in a field or a artist walking down the street and from this point their is camera movement that motions into the TV and then the rest of the music video happens. It ends in the same intro as the guy who was on the coach turns off the TV and leaves.
Some of these ideas are a bit out their, but we have worked out that it is a possible idea and the music video would be able to be made.
Lyrics
That was a helluva party last night
I cant believe i helped you break up a fight
Trust fund kids should stay away from clubs
I remember my first beer too
I coulda used a little more to do
The conversations got snorted
And i cant find my shoes
So lets go to the coffee shop
Dressed like we are
And make people think (its what we do)
All day, we sing la la la
All night we go blah blah blah
All morning we just yawn a lot lot lot
Yeah it makes ya look better
When you look like u got nothin better to do
God your hair is a fucking mess
So hurry put on a ski cap, and maybe a vest
Just try kinda hard to make
It not look like ya tried at all
I know a place with a line outside
Where we can maybe get a table
Sitting side by side
We can listen to the conversations
Like flies on the wall
I cant believe i helped you break up a fight
Trust fund kids should stay away from clubs
I remember my first beer too
I coulda used a little more to do
The conversations got snorted
And i cant find my shoes
So lets go to the coffee shop
Dressed like we are
And make people think (its what we do)
All day, we sing la la la
All night we go blah blah blah
All morning we just yawn a lot lot lot
Yeah it makes ya look better
When you look like u got nothin better to do
God your hair is a fucking mess
So hurry put on a ski cap, and maybe a vest
Just try kinda hard to make
It not look like ya tried at all
I know a place with a line outside
Where we can maybe get a table
Sitting side by side
We can listen to the conversations
Like flies on the wall
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Pitch idea for track 11 - narrative and performance
Starts off with singer sitting down on sofa and switching on tv, which the band appear on music channel. The tv then changes to the main screen/scene.
Band in a white room performing with strobe and coloured lights - direct gaze and close-ups.
Inspired 80s theme.
People dancing around the band, focusing of main girl (dancing around the singer) - objectification of women.
At the end of the 'music video' Girl from 'music video' comes in and sits down next to the singer on the sofa, contrast to the 'video'. Simply a 'hi' or wink or something.
Quick cut off - black screen.
Pitch Idea for track 3 - narrative and performance
Flashing between shots of band walking down the street to meet up and them performing in a field.
The field scene flashes between just the band performing and them surrounded by groups of mates.
Party shots - (band popularity). When the band members walk down the streets there are long and mid shots with direct gaze. When performing in the field there are close-ups on the artist. The groups of people around the artist provide notions of looking and shots of girls dancing within the party provides objectification of women. The artist will have their instruments for performance and to fit in with the indie rock genre.
The field scene flashes between just the band performing and them surrounded by groups of mates.
Party shots - (band popularity). When the band members walk down the streets there are long and mid shots with direct gaze. When performing in the field there are close-ups on the artist. The groups of people around the artist provide notions of looking and shots of girls dancing within the party provides objectification of women. The artist will have their instruments for performance and to fit in with the indie rock genre.
initial ideas 2
Track 7 - Truth or Dare - Pink Spiders
The general idea for this video is teenagers running around causing havoc and playing at some sort of live gig maybe in somewhere different like a garage or in someones living room. The causing havoc would compile of running around college trashing things and causing fights. Then there would be cut you be at the chorus and significant parts of the song.
The general idea for this video is teenagers running around causing havoc and playing at some sort of live gig maybe in somewhere different like a garage or in someones living room. The causing havoc would compile of running around college trashing things and causing fights. Then there would be cut you be at the chorus and significant parts of the song.
Chosen 3
1. track 3 - To Famous To Get Fully Dressed - Butch Walker & The Let's-Go Out Tonights
2. track 11 - Touch Me Touching You - Alphabeat
3. track 7 - Truth or Dare - Pink Spiders
2. track 11 - Touch Me Touching You - Alphabeat
3. track 7 - Truth or Dare - Pink Spiders