Friday 30 September 2016

Thursday 15 September 2016

Vodcast 1: Common Conventions of Music Videos

Codes and conventions are very useful in music videos as it enables the audience to become familiar with a particular genre, and makes it easily recognisable.

The conventions of music videos vary alot depending on the genre of music. However, there are many common conventions across music videos, despite the genre. These include:

  • Camera movement/ angles
  • Sound (both diegetic and non-diegetic)
  • Editing Techniques
  • Mise-en-scene
  • Notions of looking (stereotypes)
  • Styles

 
   

Monday 5 September 2016

MVid EG 4: Twenty One Pilots: House of Gold

 



Twenty one pilots are an american duo with genres including Alternative hip hop/Rock/Indie pop. 










RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS: 
In my opinion there is a correlation between the lyrics and visuals. The song is based around the idea that the band members/ a son will do anything/ care for their/his mother(s) as long as they/he are alive. In the music video, half of their bodies are missing and bloody (the lower half) I interpret this as them having 'worked their feet off', so looking after their mothers/parents to the point where they have seriously inured themselves.


INTERTEXTUALITY?
I did not notice any intertextuality.  

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND/OR CONCEPT?: 
This is both a performance and concept music video. The band members are performing in a field.

PERFORMANCE STYLE: 
There is lip syncing present in this video. 
 
LINEAR, CLOSED NARRATIVE?: 

LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS: 
The lead singer does not use a direct mode of address, as he is wearing sunglasses but also because this song was written for him mother and therefore i feel it would not be particularly necessary to directly address the audience. 

STAR TREATMENT: 

Tyler is singled out slightly as he is the one singing. However both members are shown performing.
 
AUDIENCE IN VID?: 

The audience is not present/represented in this video.
 
REPRESENTATIONS: 

The band are represented as quite smart, more so than usual (they are wearing shirts, which have connotations of hard work, which relates back to the idea of working and looking after mothers. They also connote work and formality.) However, their shirts are short sleeved and Josh's is patterned which creates a more casual feel.

MALE GAZE?: 
No examples of the male gaze are in this video. 
 
PACE + ANY VARIATION OF PACE: 
 The video in its entirety is reasonably slow paced which matches the gentle music (from the ukulele) this also correlates to the sweet message/ lyrics of the song

SHOT VARIETY + NO. OF SETUPS: 
There is a fair amount of shot variety including some interesting shots/angles. For example, there is an extreme close up of the drum, which creates a personal relation to the instrumentation in the video. 


ESTIMATED NO. OF SHOTS: 

FX: 
There are special effects used as the band members bodies are cut in half. This works very well and achieves verisimilitude as it is realistic. 
 
LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE: 
The location creates a nostalgic atmosphere due to the yellow/brown color of the countryside which brings a sepia filter to mind, something that is often linked to the past/past events, therefore creating a sense of nostalgia. 

SUB-CULTURE?: 
NOTABLE SHOTS/FRAMING: 
DIRECTOR STYLE: 

MVid EG 4: Twenty One Pilots: House of Gold

 



Twenty one pilots are an american duo with genres including Alternative hip hop/Rock/Indie pop. 










RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS: 
In my opinion there is a correlation between the lyrics and visuals. The song is based around the idea that the band members/ a son will do anything/ care for their/his mother(s) as long as they/he are alive. In the music video, half of their bodies are missing and bloody (the lower half) I interpret this as them having 'worked their feet off', so looking after their mothers/parents to the point where they have seriously inured themselves.


INTERTEXTUALITY?
I did not notice any intertextuality.  

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND/OR CONCEPT?: 
This is both a performance and concept music video. The band members are performing in a field.

PERFORMANCE STYLE: 
There is lip syncing present in this video. 
 
LINEAR, CLOSED NARRATIVE?: 

LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS: 
The lead singer does not use a direct mode of address, as he is wearing sunglasses but also because this song was written for him mother and therefore i feel it would not be particularly necessary to directly address the audience. 

STAR TREATMENT: 

Tyler is singled out slightly as he is the one singing. However both members are shown performing.
 
