The song Bastardo is a video that has both elements of voyeurism and hyper reality embedded into the video below i have clarified how both elements are used for the video.
Voyeurism
Voyeurism is used in this video as a basis for the magazine in the video (which is the reason that none of the characters including the singer move throughout except for the mouth of the performer) we also see that the video is based around photo's which include both model photo's of the male and the female in the video which is used to show that voyeurism is used through the magazine (which is an older 1970's and 1980's children's magazine).
I looked into a lot of unsigned bands on the BBC introducing website which is a website that was set up to help unsigned band with a lot of talent to make it as musicians. I looked for unsigned bands that could be used for my Media A2 production below is a description of the band i ended up choosing from my research (information such as where they originated from, how they are progressing, there genre type, etc).
Partyclub are a 4 piece 'Indiebounce' band that although being unsigned have produced a debut single on there own which has been put onto itunes called 'Young and Free' (which can be seen below) and have a few other songs on there website (as well as youtube video's on there own personal channel). The band are from York and have there music featured on fashion websites and online stores such as ASOS (which is how i originally heard of the band) i think this would be a good band to represent as they have a very upbeat tone that can be associated with hipster and possibly scene culture (the music is upbeat and is very catchy which are trademark qualities of both cultures).
I sent the group an email asking them if i would be able to use there music for the purpose of my A2 coursework (see below).
I have also taken screenshots of the bands Website, Soundcloud, Facebook page and Twitter account (see below)
below are the two parts of my album digipack that represented hipster music (but could also be argued to represent aspects of goth/ emo culture as well)
This is the video i have been tasked with analyzing it is from The Prodigy and is labelled as a punk track.
Relationship of lyrics and video
Only when the man is introduced and starts speaking does the camera go from a standing shot to a wild array of movements and camera angles.
As the words 'im a firestarter' are sung the video becomes progressively weirder with new movements being put into the video for example this intricate looking spiders web later in the song.
Use of close up's
The use of close ups are used to show who in the video are key characters (and are the band members) for example both of these photo's show close up's of more important characters in the video.
Relationship of video and music
The dancing that the singer creates during the video is based around the music of the song for example the slapping of the head when the drum roll is played in the song.
The lights in the tunnel only begin to light as the starting notes are played in the song indicating they are turned on because of the song starting.
Indication of genre
The many piercings, clothing and hairstyles of the main singer (which is shown in lot of close up's) show that the genre of this music is based towards punk/ rock.
The use of unsafe power tools in an unsafe environment gives the opinion of a rebellious nature also leaning more towards a rock/ punk based video.
This is song i have been tasked with analyzing it is The avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist below i have stilled images i think are relevant to the relationship of the music, lyrics and music video.
Relationship of lyrics and video
the relationship that the lyrics have with this video is that there is an action to go along with the lyrics (we see a psychiatrist asking a man to 'Lie down on the coach' which he promptly does).
Again the relationship the lyrics share with the video is through the use a an animated mise en scene prop in this case the false teeth in the glass of water being manipulated to say 'And he also had false teeth'
I chose to analyse four video's based on performance video's, conceptual video's, voyeurism video's and Narrative video's each analyzation can be viewed below.
The Hives - Go Right Ahead - Performance video
This track is by the Rock Band The hives and was released in 2012. The genre of this track is Rock, usually rock video's fit a certain stereotype in that they usually have either a performance based video, conceptual video or a narrative video, The hives have not gone against this stereotype which can be seen in this video the band is performing the song live in the studio (wearing tuxedo's however for that classy finish). The relationship between the video and the lyrics in this video are very few (the video of the performance is shot from many different angles and as such at certain points of the song the camera angle and shot type will change from a close up to the guitarist to a mid shot of the drummer, in other words the lyrics are used to push the video forward but not to symbolize anything that is actually happening in the video). The shot types used in the video are very close up and wide in order to show all of the band performing they don't really serve as a purpose to show how the band feels while playing the song (the band is irrelevant in the video apart from the fact that they are performing and that they are the band). The use of lighting in this video once again serves no emotive or creative purpose it is simply there while the band is performing it doesn't drive the video along any further. The use of close ups in the video are equally split among all aspects of the band and create a 'vibe' that all of the band members are equally important and all fulfill a separate role in the video. The video contains a modern take on music video's as the band are aware that they are filming this video and that there fans will be watching it giving the audience a more personal appeal with the video. The video has no buildup to certain things that occur in the song (the chorus will begin and nothing new will happen with the video the band just keeps playing). Overall i think that the video is a good example of a Performance Video as it has all of the key stereotypes that create the feeling and vibe of a performance video (the use of the camera shots, lyrical camera angle changes and performance of the band members give a clear view of the performing aspect of the song).
