We were unable to upload these unfortunately but a few questionnaires were made.
Wednesday 1 October 2014
Audience Research 2
Audience research 1
For this audience research my group did some Voice interviews in relation to our topic of conventions in hip-hop music videos.
Due to technical problems we were unable to upload the voice notes so instead I have written an accurate transcript of what they say.
Due to technical problems we were unable to upload the voice notes so instead I have written an accurate transcript of what they say.
Eric Aidoo Interview
'What is your name?'
'Eric Aidoo'
Pierce - 'We are talking about music videos in our media A2 Coursework, so we are asking a few questions'
'What do you see as typical conventions of a hip hop/rap music video?'
Eric - 'It really depends on the artist and also the content of the song so if the content is all about money and women and cars then that's usually what your expecting to see, but it can also be whatever the song is about really. I guess it has to represent the content of the song and the lyrics'.
Pierce - 'What else would you expect to see in a hip hop/rap video?'
Eric - Obviously you said it depends on the artist
'Yes, yes, its the same sort of answer I guess. It depends who I am listening to and who the artist is but usually I expect to see some sort of representation of wealth, so like cars and a lot of high class clothes, money. If not then just some sort of street background or something that represents the artist to what they are trying to represent in their music.'
Pierce - 'Obviously it depends on what artists you listen to but what appeals to you in the music videos, so pick and artist and say what would appeal to you in that kind of music video.'
Eric - 'What would appeal to me in a music video is something that's unique I guess, just like something that you haven't seen before, and something that doesn't represent the same old money, cars, clothes and girls and just typical things you would expect to see in a hip hop music video.'
Pierce - 'What do you think about music videos that don't include the conventions of a typical music video'
'
Eric - 'I like those videos, the ones that don't include the typical things that you would see in a hip hop music video because it just means that more thought has gone into it and the artist is trying to create something more original for you as the audience for you to view than just a typical same old same old.'
Pierce - 'Ok, would you prefer the contemporary 20 century music videos or the old school music videos?'
Eric - 'Again it depends on the artist your looking at but a lot of the old school videos are pretty cool like, I like the way the fashion of the time and the way they are and act in the videos, and also the way its directed. There's more sort of roar and realness rather than a these days where there is just like a studio based sort of high quality where everything has to look perfect and I don't really sort of like that thing to much. However there are some pretty cool music videos that come out these days its just rare to come by, I just think the 90's and old school hip hop have more like roar rare stuff that come out which I prefer'
Pierce - 'Thanks'
Magazine For music video research
Conventions of magazine adverts
Functions of a magazine advert
- To promote an artist
- To sell a song
There images can be big and Unique. The image can usually e the image of the album cover.
This is because similar images are taken when taking the image with a camera, however the images on a magazine cover may differ but in the same way. For example it can be enhanced or a slight portion of the same image can be used. Commonly the same colour theme should also follow
Another convention would be the bold headings at the top, these are commonly the artist name/Band name. For example, the Jessie J magazine her name is clearly the largest piece of text.
The second largest text is the name of the new album. For example in the Mumford and sons magazine advert the 'Sign no more' is the album name which is the second largest text.The magazine advert will always include the main songs that are going to be in the album and also the most popular tracks on the album, also bonus features & Promote singles. For example the Jessie J magazine advert has her main song 'Price Tag ft B.o.B'.
Commonly there are always some type of person on a magazine advert to show the person as an artist/band.
On Magazine adverts you will find links to find more information about the new album or where it is available for purchase. For example on Jessie J album it has a link saying 'www.JESSIEJOFFICIAL.com', 'ollymurs.com'
Magazine adverts will also include Logos of company/producers who represent the album and magazine advert. For example 'Universal Republic' for Jessie J.
A magazine advert will limit information so that it is easy and eye catching for audience, obviously they will not look at it if there is loads of information but if there is a clear/simplistic structure to what the audience needs to know it will be easy for them to remember and could also be eye catching.
Release dates - are important because the audience need to know when they can purchase the album
Album/Song title - this is important because if the audience wants to buy the album they would need to know what the name of the album is called.
Image of album cover - To help the audience purchase an album they need to know what the album looks like. This can also promote the band/artist because the advert will look interesting and eye catching with their image.
Artist name - this is important because the audience need to know the name of the artist/band. Having this on the advert will help them to become more well known in the music industry.
