Meeting 9

Digipaks for 'Red' Taylor Swift

Digi packs for Taylor Swift's 'Red' album

Taylor Swift Digi pack doesn't follow the usual conventions. This is because the title of the album is in a bigger font than Taylor's name. The album name is written in red, which is the same colour of her lipstick. This shows that the album will follow a red and white coloured theme throughout.
The use of red could be connotations for the album to be based on romance, love, passion and danger. The colour red is used subtly, which provides a balance of colour and keeps the presentation of the Digi pack looking classy.

Taylor Swift EP- 'Sounds of the Season' Holiday Collection

Taylor Swift EP- 'Sounds of the Season' Holiday Collection

Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection, or simply The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection, is the first extended play released by American country recording artist Taylor Swift. The EP was first released on October 14, 2007 by Big Machine Records exclusively to Target stores in the United States and online. The release was originally a limited release for the 2007 holiday season, but was re-released to iTunes and Amazon.com on December 2, 2008 and again in October 2009 to Target stores.

Meeting 8

Music Video Location Ideas

Music Video Location Ideas

We should use locations that would suit the lyrics to our song.
There are many possibilities of locations such as; natural areas, historic sites, distinctive buildings, urban landscapes, waterfront settings.
We will have to be aware of times and days where our settings may be busy or have an event. It is likely visitors and tourists may be around historic sites therefore we must do our research and organise beforehand to pick a suitable day to film. Nearby traffic and noise could affect filming.
For our video, we will need a home setting and one or two more.
We will be using a home setting because we think that it suits the character more as most people when they are going through a break up they tend to stay inside for a while to help them get through it.

Initial Ideas

Initial Ideas

As a group, we have generated many ideas regarding filming as well as the different locations to feature within our project. Because of this, we have also discussed what props we should include in our music video. One location concept that arose from our group discussions was using the bedroom of a teenage girl. Codes and conventions like this link perfectly with the song.This is due to the lyrics of the song being fundamentally feminine fueled. 

Another primary idea to come out of this is costume. What we discussed in the group is the use of the main character being in pyjamas. This is because the beginning of the music video should be set out in the bedroom, it is appropriate for her to be in home-wear. This would show the start of the story being formed from being upset and ripping up memories, to getting ready for the party conveying that she is no longer bothered over her breakup. After we spoke about this idea, we remembered that the original music video involves Taylor Swift in pyjamas. This however, would be appropriate so we intend to use it anyway. 

Costume Ideas

Costume Initial Ideas

The costumes that we thought would be good for the girl are:

1. PJ's
2. Jeans
3. Top
4. Heels
5. Party dress
6. Casual shoes

We have decided to use these outfits to help us show that she is getting over the guy that keeps on breaking her heart. With her starting the video in her PJ's and then ending it in a nice party dress and heels.

For the guy he is going to stay wearing a shirt and jeans throughout the whole song. This is to show two different things:

1. He isn't going to change who he is for her just because she has said some things about him
2. And that he is finding it hard to get over her

And for the friends they will be wearing almost the same sort of things as the other girls because they are her friends and support her.

Initial Prop Ideas

Initial Prop Ideas 

The props we have decided to use:

- Picture Frames
- Lighters/Matches
- Mobile Phone
- CD's
- Pictures
- Drinks
- Balloons
- Flashing lights
- Girls room stuff
- Make up
- CD player



As a group we have decided to use the props that have been listed above in order to create a setting that is realistic to a girls party, with the props that are associated with a girls room and party. We have included Picture frames as they are going to be used as decoration first on the side where the party is taking place and then the picture frames are going to be thrown when the time is right throughout the sequence of the music video. The lighter/matches are then going to be used as a way of burning the photographs/ pictures that have been present in the music video scenes previous. The mobile phones is one of the most important props that will be used in the music video as it is the very first prop to be used in the music video, the mobile phone will be used as a way of texting and receiving between the boyfriend and girlfriend and this will be shown within the filming of the music video. The CD's are going to be used for a time as background noise and music and then will be thrown once the music video begins to take pace. The pictures will then be ripped up as a part of anger by the girl, the girlfriend within the film. There are going to be drinks that are used within the music video in order to make it as realistic and nearest to a party, the drinks will be present throughout the filming of the music video and will be visible in the background of the filming. The balloons will be used as decoration to create a party atmosphere that we are looking to create as a part of the music video. The flashing lights will also act as additional decoration in order to create a great party atmosphere. The 'girls room stuff will be used to create a girl theme to the whole music video which is exactly what we are aiming for. The make up will be visible throughout the filming in different parts of the music video and lastly the CD player will be used as an additional decoration in the background where it can be seen sitting on a table and will also be used to play background music for background noise throughout the party atmosphere and music video.

