Feminist / Post-feminist Analysis: I Wanna Go

Britney spears from jamiedear

Postmodern Analysis: Telephone

Telephone from jamiedear

Music Video Forms: Hybrid

Jason Derulo – What If (Hybrid: Narrative, Performance and Conceptual)

 

This music video is a hybrid because it has both a narrative and a performance and it is also conceptual in the way that the narrative is reversed and is told from end to beginning and then from beginning to end. The video begins with a couple setting up their new home and talking about who’s going to get the last box from the van. The woman then goes to get a box from the removal van but on her way back, she ends up getting hit by a speeding car. He tries to save her and the sound of a clock ticking begins. The clock then starts to go backwards and so do the images / the video. Their relationship is then shown to us from end to beginning and as the video progresses, she starts to disappear from each event and in this way, he is saving her from her death in the car crash. This is the narrative because he narrates their relationship. This also shows us why this video is also conceptual because it is going backwards and she is disappearing in each frame thus it is a very visual and artistic piece. This is also why it is a performance because not only are there sections where he is singing to the camera and performing, but it is extremely edited and is created in a variety of shots. This is why this music video can be seen as a narrative as well as a performance and in some ways, a conceptual video.

 

Music Video Forms: Hybrid

Beyoncé – Irreplaceable (Hybrid: Narrative and Performance)

 

This music video is a hybrid because it has both a narrative and a performance. The performance appears mainly at the end where she is on stage singing to an audience however elements of performance feature throughout due to editing. There is also a narrative running throughout. This narrative follows the story of a man getting kicked out of a woman’s apartment because she finds out that he’s been having an affair. He loses everything that she bought him and the video ends with her realising that she can do better and finding another man – hence the performance on stage at the end because she’s telling people that she doesn’t need a man and that she can move on.

Music Video Forms: Conceptual

Sia – Chandelier (Conceptual)

 

This music video is a very physical and visual piece. The artist doesn’t feature at all throughout the video and the video only features a young girl wearing a nude leotard and a wig dancing around an apartment. She is not singing but is almost acting out the lyrics through dance. The video somewhat juxtaposes the lyrics and the song because it’s all about a chandelier which we can imagine to be quite a royal and expensive aspect to a home. Therefore the fact that it is set in a plain and dirty looking apartment shows that the artist wanted to emphasise the message within her song; this could be that whether you’re from a rich or poor background, we can all achieve success. It is also quite a creative and different music video because it is all choreographed and there is no editing whatsoever; it is all filmed within one shot / take. This is why this music video is conceptual.

Music Video Forms: Performance

Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, Pink (Performance)

 

This music video is a performance because it is not only set on a stage and in dressing rooms but the four girls are singing and dancing to the camera. It’s all about the Moulin Rouge and so they are all made up and in quite extravagant costumes. There is a strong relationship between the video and the lyrics because it’s all about burlesque and the fact that they are performing in burlesque costumes strengthens this idea that women are sexualising themselves for their audience. This therefore creates entertainment value for the audience because they are performing a song in quite a sexual and appealing way. Throughout the song there is also a switch between different scenes / areas. This is obvious because as each girl sings, they each sing a verse or so, the room changes hence showing that they are all in different positions. On the chorus however this changes and they all come together and they all perform as one. This is choreographed hence also showing this performance element.

 

Music Video Forms: Narrative

Sam Smith – I’m Not The Only One (Narrative)

 

The message behind this video is that her husband is cheating on her with another woman; he’s having an affair. The video shows the lies and deceit and shows the heartbreak that the wife goes through as she finds out and knows what he’s doing. The video starts off with the wife offering breakfast and the husband leaving quickly hence even from the beginning we get the sense that the video is about the downfall of their relationship. As well as this, it starts off quite normal with the birds singing etc. and this allows us as an audience to see that something is going to go wrong because it seems too good to be true. Throughout the video we get a variety of different scenes. It switches from the wife to the husband and what is happening in both their lives; we see two sides of the story and of their relationship. We see the wife crying and burning his clothes whereas we see the husband drinking and having sex with another woman, all whilst the wife is drinking alone and crying. The fact it switches ensures that the audience are aware of the fact that the wife knows about what he’s doing. This therefore leads the audience to sympathise with the wife because we know that she is heartbroken and distraught about what he’s doing with someone else. These all relate back to the song and lyrics because it is about someone knowing that their other half is cheating on them. This is why all the emotions within the song and lyrics are evoked through the music video because we see this anger, hate yet disappointment and sadness that we may not necessarily get from just listening to the song – it visualises the lyrics. At the end of the song however, it essentially goes back to the beginning so she walks out of the house seemingly happy and ends where she started; hiding her true emotions so she doesn’t ruin this ‘perfect’ life she has with him. This cyclical structure is significant because it shows that she can’t / doesn’t want to get out of their relationship.

Print Advertisement Analysis

Maroon 5’s advertisement has a single image in the middle of the page. This image has lyrics on pieces of paper from Maroon 5’s songs. This not only promotes their music and albums but it means that their songs can easily be identified and recognised b single lyrics. This is especially because they are written in bold thus makes them stand out on the page more. As well as this, their latest song is in the foreground of the image and their band name, Maroon 5, is in the background and is more blurry. This is successful because they are somewhat promoting their new music as opposed to who they are. This therefore shows that they are popular and successful because people already know who they are. In addition to this, the majority of the advertisement is  in black and white and not only is this effective because it means that they are able to advertise it and show it off wherever because black and white are versatile and bold colours, but it also makes it easier to read hence despite being quite a simplistic advertisement, it is effective. Also on the advertisement they have put ratings from magazines therefore when people see it, they are able to see and they know that it is a good album and has been recommended by music magazines. This links into the fact that their band name is at the top and is in bold because this directly tells the viewer/audience whose advertisement it is. The advertisement also gives 3 different types of things you can buy so that you can listen to the album therefore suiting a wider variety of

audiences because they can listen to the album however they like.