AUDIENCE IN VID?: 

The audience is not present/represented in this video.
 
REPRESENTATIONS: 

The band are represented as quite smart, more so than usual (they are wearing shirts, which have connotations of hard work, which relates back to the idea of working and looking after mothers. They also connote work and formality.) However, their shirts are short sleeved and Josh's is patterned which creates a more casual feel.

MALE GAZE?: 
No examples of the male gaze are in this video. 
 
PACE + ANY VARIATION OF PACE: 
 The video in its entirety is reasonably slow paced which matches the gentle music (from the ukulele) this also correlates to the sweet message/ lyrics of the song

SHOT VARIETY + NO. OF SETUPS: 
There is a fair amount of shot variety including some interesting shots/angles. For example, there is an extreme close up of the drum, which creates a personal relation to the instrumentation in the video. 


ESTIMATED NO. OF SHOTS: 

FX: 
There are special effects used as the band members bodies are cut in half. This works very well and achieves verisimilitude as it is realistic. 
 
LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE: 
The location creates a nostalgic atmosphere due to the yellow/brown color of the countryside which brings a sepia filter to mind, something that is often linked to the past/past events, therefore creating a sense of nostalgia. 

SUB-CULTURE?: 
NOTABLE SHOTS/FRAMING: 
DIRECTOR STYLE: 

MVid EG 3: Panic! At The Disco: This Is Gospel

 

Panic! At The Disco is essentially a Pop Punk band, however, their music incorporates a number of genres including emo, baroque pop and electro. This gives them an extreme sense of individuality. 



 

 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS: 
In a way there is a great amount of connection between the lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are about alcohol addiction, as a band member suffered from it. The 'let me go' lyrics are reflected by the lead singer trying to escape (the addiction)as hands hold him down. Also, when Brendon sings 'bury me alive' he is in a coffin and is sinking under water. 

 
INTERTEXTUALITY?

I saw no signs of intertextuality in this music video.
 
PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND/OR CONCEPT?: 

The music video contains a lot of performance (lip syncing from the led singer) however there is also a concept, which at the beginning is medical, the overall theme is escaping and breaking free, there are also aspects of death as a theme. 
 
PERFORMANCE STYLE: 

The focus in the video is the singer of the band, he lip syncs throughout and is closely followed by the camera in a close-up shot. There are not many shots that do not contain him. 
 
LINEAR, CLOSED NARRATIVE?:

 
LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS: 

The singer uses a direct mode of address throughout the entirety of the music video. This enhances him expressions of fear/panic and creates a more emotional intimacy to the video.


STAR TREATMENT: 

The singer (Brendon) is singled out in a massive way as he is the front man and the main focus of the band (as many other members have and gone but he has always remained as the lead) he is very recognizable as the lead singer, therefore making this video instantly recognizable as Panic! At The Disco.

AUDIENCE IN VID?:
 
The audience are not represented in the band in any way but this is a common trait across the bands music videos. 

REPRESENTATIONS: 
Brendon is represented as smart and clean-cut. However he is also seen as very troubled in this music video, perhaps this is something that the audience can relate to. 

MALE GAZE?: 

The male gaze is not something that this video contains. 

PACE + ANY VARIATION OF PACE: 

This entire video is very fast paced due to the quick movements of the actors (surgeons) and singer. There is a frantic sense to the video due to the speed of the song but also the deep and dark meaning of the lyrics. The video contains no short cuts and the beginning is filmed all in one take. The camera movement is very jerky and fast which adds to the fast and frantic pace.

SHOT VARIETY + NO. OF SETUPS: 

There is little shot variety as the beginning of the video is all shot in birds eye view. This creates a personal feel. 

ESTIMATED NO. OF SHOTS: 

 
FX: 

There are some vines which have been added in in post production.
 
LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE: 

The mise en scene and location is very dark and serious, and the medical aspects add a sense of illness and sterility. 
 
SUB-CULTURE?:
NOTABLE SHOTS/FRAMING: 
DIRECTOR STYLE: