RESEARCH: Reflection on Progress

So far, I believe I am blogging quite frequently, trying to complete a whole section of blogging done by a certain deadline. This is helping me to keep up on blogging tasks and less falling behind and catching up.I would give myself a  of 20 for ICT and detail in my blogging since the beginning of this course work, which by the end I should at least rank myself at 18/19 out of 20. However  I do believe I have improved on blogging compared to my AS year, as I'm more focused and determined to push my Media grade up higher. Two things I need to improve on are using sites such as Photobucket, Wordle etc to excite and spice my blog up more and to try and complete blogs by a set deadline date.

THUMBS UP SO FAR !!!
                                            

RESEARCH: Skills audit

Thinking back to AS and my research carried out for my practical work, my skills have developed greatly because I hadn't had much knowledge about the steps of producing a successful piece until serious research and planning etc was carried out first. I think now that I've experienced the whole feel of film making also research plus planing before hand I know how to research in depth how to make my music video and this coursework top grades. For example I've watched and analysed many music videos, album covers/work, album teasers etc, identifies theories ive studied in music videos, typical conventions in music videos and much more. In AS I think the research side of the practical work wasn't in much depth as A2 in which A2 you could understand more. 

RESEARCH: Independent Research

I chose to analyse and research into synergy and cross media products of an artist in the same genre as the chosen song for group 22's music video, which is Dubstep.

ARTIST: JAMES BLAKE
ALBUM NAME: OVERGROWN



Key features that stand out on his ALBUM COVER is the cold blue misty air behind him which could reflect his sort of persona/ type of person he is inside. Nature is conveyed in his album cover and is hugely involved across his music videos. The little tree in the background which he is greatly taller than could suggest his overgrown theory of his album.


His MUSIC VIDEO SINGLE, 'Overgrown', throughout the video we get the earthy-nature atmosphere. The similar trees that is in his album cover are in this video, the cold misty blue air/sky is incorporated in the video as well on the James Blake's album cover. Some thing about nature fascinates or interests him; the sense of freedom relate to the genre he sings.

RESEARCH: Reflection on progress

Reflecting on my progress!

I think i am progressing fairly well with my blogging, but i believe i can progress even better, in terms of publication that is. In my AS year i tended to be broad and not specific enough in my blogging tasks, whereas so far this year i believe i have been efficient in my blogging, quality over quantity!

Last year i believe i used most technologies at my disposable, so last year i believe i was a strong 18/20 in terms of blogging, however this year i've only used a handful of technologies for my RESEARCH blogs, and as a result of that i believe i have begun on around 14-15/20 in terms of technologies used, however as i move down the blogging tasks i have big ideas to present my ideas in much more creative ways rather than long paragraphs like this! Although i believe i have become more efficient in my blogging, i believe i still have to add some more detail to my writing blogs, to ensure the teacher understands what my vision.

My three improvements that i would like to do and do quickly will be

1. Post a few blogs daily, (extra blogs that are not on the blogging task list)
2. use even more technologies
3. include more detail, while still remaining efficient and having quality over quantity.

Heres to a successful year ahead!

RESEARCH: Skills audit

Skills audit

Thinking back to last years research, i was very much an amateur.  The ways i conducted my research last year was time consuming and pointless, i would write endless information which had no relevance to the blog task. As i've entered A2 i found that time is short and i must be precise with my information, using IT technology to present my thoughts in other ways. such as for when i am happy something is done i can celebrate with a .gif file! 

My research skills have improved dramatically, i now know how to search the web more efficiently and what other websites to use to find more information about the task on hand. My researching skills have also as the year went on moved on from just the internet, i have also started noticing myself analysing music/film whenever im watching it, or when i see a print poster i would instantly think of the target audience, as a result of this i believe my instant analytical skills have developed to a point in which i do not need much time to research and find out background information about a music video or artist.

SATISFACTION! 

RESEARCH: Synergy

Class & Independent synergy research

Daft Punk

Fused helmets are forever present, these helmets are key in advertising and marketing daft punk.
The colour style is also the same throughout its products, which will be demonstrated below.


ROLLING STONES COVER: HELMETS STILL PRESENT

28Million + Views on the get lucky video below.

Helmets are still present, key part of the whole daft punk image:

Font style is still the same, this is key in ensuring a fluent and similar house style throughout its merchandise range so the target audience can recognise when they see the same writing.

The FONT/Helmets/House style of dark/futuristic colours help create a brand identity of a retro future which daft punk capitalise on with their retro like music.



PERSONAL RESEARCH 

Ed Sheeran

A very simple album cover, with the orange/ginger colour scheme, which inevitably is the same as his hair colour, so ed's management is using his unique hair colour to their advantage by promoting him with a similar colour scheme

In this magazine article, Ed Sheeran clearly states 'im bringing ginger back' this shows confidence in his appearance which can boost fans and help incorporate his music with other products to increase awareness and profits.

Adele

Adeles album covers are very raw and honest, its lack of colour ensures the target audience focuses onto the brutal but hurt emotions present on her face.

Both album covers have similar font, however both album titles have the age in which she recorded them, this gives her a unique edge and helps her stand out.

In order to promote herself and her album she combined with james bonds producers to make the soundtrack to the new bond movie:Skyfall.

the video has over 100m hits

RESEARCH: Typical British Genres

Word cloud made with WordItOut

RESEARCH: Analysing costume,props and location in music videos

My group were interested in three different genres which were

• Indie
• Dubstep
• Indie/Rock

As a result of this dilemma, i went ahead and analysed three different videos for their respected genres in the following factors

• Costume changes
• propers
• Location/Setting

Artic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?

- Locations

/> Here are the four locations that Alex Turner(Lead singer of Artic Monkeys) appears in, firstly inside the pub, then the toilets within the pub, and then hoxton street which happens to be a very indie/trendy area which is perfect for the genre that the Artict Monkeys operate within. If we were to follow the indie genera, we would have to adjust our locations and setting to similar scenes, possibly in shoreditch or brick lane.

- Costumes

Conventionally, indie and indie sub genres do not have many costumes changes IF any, and this music video is a prime example. There is one costume throughout the whole 4:49 music video and that is a rock like leather jacket in black and dark genes, with the hair slicked back.

both these pictures above clearly show the costume being worn by Alex Turner

The only obvious prop within this video is the significance of the mobile phone that the artist keeps looking at, the phone corresponds with the song title which is 'why'd you only call me when you're high?'

Example - Kickstarts (Bar9 Remix)

Firstly its important to state that in dubstep songs/dubstep remixs the dubstep artist conventionally does NOT appear within the music video.

Location: Due to the high tempo of the song, many locations were needed to keep the audience interested, i counted around 13 different locations. all locations had plenty of jump cuts to match the fast tempo of the dubstep song.

Costume:  Two costumes throughout the music video due to its narrative nature of continuity.

Props: No key props which are existent throughout the music video

The 1975 - The City

Location:  One location in which the band is playing in, dark lighting with brief amounts of white light to showcase the main artist/and ensuring the audience pays attention to what the director wants them to see

Costume: One costume throughout the whole music video, once again fits within the indie/rock conventions and also wearing black just like the artic monkeys.

Props: No prominent props, just instruments.

In Conclusion: All three genres have little costumes changes and little prop, the lack of costume changes is a convention within these genres. the amounts of prop can vary depending on what the director wants to do.  Now it is down to us to pick a genre we want and to see if we want to conform to the conventions or break away and start our own type of style.

RESEARCH: Laura Mulveys theory /Compared

‘in a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female, the determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure which is styled accordingly’ (Laura Mulvey, 1992)

According to Laura Mulvey, the image of an artist within a music video is carefully planned, they do not just wear whatever they feel is good. From the choice of clothes, style of hair and the narrative the artist is in, it’s all carefully planned to represent what the industry seem viable to promote the artist.

This shot from Robin Thickes – Blurred Lines music video is a prime example of how women are presented in music videos in a bid to please men, the music video on youtube alone has over 185 million views, this will be seen as a success to the music video producers.

Furthermore the male artists in this video treat the women as inferior passive beings to themselves. We are observing the video from the males point of view as we can also see the women as inferior and passive.

 

The shot above is a prime example of the male gaze on the almost naked female.

Its mysoginsitic lyrics has resulted the song from being banned at five universities across the united kingdom.

Genres such as RnB, hiphop and rap reinforce mulveys theory of male dominance over music videos. However, pop videos by females themselves such as lady gaga/rihanna reinforce that this issue is not only present in male artists videos but also within female artists themselves, this is not to say that the female artists want to put this type of costume in their own music videos. But its what their label wants. Beacause the label believes this will atttact a larger audience and in return increase popularity/awareness and profit from selling more merchandise/albums.

These two shots from both female artists support mulveys theory. In Rihannas video she looks extremely vulnerable sitting in a bath naked, the camera is positioned high above so that the target audience feels power over the artist, a type of male dominance.

Lady gaga is in a weird bra and knickers, once again almost naked. This shows that male dominance within the music industry is at its prime. rihanna has almost 200 million views whereas lady gagas new music video has about 65 million.

When comparing these two female pop videos with an indie/folk female artist who is fully clothed, you can really see the difference between the number of hits. 

This video of regina spektor - us has been on youtube since 2006  and only has 7 million views, a massive difference to those above who have only been on their for around a year at maximum.

Research for Music: Reflection on Progress

 Reflection on my Blogging

The deadlines for each part of the blog has allowed me to focus more on my blogging so that I can work towards the deadline by blogging more often. This has improved my blogging from last year, because I feel that this year I am blogging whilst the information from the lessons is still fresh in my mind rather than after many days. As a result, the information I produce on my blog posts are more detailed.

I feel that this year, I have a greater understanding of how important the blog is and the way in which it works with the production of the music video, which motivates me to make interesting posts, as well as make sure I have the necessary information recorded for reference later on.

I have also found that trying out different technology when creating a blog post is the best way to improve these skills, thus I have tried to incorporate different ICT. Therefore if I was to grade myself out of 20, I would give myself a 15/20. his is due to the fact that despite these improvements on my blogging from last year, I think that there could be a greater use of ICT, such as videos and Camtasia etc. Also, once my group and I have chosen a song, the posts could be more specific to the genre. I will also improve further on the frequency of my blogging.

Research for Music Video: Skills Audit

How have my research skills developed from AS to A2?

Looking back on the research that I conducted for my AS practical work, I feel that my skills have developed further, because I have a greater command of websites that are useful for different aspects of my research. For example, in this case, I know that ITunes is an accurate source for finding out information about Singles and Albums. 

I also know how to use a greater range of web technology, such as Gifs, that I am able to embed onto blogger. Greater knowledge of web technology has also allowed me to make my blog posts more interesting. Whereas in AS, I would post many pictures on the blog at a time, I now know how to use websites such as Photobucket, or Slideshare to gather my information and pictures and present them in a more interesting way. 

As I had the AS year to learn what is required for coursework, I am now able to be more concise with the information I gain from my research and evaluate what I need, what is beneficial and what is not needed. This is important, because it means that it takes me less time to find quality information, and more time to note down my findings.

Research for Music Video: Reflection on Progress

Compared to last year, I feel I'm progressing at a good level thus far as I understand more what's expects from me in terms of the quality of my blog posts therefore I feel as though I'm presenting better blogs post then I had in my AS year. Although I feel I'm improving as a whole, I still feel I have a long way to go as I'm still to take some more of the skills I've accumulated and put them into practice.

While considering I have not yet used many different types of ICT media, I still feel my development in detail in reference to my blog post is good therefore balancing out my overall judgement on my progress so far. As a result, I'd score myself a 13/20.

A couple of things I believe I still need to do in order to progress further is to be more creative in terms of presentation and aim to blog more often by adding extra blogs that haven't been assigned to us specially.

Research for Music Video: Skills Audit

Development in Research Since my AS Year.

Considering my AS year, I feel that my skills when researching have improved immensely as I now find that I don't spend as long surfing the net as I once did. I understand how to narrow down and select the important facts and also, I've realised that the amount I write in my blog post isn't as important as what I write: quality of quantity. I've learnt how to use different types of media such as prezi and photobucket to help make my blogs looking more creative, as well as having learnt how to embed pictures and videos from sites like Youtube and Vimeo. Having said all this, I still feel I need to actively begin to use the knowledge I've gained in respects to the different types of media as I've yet to use any in my blog post thus far this year.

Research for Music Video: Independent Synergy Research

Using my knowledge of Brand Identity and how it is created from the lesson, I then researched an artist from the Dubstep genre, as this is the genre my group and I have focused on the most when thinking of songs to choose for the music video.

Name of Artist/Group:

 (Nero)

Album Cover Name:

WELCOME REALITY

Key Highlighted Features: The font used is not only the trademark font for Nero, but it is also their logo. A large amount of  their albums feature this same logo in the middle of the album cover The diamond around the words is part of the logo. 

The font also looks very Electronic and the image of the shooting star and being about the blue world looks very futuristic, much like the style of the Dubstep genre.

Album Teaser Trailer:
WELCOME REALITY

Key Highlighted Features:
The album teaser trailer features two silhouetted figures with white "censorship signs" over their eyes. This is the public persona of Nero, as you can see from the picture on the right. Therefore covering their eyes is such a part of their brand identity, that simply a shadow figure with covered eyes lets the audience know that this is Nero. It also features their trademark logo. As well as this, we can see the name of the song and release dates for both the song and the album.


Music Video Single:
PROMISES


Key Highlighted Features: The video has two men one wearing square glasses and the other wearing round glasses. These are to symbolise Nero, by showing the features of their persona. The video also has a very electronic and futuristic theme, which goes with the Dubstep genre and the type of font used for the Nero logo.

COMMON FEATURES TO CREATE BRAND IDENTITY:  The covering of the artists eyes is an image widely produced and projected by Nero, which has created their personas. This simple imagery is also incorporated in their videos. Nero also used the same logo and font on all their products.

Research for Music Video: Synergy Activity in Class

As a class activity, we analysed brand identities in cross media products. Below are a few examples of the key features used to create a clear brand identity for the artist across the products.

Name of Artist/Group:

Album Cover Name:

ORA  

Key Highlighted Features: The album cover is in black and white which highlight her lipstick, which in colour would be bright red. The black and white also highlight her dark eyebrows and bright blonde hair. These are all key features that Rita Ora has taken on as her public image. Therefore nowadays, when a person is sporting red lipstick and blonde hair, they are seen to be emulating Rita Ora's style. The font is also in red, the same colour as her lipstick.

Music Video Single:

R.I.P

Key Highlighted Features: There are many close ups which show her public persona. This is her red lipstick, dark eyebrows and blonde hair, an urban twist on the old Hollywood ideals of beauty. She is also wearing a lot of jewellery.

COMMON FEATURES TO CREATE BRAND IDENTITY: As we can see, Rita Ora's brand identity is made up of her image of blonde hair and red lipstick, as well as urban jewellery such as chains, as seen in both the music video single and her album cover. The writing on her brand products are also usually red.

Name of Artist/Group: 

Album Cover Name:
BLACK AND WHITE 

Key Highlighted Features: A black and white edit is used on the album picture and as the colour scheme for the text. The album name supports this edit as it is called "Black and White". The artist is the only image on the album cover and the simplicity of his clothes draws more attention to his face. The font used is also a trademark font used on all brands by this artist.

Magazine Advert:

BLACK AND WHITE

Key Highlighted Features: The Black and white theme is continued, as well same trademarked font. The Album cover is also featured.

Album Release Promo Video
BLACK AND WHITE

Key Highlighted Features: This has the same black and white theme and trademark font. It also again features the album cover, as well as the track list.








Music Video Single:
DON'T GO

Key Highlighted Features: The title is highlighted in the same trademark font and black and white colour. The costume worn in the video is also black and white and crisp, symbolic of the title.