Meeting 7

Digipaks - Research of different Digipaks - Pop Artisit - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson Digi pack

The Michael Jackson Digi pack that can be seen above was released in 2009 and I have chosen to use this specific Digi pack because it is a great example of how a Digipak should be with great information included but a simple design has been used which is also very effective with the picture of Michael Jackson directly centered in the middle of the Digi pack page with his name and album name printed above his picture at the very top of the Digi Pack, so it is clearly seen by the consumers and so people can clearly see who it is and what album it is.

Lana Del Rey - Born to Die CD Case Annotation

Lana Del Rey - Born to Die CD Case Annotation

Meeting 6

Mise en scene- Costume

Costume in Music Videos

Costume plays a very important role in all music videos regardless of what genre it is for. It helps the audience establish what the genre and style of the song is going to be. The clothes that the artists wear in the videos can give them their identity as it has for artists such as Lady Gaga. It also gives the audience and insight of what they are about to watch and for them to see if they think it would be something that they would like.
In Taylor Swift music videos her use of costume has changed a long side her music changing. In her music videos for 'Shake it off' Taylor and all her backing dancers all wear different outfits, each to suit a different situation.

All of the costume changes relate back to the song with all of them being negative and conventions that society makes people feel that they need to stick to for them to be accepted. The outfits that she wears she does the dancing that is appropriate for that outfit.
Taylor Swift takes on the roles that she is suppose to in the outfit that she is in but she doesn't dance very well and does everything wrong. The song says about shaking off all things negative so she dances how ever she wants in what ever she is wearing. She doesn't let the outfit define what she is suppose to do and who she is suppose to be.

We could use the idea, in our music video, that we don't have to follow the stereotypes that are associated with the clothes that we wear to give the same sort of effect that it has in Taylor Swifts 'Shake It Off' videos.

Lana Del Rey - Music Video Breakdown and Analysis (Young & Beautiful)

Lana Del Rey - Music Video Breakdown and Analysis (Young & Beautiful)

• The screen is cropped and given a border to make it look like it is being played from an old fashioned film reel. This goes with Lana’s song and persona as she is retro and offers a modern twist to the 1960’s style of music.

• The video is given effects to make it seem as if the video is old. Again, this is done to highlight Lana’s 1960’s style music.

• Lana Del Rey has a lot of screen time in the music video. The shots that she is in are always close-up with Lana in the centre. This is done to help build Lana’s star quality, ensuring that the audience remembers her face.

• Long shot of the orchestra. This is something rarely seen within modern music videos, and so it is something that helps Lana stand out.
  
  
• Darkness surrounding Lana in every shot. This makes Lana stand out even more, helping to build her star quality. This is because the audience will have to focus on Lana.

• Lana’s earrings, hair and makeup are done to make her look like she is from the 1960s. Again, this is done to help build her persona as a vintage, non-conformist singer.

• The music has perfect synergy with the video. It gives the illusion that the performance was done completely live. Makes it look very professional overall.

• Shadows, colours and lights change on the orchestra. This is done to make the music video more entertaining and cinematic.

• The music video and the song where made for the “Great Gatsby” movie. This could be another reason why the video is made to look old fashioned as the Great Gatsby story is old. 

            
 All of this has again, proved successful as the music video has over 130,000,000 views on YouTube.
   
                                                                                    

Meeting 5

Media Classification of Music Videos Part 2

Media Classification of Music Videos Why is the regulation of the media so complex?Part 2

Another example of a music video that became extremely well known for its very explicit content was the song that was sung by Robin Thicke called; Blurred Lines. This song was released with two different versions of the music videos, one of the versions that was released featured female models dancing around Robin Thicke in the nude whilst he was fully clothed in a suit, this of course sparked major crushing criticism for the music artist, Robin Thicke as well as the music video director, all of this criticism came from the general public making it one of the most controversial music videos of all time. This music video can also be linked to the signs and signifier’s theory as the women are nude throughout the duration of the music video whilst the men in the music video are fully clothed showing that women are underneath men in hierarchical terms, which is extremely wrong in the modern day.

There should be some type of regulation that should be put into place to regulate when people are watching these music videos and more importantly who is actually watching these music videos. A new way of regulating music videos needs to be put into place as the current way of regulating music videos are not effective and need to be changed in order to regulate music videos more closely. The website/app, YouTube regulates explicit videos for people over the age of 18 by placing a tick box which the viewer has to tick in order to continue and watch the video, by ticking the box you confirm that you are 18 or over, anyone can tick a box which therefore leaves the video open for any member of the general public to then watch.

