Goldie's 'Inner City Life' explains the pressures of living in an urban area surrounded by problems. It also explores the difficulties people must go through when living in a council estate. The lyrics also suggest the meaning of this video explaining the difficulties the people are faced with 'living free, i long to feel' showing the people just want an escape route. The main character within the video is a single mother struggling to pay bills and support her children, the video focuses on her showing the struggles she is faced with as well as what she wants which is a husband or a man to help her.
The use of the high angle shot of the estate building connotes an unpleasant feeling and showing that estate is uninviting. The Mise En Scene of the video shows the different camera shots of the estate including the people who live there. The shot of the single mother struggling to pay bills in her cramped flat, messy and dirty suggest the realistic views of the working class struggling to survive in this world. The video may also want to show viewers or the audience that this is what the people are going through. The use of the high angle shot of a boy pushing off a trolley from the balcony suggests the different age groups and what they might be going through when faced with the difficulties. The shot connotes the harsh realities of living on an estate and showing once again the realistic approach of stress and anger.
The use of getting rid of pressure is shown in the 'rave' scene where mostly men are dancing and getting rid of their worries and stress by partying is in sync with the lyrics which are being repeated 'Inner City Life, Pressure Take Over Me' shows how they get rid of their stress. The use of the back lighting may also connote the stress and worries they are going through and the neon lights as freeing them from worry.
The Mise En Scene of the rugged effect of the estate shows the lifestyles of the working class or under class and the Marxist's may agree that the message connotes the realistic lifestyles of the working class and their struggles. Marxist would also argue the messages are positive as the children and the old men are happy, however negative as the stereotypical single mother living in a high rise looks miserable as she struggles to pay bills and finally lights up the bills on the balcony.
The text seems to maintain hegemonic controls as the residence of the urban area are black which is a stereotypical representation of black people nowadays. Unchallenged by the masses the video also shows a BMW convertible with a black male in the driver’s seat who seems to be a representation of a person who has made it out of the 'ghetto' but also showing the positive side as people can make it. The video also challenges the hegemonic control as it shows two men passing something to each other which would typically be drugs as it's what's expected but in fact they are passing a CD.
Audience gratifications are evident in the video as the urban setting may appeal to those of the working class status as they can identify with the environment and the need to feel free from its restrictiveness. The upbeat tempo relates to those who enjoy the funky house music scene usually those in their late teens early 20’s. the artist and main singer both being mixed race can therefore appeal to both genders and appeal to people from ethnic minority backgrounds. The artist Goldie does not feature on this track but does appear in the video as the one who blew up the car and wearing a hoodie confirming stereotypes of the people who live on estates or 'hoodies' as being aggressive and violent.
The video's narrative shows growing up in suburbia or an urban area and the pressures of living in the "ghetto" and showing the single mother struggling to pay her bills and the shows of a council estate. The setting and mise en scene shows Goldie is highlighting maybe his childhood or what life is really like showing the hard pressures that people face, the youth, elderly and the challenges that they face. The messages within the text highlight hegemony as the video highlights the subtle indoctrination influencing the manner in which society views the world as we see young adults in the video passing something which the audience believes to be drugs at first but when we look closer it is only a CD. The video is also challenging the hegemonic control as there are little shots which we view to be a negative stereotype as an audience but then looking closely to only be a realistic image of the pressures the characters face an example would be the children playing basketball rather then being on the 'streets' but also confirming hegemonic control by showing a youth pushing a trolley off the roof of a council flat. The target audience for this text is anyone interested in Jungle, Drum & Bass and Garage genres.
Goldie - Inner City Life
Uploaded by Exus. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Post Feminism & Feminism - Britney Toxic
Britney's 'Toxic' video shows the different characters within the narrative that explains the different stories of the characters. The first scene in the aeroplane shows the air stewardess as being sexy yet motherly when looking after the child. Britney's lyrics also suggest that she could have a man and that shes flaunting herself towards them. The video has a polysemic reading as the different audience would say she's either flaunting herself and being promiscuous but also showing she is dominant and in control. The lyrics also suggest that it's about taking drugs or getting high as she does poison one of the men in the narrative but her lyrics suggest this too 'Too high Can't come down Losing my head Spinning round and round', Britney may also suggest that she likes the different guy's within the narrative and they're dangerous show she uses 'Toxic' to explain how she feels about them.
The Mise En Scene of the airplane is CGI but the costume shows her as sexy and with her kissing the guy in toilets she is once again flaunting herself but showing the negative side of her video as she can get 'Hot' guys because she kisses a normal everyday man then takes his mask off to reveal a younger fitter man. She sends out negative vibes of her video as she reveals herself to be raunchy, flaunt and sexy; whereas her audience is of a younger age and mainly girls connoting a negative image and meaning. Another scene of her when she is covered in a diamond body suit shows her wealth, sexiness and her body showing she is confident but flaunting herself to gain more audiences showing she has no talent for singing but for just looking attractive. She wears revealing clothing, changes her hair colour and using men to show her sexiness just proves that she uses her body rather than her talent even within the narrative. The use of close ups, high angle shots, mid shot, full body shots and establishing shot shows her body and her costume and promoting her sexiness.
Post Feminism
-Identifies the male gaze showing women assert their right to dress and be sexually attractive
-Subverting stereotypes as she is showing she is in control within the narratives
-Uses her sexuality to identify the female gaze
-She wishes to surpass the male achievements showing she's rather aggressive and in control
-Each occupation emphasises highly sexual behaviour and costumes
Feminist
-Subjects herself to stereotypes
-Capitalises on her sexuality to cash in money
-Provocative clothing show a negative affect on her audience mostly kids to be influenced
-Chameleon effect - uses her image rather than talent
-May reveal low self esteem
-Connoting that women have to flaunt themselves to get people to watch and buy their songs
-Representing the female gaze using men
The Mise En Scene of the airplane is CGI but the costume shows her as sexy and with her kissing the guy in toilets she is once again flaunting herself but showing the negative side of her video as she can get 'Hot' guys because she kisses a normal everyday man then takes his mask off to reveal a younger fitter man. She sends out negative vibes of her video as she reveals herself to be raunchy, flaunt and sexy; whereas her audience is of a younger age and mainly girls connoting a negative image and meaning. Another scene of her when she is covered in a diamond body suit shows her wealth, sexiness and her body showing she is confident but flaunting herself to gain more audiences showing she has no talent for singing but for just looking attractive. She wears revealing clothing, changes her hair colour and using men to show her sexiness just proves that she uses her body rather than her talent even within the narrative. The use of close ups, high angle shots, mid shot, full body shots and establishing shot shows her body and her costume and promoting her sexiness.
Post Feminism
-Identifies the male gaze showing women assert their right to dress and be sexually attractive
-Subverting stereotypes as she is showing she is in control within the narratives
-Uses her sexuality to identify the female gaze
-She wishes to surpass the male achievements showing she's rather aggressive and in control
-Each occupation emphasises highly sexual behaviour and costumes
Feminist
-Subjects herself to stereotypes
-Capitalises on her sexuality to cash in money
-Provocative clothing show a negative affect on her audience mostly kids to be influenced
-Chameleon effect - uses her image rather than talent
-May reveal low self esteem
-Connoting that women have to flaunt themselves to get people to watch and buy their songs
-Representing the female gaze using men
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Rhianna Umbrella Textual Analysis
Genre: RnB & Pop
Type of Video: Performance Based
Rhianna's video 'Umbrella' highlights the sexually provocative costumes and flashy 'bling' jewellery as showing her high status as well as connoting her wealth. The use of choreography show that Rhianna can multitask and doesn't just base her video on her singing but also dancing as well. The use of Jay Z shows her 'connections' within the music industry and also shows the audience that she is well known within the industry. The use of a fast based beat applies to her audience that she can switch her genre to include the different types of audience but also show she is once again multi-talented. Rhianna first started off singing RnB then Hip Hop and Reggae then switching towards Rock.
During the video the camera shows close ups, full body shots and establishing shots to show Rhianna's facial expressions, her dancing, costume and body appealing to her male audience and flaunting her sexuality and sustaining the audiences attention. The use of CGI with the rain drops, background shows Rhianna is with the time and also showing that it is connoting wealth as CGI is very expensive. The use of props also highlight and link in with the song 'Umbrella' as well as the clear relation between image and lyrics with the use of the CGI rain and the umbrella as a prop. The camera techniques are mostly jump cut edits which highlight the use of sustaining the audiences interest and the use of the different scenes of her singing, dancing, Jay Z's rapping and then her costumes.
The representation withing the video show Rhianna as a skilled dancer with her use of ballet as well as showing her audience she is fit as the use of the full body shot shows her audience that she is wearing a tight black suit showing her as sexually provocative and showing she is subverting the feminism within the music industry and using herself to assert her right to dress and become sexually attractive. The use of showing her main stream image shows she is destined for success and shows she uses artists such as Jay Z who is well known within the music industry.
The use of institutions show Amercian rapper Jay Z appearance in the video attracts the audience from Hip Hop or Rap Genre. During that time of the video Jay Z was the President of Def Jam records who Rhianna is signed to. Her video is also played on Hip Hop, Rap, RnB and Pop music channels.
Rhianna's audiences may identify Rhianna in the video as pursing her sexuality and her audience mainly the males show she is attracting them as she sees herself as a sex object and also connoting a negative view show the Hypodermic Needle Theory. Her male audience also recieve a visual pleasure of Rhianna and proving Laura Mulvey's feminist theory to be correct. Rhianna also shows that she is subverting the feminist idea as she is enjoying herself and being in control not for the benefit of the male audience but for herself. The video is a polysemic media text that has a variety of meanings and interpretations.
Type of Video: Performance Based
Rhianna's video 'Umbrella' highlights the sexually provocative costumes and flashy 'bling' jewellery as showing her high status as well as connoting her wealth. The use of choreography show that Rhianna can multitask and doesn't just base her video on her singing but also dancing as well. The use of Jay Z shows her 'connections' within the music industry and also shows the audience that she is well known within the industry. The use of a fast based beat applies to her audience that she can switch her genre to include the different types of audience but also show she is once again multi-talented. Rhianna first started off singing RnB then Hip Hop and Reggae then switching towards Rock.
During the video the camera shows close ups, full body shots and establishing shots to show Rhianna's facial expressions, her dancing, costume and body appealing to her male audience and flaunting her sexuality and sustaining the audiences attention. The use of CGI with the rain drops, background shows Rhianna is with the time and also showing that it is connoting wealth as CGI is very expensive. The use of props also highlight and link in with the song 'Umbrella' as well as the clear relation between image and lyrics with the use of the CGI rain and the umbrella as a prop. The camera techniques are mostly jump cut edits which highlight the use of sustaining the audiences interest and the use of the different scenes of her singing, dancing, Jay Z's rapping and then her costumes.
The representation withing the video show Rhianna as a skilled dancer with her use of ballet as well as showing her audience she is fit as the use of the full body shot shows her audience that she is wearing a tight black suit showing her as sexually provocative and showing she is subverting the feminism within the music industry and using herself to assert her right to dress and become sexually attractive. The use of showing her main stream image shows she is destined for success and shows she uses artists such as Jay Z who is well known within the music industry.
The use of institutions show Amercian rapper Jay Z appearance in the video attracts the audience from Hip Hop or Rap Genre. During that time of the video Jay Z was the President of Def Jam records who Rhianna is signed to. Her video is also played on Hip Hop, Rap, RnB and Pop music channels.
Rhianna's audiences may identify Rhianna in the video as pursing her sexuality and her audience mainly the males show she is attracting them as she sees herself as a sex object and also connoting a negative view show the Hypodermic Needle Theory. Her male audience also recieve a visual pleasure of Rhianna and proving Laura Mulvey's feminist theory to be correct. Rhianna also shows that she is subverting the feminist idea as she is enjoying herself and being in control not for the benefit of the male audience but for herself. The video is a polysemic media text that has a variety of meanings and interpretations.
Pharcyde Drop Textual Analysis
Pharcyde - Drop
Type Of Video: Performance & Concept
The representations within this video shows the rap to convey performers background, living, clothing and possibly childhood by showing the location and area. The use of humorous and quirky shows they are subverting the stereotype of Rap video's to be serious. The use of Spike Jonze show they know famous directors and the use of subverting the conventions of a Rap video show they are appealing to an audience that would see the humorous side to the video.
The representation within the video show the artists to be natural and realistic as they are dressed in casual clothing, messing about by dancing and roaming around Los Angeles. The Mise En Scene within the video shows their own clothes, location in which they were raised in and the use of them stripping show they are comfortable with what they are wearing and showing that they are down to earth and not connoting wealth. The camera techniques show a tracking shot of the artists walking about on the streets showing the different locations within the area and showing the movement of the artists. The use of the low angle shot shows the artists body, clothes and their location. The close ups of the artists show the facial expressions, the lyrics being spoken and the mid shot also shows the use of the artists clothing once again and the mise en scene in the background.
The use of editing in this video shows the artists going forward whereas the background going backwards challenging time. The video also shows a slight surrealistic quality. The video also shows a cyclical narrative as the performance start and end in the same location and scene subverting the stereotype of conventional Rap videos.
How does the video subvert, adhere or develop the genre?
-The video isn't all just performance like most rap videos and dancing s involved. The use of the location which could represent the rap or to represent the performers background to emphasise their identity which was a big thing at that time. The Mise En Scene indicates the performers are comfortable with their clothing and the way they portray themselves, it also shows the the video is conventional but camera and editing subverts it.
Is the video a hybrid?
-Rap and Hip Hop
Is the video a performance, narrative or concept?
Concept as the video is a cyclical narrative showing that time is going backwards but they are going forwards showing the oxymoron of the video.
Type Of Video: Performance & Concept
The representations within this video shows the rap to convey performers background, living, clothing and possibly childhood by showing the location and area. The use of humorous and quirky shows they are subverting the stereotype of Rap video's to be serious. The use of Spike Jonze show they know famous directors and the use of subverting the conventions of a Rap video show they are appealing to an audience that would see the humorous side to the video.
The representation within the video show the artists to be natural and realistic as they are dressed in casual clothing, messing about by dancing and roaming around Los Angeles. The Mise En Scene within the video shows their own clothes, location in which they were raised in and the use of them stripping show they are comfortable with what they are wearing and showing that they are down to earth and not connoting wealth. The camera techniques show a tracking shot of the artists walking about on the streets showing the different locations within the area and showing the movement of the artists. The use of the low angle shot shows the artists body, clothes and their location. The close ups of the artists show the facial expressions, the lyrics being spoken and the mid shot also shows the use of the artists clothing once again and the mise en scene in the background.
The use of editing in this video shows the artists going forward whereas the background going backwards challenging time. The video also shows a slight surrealistic quality. The video also shows a cyclical narrative as the performance start and end in the same location and scene subverting the stereotype of conventional Rap videos.
How does the video subvert, adhere or develop the genre?
-The video isn't all just performance like most rap videos and dancing s involved. The use of the location which could represent the rap or to represent the performers background to emphasise their identity which was a big thing at that time. The Mise En Scene indicates the performers are comfortable with their clothing and the way they portray themselves, it also shows the the video is conventional but camera and editing subverts it.
Is the video a hybrid?
-Rap and Hip Hop
Is the video a performance, narrative or concept?
Concept as the video is a cyclical narrative showing that time is going backwards but they are going forwards showing the oxymoron of the video.
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Gender Stereotypes In Music
Gender stereotypes in music are most likely to be the generic codes and conventions in a music video but some artists try to subvert this stereotype to show the audiences how gender in music is being perceived.
- Men are mostly dominant, aggressive and can be represented as independent, adventurous, unemotional and competent.
- Stereotypical gendered occupations such as males as firefighters/mechanics and women as cheerleaders/ waitresses
Examples of males are: 50 Cent - Candy Shop this video shows 50 Cent as him getting any kind of girl he wants and showing the women being used a sexual target, this suggests they are submissive and powerless.
- Women engaged in more sexual and passive behaviour and more explicit. They are represented as objects of sexual advances or as sexual objects this shows the negatives of stereotypes in music as it portrays women as sexually provocative, objects that dance, pose and look good for the males.
Examples of women are: Destiny's Child - Cater To You this video shows the reliance on gender roles and shows that women are just housewives and will do anything the men want them to, the lyrics also suggest of pampering husband's or boyfriends.
Feminism 1960/70's - A movement that questioned the position within patriarchal society and the 'domestic bliss'
-Serves to challenge and eliminate oppression and dominate gender imagery
-Emphasised women in media such as women as sexual objects, domestics in the home, inferior to men or women as virgins, mothers or promiscuous
Sexual Objectification and the Male Gaze
-Laura Mulvey 1975 defined voyeurism as erotic pleasures gained from looking at a sexual object. She also showed the presence of women solely for the purpose of display and their display is passive and objectified for a male gaze regardless of viewers gender. The voyeuristic treatment of the female body in 'male' videos such as dancing in the background, looking good, wearing tiny or little clothes boosting male ego's. Women connote to be looked and object of the 'male gaze'
Stereotypically 'Female' Occupations
- There are many music videos that emphasis the stereotypes of women occupations and an example of that is Britney Spears. She adheres to traditional gender stereotypes by taking on the roles of as sectary, air hostess and a waitress; each occupation emphasises highly sexualised costume and behaviours. Pink also shows this in the video U and Your Hand showing Pink as a boxer, mechanic, and sitting on the bed, balcony and in a park showing herself as a 'male gaze' but also showing her subverting to the stereotypes of women showing her working out in the gym and being a mechanic.
Post Feminism and the female gaze 1980's
-Re appraisal of feminist vales
-Does not strive for equality as this assumes men as better but they wish to surpass male achievements
-Objected to the theories which position them as objects of the 'male gaze' and identifies the 'female gaze' - women desiring men
-Women began to assert their right to dress and be sexually attractive
- Men are mostly dominant, aggressive and can be represented as independent, adventurous, unemotional and competent.
- Stereotypical gendered occupations such as males as firefighters/mechanics and women as cheerleaders/ waitresses
Examples of males are: 50 Cent - Candy Shop this video shows 50 Cent as him getting any kind of girl he wants and showing the women being used a sexual target, this suggests they are submissive and powerless.
- Women engaged in more sexual and passive behaviour and more explicit. They are represented as objects of sexual advances or as sexual objects this shows the negatives of stereotypes in music as it portrays women as sexually provocative, objects that dance, pose and look good for the males.
Examples of women are: Destiny's Child - Cater To You this video shows the reliance on gender roles and shows that women are just housewives and will do anything the men want them to, the lyrics also suggest of pampering husband's or boyfriends.
Feminism 1960/70's - A movement that questioned the position within patriarchal society and the 'domestic bliss'
-Serves to challenge and eliminate oppression and dominate gender imagery
-Emphasised women in media such as women as sexual objects, domestics in the home, inferior to men or women as virgins, mothers or promiscuous
Sexual Objectification and the Male Gaze
-Laura Mulvey 1975 defined voyeurism as erotic pleasures gained from looking at a sexual object. She also showed the presence of women solely for the purpose of display and their display is passive and objectified for a male gaze regardless of viewers gender. The voyeuristic treatment of the female body in 'male' videos such as dancing in the background, looking good, wearing tiny or little clothes boosting male ego's. Women connote to be looked and object of the 'male gaze'
Stereotypically 'Female' Occupations
- There are many music videos that emphasis the stereotypes of women occupations and an example of that is Britney Spears. She adheres to traditional gender stereotypes by taking on the roles of as sectary, air hostess and a waitress; each occupation emphasises highly sexualised costume and behaviours. Pink also shows this in the video U and Your Hand showing Pink as a boxer, mechanic, and sitting on the bed, balcony and in a park showing herself as a 'male gaze' but also showing her subverting to the stereotypes of women showing her working out in the gym and being a mechanic.
Post Feminism and the female gaze 1980's
-Re appraisal of feminist vales
-Does not strive for equality as this assumes men as better but they wish to surpass male achievements
-Objected to the theories which position them as objects of the 'male gaze' and identifies the 'female gaze' - women desiring men
-Women began to assert their right to dress and be sexually attractive
Friday, 25 June 2010
Generic Code and Conventions
1) What is a genre?
A genre can represent a group of things or classify the thing such as music, films or books. It can also represent a group that can identify and group things into categories.
2) What music genre's do you know?
Indie, RnB, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Rap, Hip-Hop, Pop, Classical, Folk and Punk. There are many genre's from different countries.
3) What are generic codes and conventions?
Codes are systems which create a meaning. Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell he story in a media text. Symbolic codes show is beneath the surface of what we see.
Conventions are generally accepted ways of doing things an example such as 'bling' in a Hip - Hop video.
4) Why is genre important?
It defines the type of thing and also gives it an identity which allows the audience to associate the genre with.
5) What are the drawbacks of genre?
It stereotypes the music as well as the artists. It also shows the audience over reliance on the music.
Hybrid Genre's are a mixture of 2 genre's that can reach a much wider audience such as Dance music as it contains sub genre's such as House, Funky and Techno.
A genre can represent a group of things or classify the thing such as music, films or books. It can also represent a group that can identify and group things into categories.
2) What music genre's do you know?
Indie, RnB, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Rap, Hip-Hop, Pop, Classical, Folk and Punk. There are many genre's from different countries.
3) What are generic codes and conventions?
Codes are systems which create a meaning. Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell he story in a media text. Symbolic codes show is beneath the surface of what we see.
Conventions are generally accepted ways of doing things an example such as 'bling' in a Hip - Hop video.
4) Why is genre important?
It defines the type of thing and also gives it an identity which allows the audience to associate the genre with.
5) What are the drawbacks of genre?
It stereotypes the music as well as the artists. It also shows the audience over reliance on the music.
Hybrid Genre's are a mixture of 2 genre's that can reach a much wider audience such as Dance music as it contains sub genre's such as House, Funky and Techno.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Audience Questionnaire
Audience Research Questionnaire
Circle the relevant answers please
1. What gender are you? Male or Female
2. Age? 10-16 16-20 20-24 24 and over
3. What music genres do you listen to? ____________________________________________
4. What music TV channels do you watch? _________________________________________
5. What theme do you look for in a music video; performance, narrative or concept based? __________________________________________________________
Performance- the artist/s just starring throughout the video
Narrative - story based video
Concept- based on a idea or theme
6. Do you download music? Yes No
7. What websites do you use to watch music videos on? ______________________________
8. What type of music promotion/advertising appeals to you? E.g billboards, posters, magazine adverts and ect. _____________________________________________________________
9. What do you look for when buying CD covers? ________________________________________
10. Does a good music video make you want to buy the CD or download it? ______________________________
Circle the relevant answers please
1. What gender are you? Male or Female
2. Age? 10-16 16-20 20-24 24 and over
3. What music genres do you listen to? ____________________________________________
4. What music TV channels do you watch? _________________________________________
5. What theme do you look for in a music video; performance, narrative or concept based? __________________________________________________________
Performance- the artist/s just starring throughout the video
Narrative - story based video
Concept- based on a idea or theme
6. Do you download music? Yes No
7. What websites do you use to watch music videos on? ______________________________
8. What type of music promotion/advertising appeals to you? E.g billboards, posters, magazine adverts and ect. _____________________________________________________________
9. What do you look for when buying CD covers? ________________________________________
10. Does a good music video make you want to buy the CD or download it? ______________________________
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