Information about the album - this is important for the target audience so they can get an idea of what it will be like in the album and the names of the songs that they can listen to.
Where it is available to purchase- this is important to be included on a magazine advert because it lets the audience know where it is available for purchase. For example Amazon, itunes..
Record label/logo - By knowing and identifying which label they are signed to is important because the audience could get an insight of what kind of music they would play in the album. The image could also make the advert look more appealing.
Unique Music videos
We looked at a band called Gorillaz
The music Video we looked at was 'Clint Eastwood'.
The reason we watched this video was to give us an idea of how bands try to be different in promoting their Music.
In this music video instruments are seen with all the band members illustrating the roles they have within the band. This video also has some textual references, this is seen where the characters can be seen doing micheal jackson dance moves
This makes each of the characters stand out differently
Male - 2-D is a fictional musician and a member of the british virtual band, Gorillaz . He provides the lead voacals and plays the keyboard of the band, he can also play guitar as can murdoc but both let noodle play it. 2D is from Britain.
Female - Noodle is a fictional japanese musician and also a member of the british viryual band Gorillaz. She provides the lead guitar, as well as some occasional main and backing vocals for the band.
Male - Murdoc is a fictional English musician, and bassist for the virtual band Gorillaz. His religion is - satanist.
Male - Russel is an African-American is a fictional musician, and member of the virtual band Gorillaz .He provides the drums and persussion for the band.
The music Video we looked at was 'Clint Eastwood'.
The reason we watched this video was to give us an idea of how bands try to be different in promoting their Music.
\
As we know already all of the band Gorillaz' songs are animated with characters, this is to make it different, unique and distinctive from other music videos making it look more interesting
It can be a way of selling the band members with their own cartoon animations.
In this video we see a lot of motifs of the lead singer from a side shot. In this shot i think that they are promoting the artist making him look like the lead person but also showing the repetative side shots reccuring. This is shown a lot at the chorus.
At the end all the characters are shown in four boxes with the cartoon picture and the names, this has an intertextual reference to the beatles album as it is similar
In this music video instruments are seen with all the band members illustrating the roles they have within the band. This video also has some textual references, this is seen where the characters can be seen doing micheal jackson dance moves
The video also shows the artists different personalities and nationalities at the end of the music video
This makes each of the characters stand out differently
Male - 2-D is a fictional musician and a member of the british virtual band, Gorillaz . He provides the lead voacals and plays the keyboard of the band, he can also play guitar as can murdoc but both let noodle play it. 2D is from Britain.
Female - Noodle is a fictional japanese musician and also a member of the british viryual band Gorillaz. She provides the lead guitar, as well as some occasional main and backing vocals for the band.
Male - Murdoc is a fictional English musician, and bassist for the virtual band Gorillaz. His religion is - satanist.
Male - Russel is an African-American is a fictional musician, and member of the virtual band Gorillaz .He provides the drums and persussion for the band.
Music Video Analysis 5
This Video I would say is relevant to our rap music video.
In this video you see the artists friends riding bikes (bmx, mountain bikes) this is shown in our rap video where you see the artist and his friends walking towards the camera.
We also have a shot of the artist and his group walking/riding towards the camera, this was an inspiration for us.
The clothing they used in the video was also similar to our video - saggy black and white clothing.
As you can see in this video it is a low budget rap video that doesnt include wealth, drugs and girls in a typical rap video as i dont think these artists can afford to have all those features. These artists tend to have their friends in the backgrounds and look quite wealthy with expensive clothing
Music Video Analysis 4
The main influence for us in this video is the massive group of friends shown in this video, you can see that this is a typical area where this artist may have grown up in.
Wiz is walking the streets that he may have walked past day to day back when he was younger. Having this 'friends' in the back ground makes a big contribution to the video, showing different circumstances and mise en scene from each person.
We made sure we had a group of people in the back shots of our music video as this is an important feature.
Music Video Analysis 2 - Parody Rap video
Flight of the conchords - Hiphopopotamus
Basically what this video does is try to imitate an actual rap music video but in a way that the audience would find funny
This video uses lots of low angle shots which is what a rap music video would have, the video also includes a lot of dancing, the dancing is quite stupid and does take the mic a little but some rap videos do include little snips of the artist dancing
Looking at how they use typical rap conventions....