The Auteur Theory

The Auteur Theory

The Auteur Theory was introduced in the 1950's by various different French Film directors such as François Truffaut, who recommended and supported a focus on the  contribution that directors made on the style and the different forms of a video or a film. An Auteur is a film maker that style and practice is distinct and creates a signature auteur theory status for themselves and by doing this the music video maker defines themselves as a director and makes them selves known, linking to Mark Romanek a very famous music video director that works on creating music videos with a distinct and memorable music videos and this is why he is so famous and also so good at what he does. The audience is the group of people that make their minds up if they like the music video that has been created or if they do not like the music video, if the audience does not like the music video then this can have a very dramatic effect on both the music artists and the music director that created and directed the music video for the music artist. Auteur theory focuses on a number of things such as; Individual stylistic features, How texts are determined by artists creativity and lastly how are texts emerge as part of an artists body of work.

Andrew Goodwin's Theory (Lana Del Rey: National Anthem)

Andrew Goodwin's Theory (Lana Del Rey: National Anthem) 

Within this post i will be analysing a the Lana Del Rey: National Anthem music video, seeing if it meets the criteria stated in the Andrew Goodwin Theory.

The first criteria that Andrew Goodwin states makes a good music videos is that the lyrics are illustrated, related or directly contradicting to the lyrics of the song. It is clear to see that National Anthem does meet this criteria. This is evident through how the song features the lyrics: "red, white blue is in the sky" which is played alongside visuals of the American flag that features the colours red, white and blue. This helps the music video make sense with the song, while making it easier for the viewer to understand what it is about. In this instance, it is used to show the viewer that the song is about America and American Culture. 

Another instance of this can be seen at 5 minutes 2 seconds within the music video. when the line: "red, white blue is in the sky. summer's in the air and baby, heaven's in your eyes" the video cuts to a brief shot of the sun and the clouds.


The second criteria that Andrew Goodwin states makes a good music videos is that the visuals follow a specific style pre-determined and influenced by the genre of the music. The national anthem song is an alternative song that mixes pop with a slight 1960s sound. This very style can be seen through the music video itself, fitting Andrew Goodwin's second criteria for a well made pop music video. This is because the all of the footage within the music video has been edited to have a certain colour palate and visual aesthetic to make it seem like video captured by a older camera.
                                  

Meeting 4

Digi Pack 4

Digi Pack 4

Digi Pack 3

Digi Pack 3

Digi Pack 2

Digi Pack 2

Digi Pack 1

Digi Pack 1

Taylor Swift We are never never getting back together Lyrics Analysis and Interpretation 2

Taylor Swift We are never never getting back together Lyrics Analysis and Interpretation 2

Taylor Swift We are never never getting back together Lyrics Analysis and Interpretation 1

Taylor Swift We are never never getting back together Lyrics Analysis and Interpretation 1

Media Classification of Music Videos

Media Classification of Music Videos:

Why is the regulation of the media so complex?

I can conclude that, from all of the research i have carried out and by taking all of the research and evidence into account, I think that it is extremely difficult to regulate music videos due to the many different factors such as the access that the majority of people have these days to music videos on many different platforms and devices. Accessibility to music videos has increased over the years meaning it is much easier for the general public to hold of and watch music videos online. The audience demands videos that are more explicit and therefore the artists are following what audiences want and music artists have to keep up with this.

Music videos can be viewed on many different websites and apps. MTV have to abide by the watershed and have to observe the timings when explicit content is being shown on the TV and when the explicit content can be shown. The explicit content should only be shown from 9:00pm to 5:30am, the hours of which children should not be viewing the content from these hours.

Media is very difficult to regulate due to the wide variety of various different mediums of media. Music videos are very hard to regulate because of how easy it is to access the music videos. Music videos are very hard to regulate due to the number of people watching and viewing the music videos online, on various websites or apps. Ofcom is an independent regulator for the United Kingdom which regulates all the Medias including music videos. Ofcom creates laws as well as other regulations that regulate who and when media can be shown to audiences.

There should be some type of regulation that should be put into place to regulate when people are watching these music videos and more importantly who is actually watching these music videos. A new way of regulating music videos needs to be put into place as the current way of regulating music videos are not effective and need to be changed in order to regulate music videos more closely. The website/app, YouTube regulates explicit videos for people over the age of 18 by placing a tick box which the viewer has to tick in order to continue and watch the video, by ticking the box you confirm that you are 18 or over, anyone can tick a box which therefore leaves the video open for any member of the general public to then watch.

Media Classification of Music Videos Continued

Media Classification of Music Videos Continued

Year on Year it is becoming more and more difficult for websites such as YouTube to regulate the music videos as there are more and more artists which are producing more and more music videos that includes explicit content such as very strong language, sexual themes and inappropriate themes that are all inappropriate for people aged under 18. As it is becoming clearer that it is so difficult to regulate music videos, the Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that all music videos viewed by people within the United Kingdom will now have an age rating label that will be stamped on the front of the music video or the music CD cover as well as the Digipak. This is a new pilot scheme that has been introduced by David Cameron after it came to light about Rhianna’s music video and song, S and M which was and is extremely inappropriate, this video sparked a lot of debate on these types of videos and how these types of videos should be regulated in an effective way so the correct audience age is watching the music videos. Rhianna’s music video for her song S and M had such a bad reception due to the fact that throughout the whole video things such as ball gags, blow up dolls and fetish all of which is inappropriate for audiences under the age of 18. From all of these David Cameron felt that some kind of regulation needed to be put into place in order to regulate sites such as YouTube as YouTube is the website/app which is most used by people watching videos, targeting the main websites and apps that are used by audiences.

Another example of a music video that became extremely well known for its very explicit content was the song that was sung by Robin Thicke called; Blurred Lines. This song was released with two different versions of the music videos, one of the versions that was released featured female models dancing around Robin Thicke in the nude whilst he was fully clothed in a suit, this of course sparked major crushing criticism for the music artist, Robin Thicke as well as the music video director, all of this criticism came from the general public making it one of the most controversial music videos of all time. This music video can also be linked to the signs and signifier’s theory as the women are nude throughout the duration of the music video whilst the men in the music video are fully clothed showing that women are underneath men in hierarchical terms, which is extremely wrong in the modern day.

There should be some type of regulation that should be put into place to regulate when people are watching these music videos and more importantly who is actually watching these music videos. A new way of regulating music videos needs to be put into place as the current way of regulating music videos are not effective and need to be changed in order to regulate music videos more closely. The website/app, YouTube regulates explicit videos for people over the age of 18 by placing a tick box which the viewer has to tick in order to continue and watch the video, by ticking the box you confirm that you are 18 or over, anyone can tick a box which therefore leaves the video open for any member of the general public to then watch.

Goodwin's Theory of Analysis for Music Videos

Goodwin's Theory of Analysis for Music Videos

Andrew Goodwin's Theory of analysis for music videos can be applied to many different genres of music from pop to rock. Goodwin's theory follows 6 points which can be used when analysing music videos, the 6 points are; 

1) A relationship between the lyrics and the visuals , illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.

2) A relationship between the music and the visuals with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics of the song.

3) Genre-related style and iconography present.

4) Star image, multiple close up shots of the main artist or the vocalist.

5) Voyeurism often plays a large part, especially in relation to females.

6)  Intersexual references to other media, texts maybe present.

Lana Del Rey Star Analysis

Star Analysis:

Background Information
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (Otherwise known as Lana Del Rey) was born of the 21st June 1985 in New York. When Elizabeth was just 15 years old her parents sent her to Kent School to help her assuage her dangerous attachment with alcohol. Elizabeth then graduated from Kent School and became accepted into the State University of New York at Geneseo. However, she made the decision not to go, and instead, went to live with her aunt and uncle in Long Island. Elizabeth spent her time on Long Island working as a waitress and being taught by her uncle how to play the guitar. Not long after learning how to play the guitar, Elizabeth wrote songs and went over the city performing in different nightclubs. When performing in these nightclubs Elizabeth did not go by the name of Lana Del Rey but instead went by the names “Lizzy Grant and the Phenomena” and “Sparkle Jump Rope Queen”.

The Following year Elizabeth was accepted – and decided to attend Fordham University. Elizabeth received a major in philosophy. During these years, due to her own previous problems with alcohol, Elizabeth volunteered at a homeless youth and drug outreach program in addition to painting and rebuilding houses on an Indian reserve site.

Elizabeth gave her first big performance at the Williamsburg Live Song writing Competition. During this competition she met Van Wilson a representative for 5 Point records (a record label). The next year (2007) Elizabeth signed a $10,000 contract with 5 point records even though she was still a senior at Fordham University. However, Elizabeth’s father bought the rights back from her record label because she felt that “nothing was happening” while she was with 5 point records. Elizabeth came up with the stage name “Lana Del Rey” as it reminded her “of the glamour of the seaside” and said “it sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue.” She was later persuaded by her managers and lawyers to stick with the name Lana Del Rey. I believe this was a great decision as it instantly gave Elizabeth an air of Star quality. The name is so unique, beautiful and glamorous which fits perfectly with her music and persona. Being so unique, it helps Elizabeth stand out as an artist and shows that she has something different to offer the music industry.

