Friday, 8 July 2011
Britney Spears lip-syncing music video
What I would do better if I did this video again would stay more focused throughout each shot because I got distracted a lot, so many was cut short. This would be helped if the others were more focused also. The dancing could be improved as well.
Friday, 17 June 2011
Analysing Music Videos
Katy Perry - California Gurls
This video has an implicit and subtextual meaning because people would understand what Katy is obviously stating, that women from California are the best, but there are symbolisms in the lyrics and the video which can have different connotations.
The implicit meaning is put forward in lyrics such as "once you party with us you'll be falling in love... California girls, we're unforgettable" which speaks for itself. Perry is from California, so we can understand her love of the place and people.
Then there are the different connotations. The provocative clothing of the females, and the shots where Perry is completely naked, could make people think that women from California are promiscous. Especially because it seems as if the song is directed at men, i.e. "we'll melt your popsicle" is almost definately a sexual inuendo referring to male genitalia. However, some would just believe that Perry is putting them across as being confident in their bodies which are beautiful, this is backed up by the lyrics "sun-kissed skin so hot" and "toned, tanned, fit and ready". The idea of promiscuity can also be challenged by the fact that there are no men in the video except Snoop Dogg, which could imply that the females do not need men even though men would be attracted to them.
Despite the title, the setting of the video is not in California but somewhere that looks like an island made completely out of confectionary, which could mean that California women are sweet and so is the place. Perry laying naked in the clouds connotes a heavenly setting, meaning that women from California are perfect. The vast colours and the high key lighting is a reflection of their optimistic attitudes and so also represents how fun they are.
This video has an implicit and subtextual meaning because people would understand what Katy is obviously stating, that women from California are the best, but there are symbolisms in the lyrics and the video which can have different connotations.
The implicit meaning is put forward in lyrics such as "once you party with us you'll be falling in love... California girls, we're unforgettable" which speaks for itself. Perry is from California, so we can understand her love of the place and people.
Then there are the different connotations. The provocative clothing of the females, and the shots where Perry is completely naked, could make people think that women from California are promiscous. Especially because it seems as if the song is directed at men, i.e. "we'll melt your popsicle" is almost definately a sexual inuendo referring to male genitalia. However, some would just believe that Perry is putting them across as being confident in their bodies which are beautiful, this is backed up by the lyrics "sun-kissed skin so hot" and "toned, tanned, fit and ready". The idea of promiscuity can also be challenged by the fact that there are no men in the video except Snoop Dogg, which could imply that the females do not need men even though men would be attracted to them.
Despite the title, the setting of the video is not in California but somewhere that looks like an island made completely out of confectionary, which could mean that California women are sweet and so is the place. Perry laying naked in the clouds connotes a heavenly setting, meaning that women from California are perfect. The vast colours and the high key lighting is a reflection of their optimistic attitudes and so also represents how fun they are.
Analysing Music Videos
Beyonce - Irreplaceable
There is a dominant reading here which is Beyonce expressing that she does not need a certain man in her life as she can get someone else. The lyrics are directed to the man who she is leaving because he thinks that she will miss him and that he is "irreplaceably", but she says that "replacing you is so easy". The lyrics are very straightforward, an extract is "standing in the front yard telling me how I'm such a fool, talking about how I'll never ever find a man like you. You got me twisted" so are not ambiguous meaning everyone will receive the intended message. Because of the lyrics and the music video being an illustration of these lyrics, the meaning is explicit and so creates a dominant reading.
The explicit meaning is created through we seeing the male packing his bags and leaving, clearly showing he is who she is leaving. However, Beyonce seems completely unphased by his departure, for example she is casually filing her nails, which backs up the dominant reading of she will not miss him. Whilst she repeats "to the left" she points to the left to show him the doorway with a confident expression, demonstrating she is not emotional but in fact wants him to leave immediately. At 0:47 he tries to touch her, but she instantly shrugs him off with a look of disgust and says "remove your bags, let me call you a cab".
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Codes and Conventions: Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
How does Lady Gaga conform and subvert to codes and conventions of a typical pop video?
Lady Gaga's video "Bad Romance" conforms to a typical pop video in how Gaga is directly addressd to the audience, for example the first shot has a mise-en-scene of her being centralised in the frame and surrounded by people, implying that she is of biggest significance. Music videos want the major pop star to be focused on because this is what the audience wants, so the record company would get more money. This conformity is also shown through close ups of Gaga, an example being during the beginning shot there is a slow zoom towards her whilst the shots proceed from a wide shot to a mid shot to a close up. The video also conforms in how Gaga is sexualised by being dressed in provocative clothing, in which many femalepop stars are because the audience look up to them and many idolise them, so companies want them to look as amazing as possible. Gaga lipsyncs throughout the video, which is conformity as the majority of singers do this in their videos intending to draw as much focus to them as possible; also, the singing being enhanced within a studio and dubbed over maintains the idea of perfectionism, as though the star has perfect vocals. Her choreography also conforms to the norm.
However, the video also subverts to a typical pop video. Gaga is a bought slave for a man, which subverts to how the singer is usually the one in the dominant position. This forced romance links to the title "Bad Romance". But, there are shots which imply that Gaga is in a strong role, for example when she is looking in the mirror and wearing black suggesting dominance. This is iconography in the form of an unbalanced representation of the pop star, which subverts to the norm. The dark key lighting and mise-en-scene of Gaga's radical outfits promotes her to be rather psychotic, also the choreography in parts such as when she is being pulled side to side.