A typical common convention of a rap music video is that it shows the artist illustrious and exotic lifestyles, illustrating the stars daily life style in the videos.
This video goes completely opposite to a normal rap music video, the clothes they are wearing do not fit a typical rap music video, as the clothes are to smart looking.
The setting plays a big part of the rap video because it shows one of the typical places for a rap video to take place.
Music Video Analysis 1
Kanye west - homecoming
This video is a video that I enjoyed, I enjoy the instrumental and the lyrics. We watched this video as a group together and it influenced us. The use of the black and white feature stood out to us, we then used this feature in our music video.
I found the editing skills very interesting in the video how they had Kanye rapping/singing with a transparent view of the city layered on top of him in a dissolved way.
Some of the low angle shots Kanye used in his video we were also influenced by
So we then incorporated it into our music video and used some of the shots. For example low angle shots, side shots
The shots that go off looking around and certain parts of the city. This happened in different shots. I particularly noticed a shot where Kanye was in Newyork by the transparent bean, I personally recognised the area. We were influenced by adding shots of the area we were in. This is eve ident in our music video.
Carol Vernallis 4 theorys
Carol Vernallis
Experiencing Music video: 'Aesthetics and Cultural Context'
Vernallis identified four key areas when analysing music videos:
1. Narrative
2.Diegesis
3. Camera movement and shots
4. Editing
Narrative
A music video is a visual response to the song and lyrics not the other way around. The video should support the song lyric meanings but artist should remain dominant. This is to appeal to the audience. There does not need to be a balance between narrative and performance. A Song can have a full narrative or full performance. A lot of the time, performance takes prominence in order to showcase the star.
Diegesis
The world inside the video. This is revealed slowly allowing interventions and a story to develop over time. Repetition is key in music videos because it allows the artiist to get a message across through the concept of quantity. It means they can create a world for their song through the video.
Camera Movement and Shots
Extremes are very common with establishing shots, even if they are extreme close-ups. Music videos try to avoid shots such as mid-shots. Styles of framing and movement run through the video.
Editing
Editing will sometimes match the instruments or beat linking visual images. The audience realise the beat links with visual images and they relate this to other aspects of the video. Music videos constantly break or disrupt the rules of continuity editing.
This video is a song by Justin Timberlake called cry me a river.
This genre is R&B/PoP
This video relates to Carol Vernallis' theory because he talks about the narrative in a music video.
This video Justin wrote about britney spears. In the song the girl cheated on him and it shows the relationship going bad. Justin timberlake then plots revenge, he makes sure the girl finds out that hes moved on with his life and doesnt care about her anymore. To do this he uses a video camera to tape himself getting off with another girl.
Justin sets up the tape so that when the girlfriend comes in she will see the tape.
The girl then gets upset this is where the lyrics of the song comes in 'Cry me a river', the girl knows she screwed up and has lost him forever.
Carol Vernallis' theory is again seen in the Diegesis part.
This is the world inside the video so things that are unreal and that are edited that wouldnt normally happen in real life which creates another world inside the music video. Here are some examples
These dance movements from micheal jackson (intertextual reference) are clearly edited as realistically you cannot hold these positions like this. Clearly this shows the use of editing.
Camera movements and Shots are also mentioned in Carols theory. Relating it to this video we see common shots like establishing shot, extreme close ups and mid shots which run throughout the video. These shots are very common and are used for a purpose.
These are the establishing shots used in the 'cry me a river' music video.
Experiencing Music video: 'Aesthetics and Cultural Context'
Vernallis identified four key areas when analysing music videos:
1. Narrative
2.Diegesis
3. Camera movement and shots
4. Editing
Narrative
A music video is a visual response to the song and lyrics not the other way around. The video should support the song lyric meanings but artist should remain dominant. This is to appeal to the audience. There does not need to be a balance between narrative and performance. A Song can have a full narrative or full performance. A lot of the time, performance takes prominence in order to showcase the star.
Diegesis
The world inside the video. This is revealed slowly allowing interventions and a story to develop over time. Repetition is key in music videos because it allows the artiist to get a message across through the concept of quantity. It means they can create a world for their song through the video.
Camera Movement and Shots
Extremes are very common with establishing shots, even if they are extreme close-ups. Music videos try to avoid shots such as mid-shots. Styles of framing and movement run through the video.