After pulling out of five point records, Elizabeth released her first music video on YouTube named “Video games” while being signed with a new record label; Stranger Records.  The video and song quickly became a huge success and put Elizabeth in the sights of Interscope records and Polydor. These record companies knew that they had to have Lana, and so immediately signed a contract with her, beginning work on her second studio album; Born to Die.

Props in Music Videos

Props that are used in Pop music videos

Many different props can be used in a variety of different of music videos and situations throughout music videos that are produced over the years. Props are a vital part of the music videos and help to add to the scene as well as create significance on certain objects as well as people in the music videos. From looking at Pop Music videos I can see that the props that are popular to be used include things that are associated with party's and celebrations as well as people of a younger age. Pop Music videos also include things that are realistic with which fit into the background and surroundings as they should do. Props also form part of the conventions within a music video. Music videos, especially pop music videos include props that narrate the lyrics that are being said or sung especially if the song is a narrative song, props can and are used to pull the music video together and make a really realistic and believable scenes or scene.

Music Video Genre Research (Metal)

Metal

·         The music videos are very fast paced – this goes with the theme of anarchy.

·         The music videos are very dark – this is to make the video look “dangerous” and “edgy”.

·         A lot of the shots revolve around the band or singers performance.

·         There is sometimes a narrative.

·         If there is a narrative, it is sad or dark to go with the theme of the song.

·         The videos usually try to look scary

·         The band members usually wear very dark clothes and have long messy hair.

·         They usually have visible tattoos, piercings etc.

                            

Music Video Genre Research (Country)

Country

·         The music videos are usually very simplistic. Focusing on the artist performing.

·         There are usually a lot of close-ups of the singers face to convey emotion but also develop their star image.

·         The music videos tend to be very slow, steady and simplistic.

·         Not chaotic.

·         Very slow paced music videos – the shots last a very long time.

 

Music Video Genre Research (Rock)

Rock

·         Rock videos are usually very dark.

·         The signer and musicians wear dark clothes

·         They wear eyeliner

·         They usually have a very messy, long hairstyle to add to the chaotic and reckless aspect of the music.

·         They tend not to feature a narrative.

·         Some videos contain effects to make the video darker or more eerie. However, some of the music videos feature minimal effects to add to the “raw” and careless aspect of the music.

·         The videos are not meant to look like masterpieces. This means that the shots are often shaky and unsteady (this is done on purpose).

·         Rock videos tend not to contain much emotion. This is why the camera tends not to focus on the expression on the signers faces (not many close-ups).

·         The music videos tend to contain something blasphemous to religion. For example, upside down cross features in many rock videos. This adds to the carless, chaotic nature that the music aims to achieve.

                                                

Music Video Genre Research (Indie/Alternative)

Indie

·         The music videos usually contain no gimmicks – it is just the singer and the musicians. This keeps the focus on the artist and helps build their star image. This also keeps the focus solely on the music/sound not visuals and appearance.

·         Indie music videos have recently started to contain narratives. This is most likely done to keep up and stay relevant within the music industry.

·         The music videos tend to switch between the narratives to the artist singing. This helps the music have more emotion and meaning.

·         There tends to be less effects and visuals within indie music videos to focus solely on the singers’ voice.

·         The music videos tend to be a lot more creative, slow and peaceful that that of pop and rock. This is because the music is much slower and peaceful than that of pop and rock.

·         Many indie artists go against the conventions of what is considered mainstream. This means that the singers dress in an unusual or retro way. This helps give the signers their own identity, making them stand out as unique and further increasing their own star identity.

·         There are a lot of close-up camera shots within indie music videos. This is because the music tends to be emotional and the close-up shots allow the signers emotion to be captured.

·         Indie music videos feature unusual locations. For example, the cathedral in Born to Die by Lana Del Rey or the prison from Telephone by Lady Gaga.

·         Effects are used within indie music. However, they are not used as much as pop or rock music videos. This is because indie music takes pride in being more natural and raw.

·         The effects that are used a done to convey emotion not to make the video look more appealing.

·         Often the shorts are very slow. This is done to convey emotion and emphasise the meaning of the lyrics.

·         The music videos focus a lot on the musician’s as well. This is done for artistic effect while showing the product has more meaning than just the artist. For example, this can be seen throughout Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey.