Research and Planning - History of music videos.

Research and Planning: Digipack.

This is a digipack. I have experimented with PhotoShop CS5, which i have not used before, in order to prepare myself for print task.

Research and Planning: Music Video and Narrative: Propp.

Vladimir Propp says that the narrative is motivated by a variety of character functions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEukS2YN9B8

In this particular video, we can see that the man who first walks down the street and saves the woman is the hero, and the woman stood on top of the building could be seen as either the victim or the princess. There is one more character at the end of this video, but we assume that he would have the same character role as the hero. Even though there are so few characters, the main ones (hero and princess) do change their characters. For example, the princess could be seen as the villain when she starts to follow the hero around, and even starts to push him around. Although, at this same point in the video the hero seems to switch over to the villain when he gets aggravated and pushes her against the fencing, and we can see the angry expression on his face from the close up, as well as the scared expression she holds, making her look like the victim again.

The Proppian roles have been constructed through media language, through the way it is edited, and the shots used. For example close ups on both the characters faces are used to show their expressions clearly, as this indicates when there is a change in character. Also, it shows point of view shots.

The Proppian roles are not absolutely clear, as they challenge usual character ideas (the way they swap around several times). The producer may have purposely made the narrative enigimatic to address a niche audience.

I think the stereotypes of the hero and princess are mostly met, the hero is a young, white male, and the princess is a passive figure, although we do see them swapping roles, putting a twist to the roles.

Research and Planning: Todorov's narrative theory.

He explains that there are five stages in which narratives are structured into. These are:

• Equilibrium
• Disequilibrium (Disruption)
• Recognition
• Reparation
• New equilibrium

Here is one example of a narrative:

The equilibrium stage in this video is at the beginning, when she is lying next to who is presumed to be her partner.

Disequilibrium happens when we see her write a note saying "i'm sorry" and leaves.

The Recognition stage is when she goes to speak to her father, and he gives her a photo of him and her mother when they were younger, and the lyrics at this point say "... I'd never sing of love if it does not exist."

Reparation is when we see her lying down on a pile of love notes, while singing "Darling, you are the only exception." Also, she goes on several dates with other men, but they do not seem to work out.

She then runs back through all of the scenes to return to her partner we saw at the beginning, and this is the New Equilibrium.

The disruption is created by her, and the new equilibrium is also established by her.

The stages are signalled by quick transitions in shots, and change of scene.

Research and Planning: Goodwin and music video.

Andrew Goodwin identified key features which he found to be common in many music videos.

One of the features which Goodwin has identified is:

"A relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics."

The video Pork and Beans by Weezer has this convention, as well as another key feature:

"Intertextual references to other media texts may be present"

Meaning it includes other video clips that are popular on the internet, but they have made their own take on them.

Another point he made was:

"A relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the music."

This can be seen in the video Walking The Dog by Fun, and you could also say it is in Standing in the Way of Control by The Gossip.

"Multiple close-ups of the main artist or vocalist."

Walking the Dog by Fun also uses this convention.

"Voyeurism often plays a major part, especially in relation to females."

The Kanye West video incorportates this feature, as it relates to the genre.

Research and Planning: Spike Jonze.

Spike Jonze has directed/produced a number of music videos, as well as films, short films and a few television programs.
Directors usually have their own styles, known as the Auteur theory.



This video features the band playing with wild animals on what looks like a remote island. This is entropic as you cannot really tell what the message behind the video is. Also, it is not a situation that you would be used to seeing.



There a number of surreal events in this video, such as driving a golf cart on the roads through the middle of a busy city, and even playing golf in the middle of a road. It also features a scene of violence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiXg_70rMeM&ob=av2n

In this particular video, Spike Jonze actually takes part in the video, playing the leader of the dance group. They are dancing in the middle of a public place, which was in front of a movie theatre. It seems very authentic seeing as they did not gain permission to dance or film there, and the owner of the theatre attempts to turn off the music.



This entire video is filmed in slow motion. This is also quite a surreal video, as we see the singer tied up in the back of a Ford Mustang. We see the woman stabbing a weapon type object into the boot of the car, where the singer is lying.

All these videos by Jonze contain similar elements, such as slow motion, violence and surreal events.

Research and Planning: Genre and music video.

This is a narrative/performance video. It shows the "story" of the lyrics as well as the band playing it. I would say that it is quite redundant.



This is more of a performance/spectacle type video, it's mainly based around the artist dancing, and performing the song. It invloves a lot of different outfits etc.



The genre of this video is quirky/lo-fi. The purpose of it is to look slightly low budget, or as if it was made with little effort, as well as to entertain. It is likely to be aimed at a younger audience, teenagers.



This is a parody video. It has taken a lot of famous clips from YouTube and made them into spoofs, and it's purpose is to entertain. I think it is more entropic than redundant, and is probably aimed at an audience aged from 15.



This genre is performance/backstage. It shows the band performing at a concert, showing the audience as well as them. It also has clips of them in the recording studio. This type of music video shows that the band are serious about playing their music, and the purpose is to look authentic. This type of video is more redundant.



I would say that this video is provocative. It shows the artist performing the song with a woman who is wearing provocative clothing. It appeals to a certain audience, and is redundant.

Research and Planning: Redundancy and Entropy.

This video portrays a redundant "cool" style. They're breaking stuff and trying to do things that typical rock stars would be doing.

This shows a redundant message, everyone in the video has an upbeat attitude, the band are playing along to the music. The video relates to the lyrics.

This is entropic, its strange, relates to the music style but still unexpected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH9A6tn_P6g

Paramore - ignorance

This is entropic, this could be seen as redundant however the singer is climbing on the ceiling, its irrelevant and not the norm.

Research and planning: 5 Skills that I need to learn or improve.

1. I think I need to develop my camera skills when it comes to filming.

2.When researching, I need to spend more time looking at different ideas.

3. I could improve what I know about using lighting.

4. I need to learn a bit more about the editing software.

5. I could be more creative with my ideas.