Editing
Editing will sometimes match the instruments or beat linking visual images. The audience realise the beat links with visual images and they relate this to other aspects of the video. Music videos constantly break or disrupt the rules of continuity editing.
This video is a song by Justin Timberlake called cry me a river.
This genre is R&B/PoP
This video relates to Carol Vernallis' theory because he talks about the narrative in a music video.
This video Justin wrote about britney spears. In the song the girl cheated on him and it shows the relationship going bad. Justin timberlake then plots revenge, he makes sure the girl finds out that hes moved on with his life and doesnt care about her anymore. To do this he uses a video camera to tape himself getting off with another girl.
Justin sets up the tape so that when the girlfriend comes in she will see the tape.
The girl then gets upset this is where the lyrics of the song comes in 'Cry me a river', the girl knows she screwed up and has lost him forever.
Carol Vernallis' theory is again seen in the Diegesis part.
This is the world inside the video so things that are unreal and that are edited that wouldnt normally happen in real life which creates another world inside the music video. Here are some examples
These dance movements from micheal jackson (intertextual reference) are clearly edited as realistically you cannot hold these positions like this. Clearly this shows the use of editing.
Camera movements and Shots are also mentioned in Carols theory. Relating it to this video we see common shots like establishing shot, extreme close ups and mid shots which run throughout the video. These shots are very common and are used for a purpose.
These are the establishing shots used in the 'cry me a river' music video.
As you can see in this Establishing shot it is a swimming pool of a mansion
Inside the mansion
The entrance doors of the house
Extreme close ups are commonly used a lot in music videos
Close up of Justin Timberlake
Close up of Justin timberlake
Close up of Timberland
Mid shot of Justin
Mid shot of Justin
Andrew Goodwins 6 Features of music videos
In his book Dancing in the Distraction Factory Andrew Goodwin points out characteristics and features that can be found in music videos. Looking at a selection of music videos which can be recognised.
1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routines for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip-Hop).
This is what you would basically expect to see. For example in the image below in a hiphop/rap video you would usually see the crew, expensive jewllery, baggy clothing.
2. There is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals. The lyrics represented with images (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
For example if the lyrics states something about money, the visual could have physical money for representation. The image underneath is a picture of 50 cent holding money.
3. There is a relationship between the Music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
For example a Happy song can be up beat but an angry song could be quite gloomy.
4. 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).
This can advertise the artist
5. The is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
Its basically eye contact with the camera. It creates a link between the person and audience.
6. There are often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).
This video is called 'Early in the morning' By Ashanti ft Fench Montanna
1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routines for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip-Hop).
This is what you would basically expect to see. For example in the image below in a hiphop/rap video you would usually see the crew, expensive jewllery, baggy clothing.
2. There is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals. The lyrics represented with images (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
For example if the lyrics states something about money, the visual could have physical money for representation. The image underneath is a picture of 50 cent holding money.
3. There is a relationship between the Music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
For example a Happy song can be up beat but an angry song could be quite gloomy.
4. 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).
This can advertise the artist
5. The is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
Its basically eye contact with the camera. It creates a link between the person and audience.
6. There are often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).
The Hip-Hop video i will anylise is the
This video is called 'Early in the morning' By Ashanti ft Fench Montanna
The first feature Andrew Goodwin looks at is the Genre characteristics
The first feature i came across when i watched this music video was the close ups of the artists - this a ways of selling the artist and also showing feelings and emotion from the artist.
Expensive possesions can also be seen in hip-hop music videos, for exmaple watches, necklaces, chains. This is an indication of their wealth and is done on purpose.
Women can be a factor in hip-hop videos but usually showed and portrayed as sexual object for men and can also be seen doing sexual movements.
Dancing can also be a typical convention of a hip hop music video.
A singer featuring a rap artist is commonly seen for a colloboration linking both the artists audiences together, this can be good for fan and financial purposes.
2. The second feature mentioned in andrew Goodwins theory is the relationship between the lyrics and visuals. There lyrics are represented with imags.
For example in this music video the lyrics say 'With these thoughts all up in my head'
'Get to the money and it wont stop' These lyrics are represented with this image
'Slick rich chains wit the gold watch' - These lyrics are represented with this image
3. There is a relationship between the music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music.
In this music video it is up beat and illustrates the emotions of the artists. The visuals flash in beat with the music and the same point which gives emphasis.