Ok Go - This Too Shall Pass - Conceptual video
This track is by the Indie Rock Band Ok Go and was released in 2010. The genre of this music is Indie Rock, Indie rock video's are usually stereotyped to be either a narrative, conceptualized or performance based video and Ok Go have not broken the stereotype (and are known for there conceptual video's such as here it goes again) they have however combined both characteristics from they have both performance and conceptual aspects to there video's (which can be seen in both versions of the song one featuring a very well choreographed marching band complete with ensemble and the other based around a very long and intricate Rube Goldberg machine). The relationship between the lyrics of the song and the songs video is very detailed indeed for both of these video's not only do the lyrics 'drive the video on' but certain key points of each video are started by certain points of the lyrics (for example when the marching band falls silent a group of people hold a sign which says 'this too shall pass'). The Shot types that are used in this video are very wide and are often full body/ long shots in order to get in all of the events that are happening the camera shots involved show the intricate nature of both the music video's and also help to create a feeling through the conceptual nature of the video's. The use of lighting is a key aspects involved in the Rube Goldberg video as it is used to help build the mood of the conceptual video (it is used not only to make the video better quality but also to 'wow' the audience). The use of close ups in the video are used to show the intrinsic nature of the video's (an example of this is seen all the way through the Rube Goldberg video and can also be seen multiple times in the marching band video). This video like The Hives video is filmed very much like the band are aware that they are being filmed and as such have created a more personal link to there fan base with the video. This video does have a buildup for example when a new verse or certain lyric is sung a group of ghillie suited musicians leap out from the floor and begin marching and playing, or a new part of the Rube Goldberg machine is activated. Overall i think that both of the songs video's are good examples of conceptual video's as both create a feeling when watched and the feeling is amazement through the use of camera angles, different camera shots and the use of lyrical forwarding of the song we see a series of events that make us as an audience think "wow this is amazing".
Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag - Narrative video
This track is by the Rock Band Wheatus and was released in 2000. The genre of this music is Rock, usually rock video's fit a certain stereotype in that they usually have either a performance based video, conceptual video or a narrative video, Wheatus have not challenged this stereotype but have combined two types of music video both narrative elements and performance elements are seen throughout the music video (as we see the band performing in what look like the main characters school gym, and we also see the story of the main character who is a school loser looking to 'get the girls of his dreams'). There are a variety of shot types used throughout this video from wide angle to close up that are used to not only show the band performing (like how they are used in The Hives video) but also to show events and people's emotions that help to further drive the video's story along and create the atmosphere for the story (an example of this is the hallway scene that shows both the boy and girl looking at each other). Lighting is used in this video to symbolize the environment that the main character is in (which is a school during the day) and is also used to set the mood of the final chorus which is an atmospheric bright light in a dark room giving the whole scene a very dreamy composition. The use of close ups in the video give the same outcome and The Hives video in that each band memeber is given a fair share of shot time and close ups that lead a viewer to believe that each band member is important in the video, close ups are also used to show who are key characters in the story of the narrative video. This video is an older style of music video as there is alot less of a personal feel that the audience will gain from it as a story is being told, (instead of a performance the band is telling a story that the audience will hear). This video does have a 'buildup' as such and example of this is when the third verse kicks in the story culminates and the loser gets the girl. Overall i think that the video is a good example of Narrative video as the video shows a clear beginning, middle and end of the story of the 'loser' and also creates a stereotype of a narrative video which is 'boy likes girl - boy tries for girl - and boy gets the girl.
Benny Benassi - Satisfaction - Voyeurism video
This track is by the DJ Benny Benassi and was released in 2009. The genre of this music is electronic, usually electro video's fit a certain stereotype in that they usually have either a sexuality theme based video, a conceptual video or a narrative video, Benny Benassi has not challenged this stereotype but have combined two types of music videos both sexuality based elements and conceptual elements are seen throughout the music video (we are shown a group of women operating heavy industrial equipment and tools which are used as phallic symbols in the video, the women also wear skimpy and revealing clothing and have facial expression that are very suggestive). There are a variety of shot types used throughout this video that vary between close ups, mid shot's and full body shots these shots are used to show the use of the tools and obviously the sexual symbols that are present throughout the video (the attractive women with the big tools). Lighting is used in this video to symbolize the symbols further for example light is shone directly on each woman in order to give the appearance that they are hot and sweaty while using these big power tools (another sexually suggestive element used in the video) lighting also gives the indication that the video is not real as the women work in front of brightly lit screens indicating that they are out of the usual building environment meaning that the video is a re - represenation of reality . The use of close ups in the video give the feeling that the women are making these suggestive movements and wearing the outfits for the person staring at the video (the watcher of the video is made to feel like they are being looked back at the sexualised females). This video is a newer style of music video as there is alot more of a personal feel that the audience will gain from the video as through the use of close ups the watcher is being made to feel like he or she is also being watched back by the attractive women . Overall i think that the video is a good example of a voyeurism video as the video shows a group of attractive females being used to attract the male gaze through the used of phallic imagery and camera shots used to entice a male audience.
My course score was 167 out of 200 and my the result i got was a (just about) A2. My target grade was a C1 this means i have improved 5 levels on my own target grade (i done an amazing job).
My foundation production score was 88/100 and was graded at a A.
My TV drama and music industry exam grade was 79/100 and was graded at a B
Score boundaries
160 marks are required to get a A
140 marks are required to get a B
120 marks are required to get a C
What can i do to improve this year
- Stop being so casual about stuff (deadlines need to be taken seriously)
- be more creative with work (not writing pages and pages when a creative option is available)
- take a bigger role in my group (be more involved in the group)
- make sure to comment on my blog and leave annotations (leave reflective comments)
- make sure the coursework films title's make sense and fit into the scenario
