Monday, 12 December 2011

Narrative and Performance

Narrative in songs, as in poetry, os rarly complete and often fragmentary. The same is true of music promos, which tend to suggest storylines or offer complex fragments in a non-linear order, leaving the viewer with the desire to see them again. As Steve Archer puts it:


" Often , music videos will cut between a narrative and a performace of the song by the band. Additionally, a carefully choreographed dance might be a part of the artist's performace or an extra aspect of the video designed to aid visualisation and the 'repeatabillity' factor. Sometimes, the artist (especially the singer) will be a oart of the story, acting as narrator and participant at the same time. But it is the lip-synch close-up and the miming of playing instruments that remains at the heart of music videos, as if to assure us that the band really can kick it" (2004)

The video allows the audience more varied access to the performer that a stage performance can. The close-up, allowing eye contact and close observation of facial gestures, and role-play, within a narrative framework, present the artist in a number of ways not possible in a live concert. The mise en scene, in particular, can be used:

As a guarantee of 'authenticity' of a band's musical virtuosity by showing them in a stage performance or rehearsal room;
To establish a relationship to familiar film or television gnres in a narrative-based video;
As part of the voyeuristic context by suggesting a setting associated with sexual allure, such as a sleazy nightclub or boudoir;
Or, as John Stewart suggest, to emphasise an aspirational lifestyle, as in the current emphasis on the latest gadgetry.


Other commentators have identified some other styles in music videos, including gothic, animated, dreamscapes, portraiture, futuristic and home movie. In the analyses which follow, many of these appear.

"Take On Me" Aha 1984 (director Steve Barron)



"Everytime"Britney Spears 2004 (director David LaChappelle)


Some of the most memorable music videos have had a strong narratives and often the encourage the viewer to want to see the video more than once. They also offer the viewer the chance to see their favoured artist in a different role whilst still offering plenty of opportunity to see close ups and performance.

Im going to include narrative because it will make the video more strong for the song that I'm going to use therefore I would have to imclude some kind of narrative but also I would like to include some kind of misteru because then it would make the audience to think about this video and maybe to show it to other people and talk about it. The main singer will be the cast that I'm going to uise for my narrative and I think the atress that I hace chosen will suit the role she will have to play.

Questionnaire results

Genre:
male                                                         11
female                                                       8


Age:
10-15                                                        2
16-20                                                       17
21-30                                                        0


How often do you watch music videos:
Everyday                                                    9
Sometimes                                                 8
Not often                                                    2
Never                                                         0


Where would you watch music videos:
YouTube                                                     15
TV                                                               4
Other                                                          0


If you were to watch a music video on TV what channel would you watch it on:
MTV music                                                   7            
4 music                                                       4
Kiss                                                             3
SmashHits                                                                        3
Magic                                                          1
Kerrang                                                       1
Other                                                                                       0

What Kind of genre you prefer:
Pop                                                              8                       
R’n’B                                                            6
Rock                                                            4
Classical                                                                                     1
Other                                                           0

What do you prefer: Storyline                                                      5
Performance                                                 4
Both                                                            10                     
None                                                            0
(Only answer if the answer to your previous question was “a” or “c”)  What do you prefer to see in a story line of a music video: Love story                                                     6
Funny                                                           9
Sad/depressing                                              4
Other                                                            0
Which of these artists would you prefer the most: Florence and The Machine                               3
Jessie J                                                         6 
The Wanted                                                   6
AC/DC                                                           4

What would you prefer the most to see in a music video:
Dance routine                                                 5
Creativity                                                       3
Both                                                              11


Thursday, 8 December 2011

Questionnaire

This is the questionnaire that I have made to decide what kind of thing my audience would prefer to see in my music video.



Wednesday, 7 December 2011

Inspiration

Florance and The Machine is a good inspiration to me because I like the way "Dog Days Are Over" video is made in a way that it is in the forest and the costumes taht some actresses that are in this video are very suitable for what I want my actress to wear. This is a different version of this video which was filmed in 2008 and now the video is completely different which was refilmed in 2010.
(I couldn't find the video on the search window, so there is a link below)
https://www.youtube.com/user/FlorenceMachineVEVO#p/search/7/PGrx6etMl0w

Also I was inspired by Ellie Goulding music video which is called "Guns And Horses". The dance routine is not what I want but the place looks like somewhere I'm going to film my music video and I think I could use the shots that this video uses.

Audience Theory


Signs and Signifiers


‘What does that sign say? ‘It says nothing -it needs to be read.’


A sign can be a physical form to which we give meaning. The signifier is the physical form which we can see or hear -i.e. words, diagram, picture, music, siren. The signified is the meaning which we attach to the signifier -i.e. Learner driver, no entry, Nazi etc. The real world referrentis the actual ‘real life’ object -i.e. a real rabbit. Signs cannot be combined purely at random if they are to mean anything. Our understanding of them depends on our social and cultural background. We can anchor a sign by using words or pictures -i.e. text on a poster, a caption under a newspaper splash, text on an advert, a voiceover on a film.
Hypodermic Syringe Theory (Audiences)


The hypodermic syringe theory is that the media is like a syringe which injects ideas, attitudes and beliefs into the audience.
In some cases this may work, but the problem is that people are affected in different ways by the media -films, advertising, newspapers, television etc. The ‘audience’ are also now much more critically aware of the media and having ideas ‘injected’ into them.
However, this theory still has uses -i.e. watching violent crimes can make you violent, for example the Jamie Bulgerkillers, copycat crimes, the ‘Power Rangers’ fighting in play grounds.

Two Step Flow(Audiences)

The two-step flow theory suggests:


·         We are much more likely to be affected by the media if we discuss it with others.


·         Our opinions are affected by the way our friends etc have viewed the media, i.e. discussions on Eastenders-Cat and Zoe, views on documentaries etc. The people we discuss our ideas with are called ‘opinion leaders’.


·         This is another theory where the James Bulgercase has been cited -apparently one boy talked to his friend about a film he had watched and apparently influenced the other’s behaviour.
Uses and Gratifications Theory


According to uses and gratification theory we all have different uses for the media and we make choices over what we want to watch. We are expecting something from our use of the media.


1.  Information-we may want to find out about society and the world. We want to satisfy our curiosity.


2.  Personal Identity-we may watch television for models for our behaviour. For instance -we may identify with soap characters or their situations.


3.  Integration and Social Interaction-we use the media to find out more about the circumstances of other people perhaps through empathy or sympathy.

 4. Entertainment -enjoyment, relaxation, fill the time.

CRITICISMS



·         You don’t always choose what media you use -you may be a secondary or tertiary user. Your mum has the remote control! You have no control over what posters you see on your way to school.






Beat Sheet

Thursday, 1 December 2011

Meaning behind the lyrics

It's about someone who overcame oppression and was stronger because of it once they were away from it.The oppressor no longer has the power.

The song is clearly personal to the writer, but The words aren't too specific so as to give it a mass appeal to mean more to a variety of people for a variety of situations.