4. In this music video i feel they yse alot of close ups of both artists, this is a well of selling the artist
French Montanna is shown alot with his wealth as well as promoting his voice.
Ashanti is also shown alot in close ups and a lack of clothing which i think also sells and advertises the artist.
5. By creating a link between the person and audience the arist can be seen breaking the fourth wall by looking at the camera and showing scenes that might relate to the audience in their own lives.
Genre Theories - Rick Altman & Steve Neale
Steve Neale
Genre is a term that can be split up into different categories, based on characteristics that they share, for example, settings, story lines, narratives, characters, and themes. In particular, genre can be referred to music videos, and they can be classified as being a particular genre, for example, pop, rock and hip-hop.
Steve Neale states that' genres are instances of repetition and difference; and 'genres are not systems, they are processes of systemisation'.
He also says that, definitions of genre are historically relative and are therefore historically specific. Believed that there was a system of expectation and that by using own knowledge and applying conventions of the genre, the audience should be able to infer the narrative and storyline of the music video. He also declares that difference is essential to the economy of genre; mere repetition would not attract the audience.
Devlin - Brain washed this is a rap/r&b
All through this video i recognised steve's theory to be correct. An example of this was where Devlin is in front of the camera rapping to the audience, and also when the song gets to the chorus you see see him in the shots.
Rap videos have a lot of emotional parts to it, for example showing an individual solo like devlin or eminem rapping about their life gives the audience a sense of their life and the emotions they are going through. This is common in rap videos
Rick Altman
Genres have characteristic features that are know of and recognised by audiences. Audiences develop an understanding that certain expectations will be fulfilled and they may find pleasure in predicting what will happen next. Producers of generic videos depend on immediate communication with the audience. Easily recognisable features are particularly effective in connecting with an audience. This can prove problematic as audiences need to know what to expect from a genre video but some variation is required as you dont want the audience to be bored or dissatisfied
Altman suggests a semantic/syntactic approach
Semantic is considering convention of that chosen genre that an audience can relate to such as character or peformers, locations, props and camera shots/movements.
For example in a Rap video you would expect to see..
Shots - Low angle and close ups
These examples are from music
vidoes
Locations/settings - On the streets, car parks, in cars
Props - Money, Cars, Houses, alcohol, certain clothes
Syntactic is the type of narrative an audience would expect from the genre.
Genre is a term that can be split up into different categories, based on characteristics that they share, for example, settings, story lines, narratives, characters, and themes. In particular, genre can be referred to music videos, and they can be classified as being a particular genre, for example, pop, rock and hip-hop.
Steve Neale states that' genres are instances of repetition and difference; and 'genres are not systems, they are processes of systemisation'.
He also says that, definitions of genre are historically relative and are therefore historically specific. Believed that there was a system of expectation and that by using own knowledge and applying conventions of the genre, the audience should be able to infer the narrative and storyline of the music video. He also declares that difference is essential to the economy of genre; mere repetition would not attract the audience.
Devlin - Brain washed this is a rap/r&b
All through this video i recognised steve's theory to be correct. An example of this was where Devlin is in front of the camera rapping to the audience, and also when the song gets to the chorus you see see him in the shots.
Rap videos have a lot of emotional parts to it, for example showing an individual solo like devlin or eminem rapping about their life gives the audience a sense of their life and the emotions they are going through. This is common in rap videos
Rick Altman
Genres have characteristic features that are know of and recognised by audiences. Audiences develop an understanding that certain expectations will be fulfilled and they may find pleasure in predicting what will happen next. Producers of generic videos depend on immediate communication with the audience. Easily recognisable features are particularly effective in connecting with an audience. This can prove problematic as audiences need to know what to expect from a genre video but some variation is required as you dont want the audience to be bored or dissatisfied
Altman suggests a semantic/syntactic approach
Semantic is considering convention of that chosen genre that an audience can relate to such as character or peformers, locations, props and camera shots/movements.
For example in a Rap video you would expect to see..
Shots - Low angle and close ups
These examples are from musicvidoesLocations/settings - On the streets, car parks, in cars
Props - Money, Cars, Houses, alcohol, certain clothes
Syntactic is the type of narrative an audience would expect from the genre.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)