COMMON FEATURES TO CREATE BRAND IDENTITY: These images show that the brand identity has been created through the use of the Black and White theme, trademark font and simplistic view across all four meadia products. As well as this, the album cover was featured in all the forms of advertising.

Name of Artist/Group:

Album Cover Name:

Electronic Earth

Key Highlighted Features: The artist is wearing glasses which are reflecting his view of perhaps the Earth, because the misty effect behind him makes it look as though he is in the clouds, or high up looking down on a city. The view in his glasses shoes many neon billboard signs, which are symbolic of the idea of an "Electronic Earth". In the right side of the glasses there is a spaceship, which goes with the theme of Electronic evolution.

Music Video Single

LET THE SUN SHINE

Key Highlighhted Features: The video is centred around the same theme as the album cover. This is the idea of an "Electronice" take over of the "Earth". The video usues similar futuristic imagery. Many songs on this album also feature futuristic effects and imagery.

COMMON FEATURES TO CREATE BRAND IDENTITY:  Overall, across the brands, there is a wide use of futuristic imagery to coincide with the central theme of the album name "Electronic Earth".

Research for Music Video: Types of British Music Genres

Alternative dance Ambient music Art rock Beat music Big beat Breakbeat British Black music British blues British hip hop British rhythm and blues British rock Celtic punk Dance-rock Dream pop Electric folk Ethnic electronica Folk punk Floktronica Freak beat Gothic rock Indie pop Intelligent dance music Madchester Music hall Neo-psychedelia New rave Post-Britpop Psychedelic rock

Shoegazing Sophisti-pop

Research for Music Video: A Review of Previous Student Video

VIDEO BY TOBI ABIOLA, ANJANA VARSANI & AXL SMITH.

I feel this previous student work is a good example in reference to the function of a music video because it follows all the main video conventions, an example jumps cuts. Jump cuts are used often within this video to help break up continuity editing in order for it to be more interesting to watch which effectively draws the audience in further, allowing them to concentrate on the artist. In terms of the effects used, I feel their use of slow motion was used excused well as they managed to make sure the lip syncing matched the timing of the track. I also feel they feel into the category of disjuncture, appropriate to Andrew Goodwin's theory as the video doesn't necessarily represented the lyrics. Lastly, I feel this video was also successfully as it had a variety of camera shots at various angles as well as having a ton of close ups which in my opinion, made it more interesting to watch as whole.

Research for Music Video: Analysing Costume, Setting/Location and Props in Music Videos

The three music videos I've chosen to analyse are Mumford and Son I Will Wait, which is categorised in the Indie folk/Folk rock genre, Paigey Cakey Same Way, which is categorised as rap music and Emeli Sande's Next To Me, which is categorised as soul/RnB.

Mumford and Son I Will Wait

Costume: There is one costume worn throughout the entire video, possibly because they've filmed a live performance and made it the official music video although looking at some of their other music videos, it's shown that they don't often change there clothes. They are wearing smart folk clothing.

Setting/Location: This video is set on a stage in a sort of auditorium.

Props: Because it's set on a stage there isn't much props apart from the bright lights and the traditional country instruments the band members are playing such as the Banjo and the cello.

Paigey Cakey Same Way

Costume: This video was kept simple in terms of costume change. There was a total of two, both in which mainly consisted of the colour black. Even though she's a female artist, she's still dressed to fit the genre in which her music is part of which is possibly seen as a more 'masculine' type of genre since it's mostly male dominated.

Setting/Location: The video is located in some sort of studio, filmed with the one same white back drop throughout the music video. The corresponds well with the way she's dressed because the colours are such opposites, she stands out.

Props: Props such as the basketball were used to illustrate the lyrics.

Emeli Sande's Next To Me

Costume: There are three costume changes within this music video which are all similar in terms of the colours that wear chosen which was black and it was all casual wear.

Setting/Location: The video was clearly shot in one location but had three different backdrops/sets, the main one being a large open space.

Props: The only props provided in this video were the instruments both the artist and her drummer played throughout the video. There was a piano, and tambourine and a drum set.