Lady Gaga's video "Bad Romance" conforms to a typical pop video in how Gaga is directly addressd to the audience, for example the first shot has a mise-en-scene of her being centralised in the frame and surrounded by people, implying that she is of biggest significance. Music videos want the major pop star to be focused on because this is what the audience wants, so the record company would get more money. This conformity is also shown through close ups of Gaga, an example being during the beginning shot there is a slow zoom towards her whilst the shots proceed from a wide shot to a mid shot to a close up. The video also conforms in how Gaga is sexualised by being dressed in provocative clothing, in which many femalepop stars are because the audience look up to them and many idolise them, so companies want them to look as amazing as possible. Gaga lipsyncs throughout the video, which is conformity as the majority of singers do this in their videos intending to draw as much focus to them as possible; also, the singing being enhanced within a studio and dubbed over maintains the idea of perfectionism, as though the star has perfect vocals. Her choreography also conforms to the norm.
However, the video also subverts to a typical pop video. Gaga is a bought slave for a man, which subverts to how the singer is usually the one in the dominant position. This forced romance links to the title "Bad Romance". But, there are shots which imply that Gaga is in a strong role, for example when she is looking in the mirror and wearing black suggesting dominance. This is iconography in the form of an unbalanced representation of the pop star, which subverts to the norm. The dark key lighting and mise-en-scene of Gaga's radical outfits promotes her to be rather psychotic, also the choreography in parts such as when she is being pulled side to side.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Goodwin's Theories: Music Videos
harrisfederationg324.blogspot.com
Illustration
Illustration - the video's topic is derived from the lyrics.
ALICIA KEYS - YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME
This is an example of illustration because the lyrics are expressing her sadness that someone who she really likes does not even notice her. This is put across in the video as she longlingly looks at Michael which tells the audience it is he who she really likes, however he does not know this and does not seem to have interest in her. During the phonecall, we see cross cutting between Alicia and Michael to show that she is indeed talking to him.
Amplification
Amplification - the video's topic is partially derived from the lyrics.
JAMIE FOXX FT. DRAKE - FALL FOR YOUR TYPE
This is amplification because the topic of the video is based on the lyrics of the song, about falling for a girl. Immediately at the beginning there is a slow motion of Jamie physically falling to symbolise him emotionally falling. The song is expressing how he keeps falling in love with the same type of girls even if they are not good for him, he always forgives them. This is shown in the argument which is in slow motion, but there are cuts back to Jamie falling symbolising how he still remains in love with her. At 1:30 she pushes him causing him to fall over, meaning that he is not in control, she is the reason why he is falling and also the reason for the pain. However, there are scenes in the video which seem to not be derived from the lyrics, for example when we see Drake from 1:46 and 2:50. At 2:20 the lyrics "promise me hearts won't break" is symbolised by the broken glass on the floor in the background which is focused on. This broken glass is seen throughout the video to highlight his broken heart.
Disjunction
Disjunction - the video has no apparent link to the lyrics.
MIGUEL FT. J. COLE - ALL I WANT IS YOU
This is disjunction because the song is about him telling a girl he has realised that he does not want anyone else but her now that they are separated, however the video does not seem to show this. There is a girl laying on the bed facing away from him; on the surface this hot does not seem related to the lyrics because the luminous underwear and lipstick she is wearing is very unusual and enigmatic, but it could be connoting the distance between the two. A woman cutting a cucumber at 1:32 is completely unrelated to the lyric, so does the two women appearing to be robots at 1:58 and 2:03. However, the lyrics later on "'cause they don't make me smile or smell like you, and they don't make me laugh or even cook like you" puts meaning to the enigma; every female seems uninteresting to him and cannot compare to the girl he loves.
ADELE - ROLLING IN THE DEEP
This is also disjunction as the video is shot using very random scenes that do not connect. The lyrics themselves are ambiguous so it is hard to find the meaning in them, but the video seems to have no meaning whatsoever.
My Favourite Video
YOUNG MONEY - ROGER THAT
Illustration
Illustration - the video's topic is derived from the lyrics.
ALICIA KEYS - YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME
This is an example of illustration because the lyrics are expressing her sadness that someone who she really likes does not even notice her. This is put across in the video as she longlingly looks at Michael which tells the audience it is he who she really likes, however he does not know this and does not seem to have interest in her. During the phonecall, we see cross cutting between Alicia and Michael to show that she is indeed talking to him.
Amplification
Amplification - the video's topic is partially derived from the lyrics.
JAMIE FOXX FT. DRAKE - FALL FOR YOUR TYPE
Disjunction
Disjunction - the video has no apparent link to the lyrics.
MIGUEL FT. J. COLE - ALL I WANT IS YOU
This is disjunction because the song is about him telling a girl he has realised that he does not want anyone else but her now that they are separated, however the video does not seem to show this. There is a girl laying on the bed facing away from him; on the surface this hot does not seem related to the lyrics because the luminous underwear and lipstick she is wearing is very unusual and enigmatic, but it could be connoting the distance between the two. A woman cutting a cucumber at 1:32 is completely unrelated to the lyric, so does the two women appearing to be robots at 1:58 and 2:03. However, the lyrics later on "'cause they don't make me smile or smell like you, and they don't make me laugh or even cook like you" puts meaning to the enigma; every female seems uninteresting to him and cannot compare to the girl he loves.
ADELE - ROLLING IN THE DEEP
My Favourite Video
YOUNG MONEY - ROGER THAT
This is one of the videos I remembered to be unique and is possibly one of my favourites because of the originality comic-book style theme of it. The unique editing keeps my interest. It is mainly black and white, but occasionally more colour is added to it in the background. I also find it amusing how sections of lyrics are put on screen like a caption e.g. at 0:38.
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