Shontelle’s advertisement for her album Shontelligence shows an image of her looking straight at the camera. This image takes up the entire page hence showing that Shontelle is the main focus. The image somewhat portrays Shontelle as this model and this signifies that she is purposefully made to look beautiful and special thus as an audience, we are attracted to her. The fact that it is a black and white image works well with the orange font colour because not only does it suit it because it makes it stand out on the page but it shows what is important and what is not so important on the advertisement; her name is the most important and so is the ‘click to buy now’ thus we are more inclined to buy the album and we instantly know who the album is by. It also makes her look rather feminine thus perhaps attracting both male and females. The fact that we can see her shoulder also somewhat sexualises Shontelle which again relates to her femininity as an artist.

All the text on the cover has also been written in white so it is clear and somewhat bold on the cover because it contrasts the dark image. Like the previous advertisement, it also states the featuring hit singles. This I feel is important and successful because it gives the audience more knowledge as to what will be on the album. It also makes people more inclined to buy the album because there are popular songs on the album and so by having these songs on the advertisement, it allows the audience to connect with the album more.

Rihanna’s advertisement shows her both as rather masculine and feminine; you have this androgynous image. This is because the makeup makes her look quite dangerous and quirky. The short hair and the quite strong and powerful look, facial expression and position on the page makes us as an audience understand the fact that she is different to other female artist; it connotes how she takes risks as an artist and is a unique individual because she is wearing metal jewellery and she has been made up to look quite dark and mysterious. Like the music featured, the advertisement is darker and a lot of feelings and emotions are evoked such as anger and hate. Rihanna is also shown to be fierce. This links into the rest of the advertisement because everything has been written in quite strong, heavy and bold fonts which relates well to the image and Rihanna’s character. The fact that we can only see half of Rihanna’s face also signifies the fact that she is known worldwide and she is easily recognisable. Like the previous covers, the advertisement features the hit singles that her target audience have loved and enjoyed hence by having them on her advertisement, it makes them more inclined to buy the full album because they have already enjoyed some of the songs; they are more tempted and intrigued. The black, white and red colours work well too because they connote her risky and fierce character.

CD / Digi Pak Cover Analysis

 

I am…Sasha Fierce – 2008

Beyoncé’s album cover denotes an image of her topless, holding herself. Her posture signifies that she is a powerful and a strong female character because she is upright and has a stern facial expression. The text also implies power and wealth because it is written in silver and in capitals hence showing that she is successful and a significant individual. It is also quite an elegant and strong font hence again, linking back to the artist.

The fact that she is topless juxtaposes this because it gives this sense of vulnerability hence we are able to connote that Beyoncé is quite an open individual. It also links into her album because her album is rather personal and emotional therefore the fact that she is stripped, suggests that her music within the album will also be quite raw. This links into her success and how her success and popularity means that she is somewhat stripped bare of her personal and own life. As well as this, it could also represent how she is a feminist and how she believes that we are all equal regardless of gender. Therefore the fact that she is covering up her body signifies that she is trying to portray that she is just like everybody else and she doesn’t want her femininity and her body to define her and who she is. In addition, the colour also links into the message because the use of black and white and only this within the front album cover suggests again that she doesn’t want to be defined by her race etc. It connotes this sense of equality and it is also powerful because the black and white suggests that she wanted to emphasise the photo and the message as opposed to the colours used.

Fearless – 2008

Taylor Swift’s album cover denotes an image of her looking away from the camera with her hair blowing around her. The album is called Fearless and the image works well with this because her hair blowing around her makes her somewhat look like a lion hence we can connote that she is a strong and fierce character. It also makes her look wild and fun. Despite this, she also looks quite angelic and young because her hair is in ringlets hence connoting that she is quite childlike and naïve. The image and overall album cover looks quite light hence gives the impression that she is angelic and flawless. The fact that she is wearing quite a revealing dress again signifies her femininity and her vulnerability as an artist. It’s quite a simple cover hence connotes her simplicity as an artist and how she is quite an emotional and personal artist. The colours used light brown, gold, and white, are all quite representative of her background as this country girl therefore connoting that her music is quite natural and she as an artist is too. The bold, white text again signify the fact that she is quite an innocent and emotional artist but it could also connote the fact that she is strong and stands out; she is a different and unique artist. Despite this, the overall look of the cover makes Taylor look feminine and attractive hence appealing to her target audience.

  Nine Track Mind – 2016

Charlie Puth’s album cover denotes an image of him turned to the right wearing a green shirt. The bright yellow background is not only bold which makes the image of the artist stand out on the cover more, but it also signifies his creative and colourful personality and hence could suggest that his music is very upbeat and cheery. Yellow can also connote happiness and joy thus we get positive vibes from Charlie Puth. This contrasts his outfit because he is wearing a shirt and this connotes formality and perhaps even his success because it relates to business. This links into his hair and facial expression because his hair is slicked back and this suggests that he takes pride in his appearance and tries to present himself well all the time. His quite serious facial expression suggests that Charlie is serious about his music career and despite being able to have fun, he takes some things seriously. His position is also important because it somewhat allows us to see more of his mind whereas if he was facing towards the camera, we would focus on his face.

The font has also been written in a really quirky format and this connotes that Charlie has a personality which is unlike any other – he is an individual. It is also thin therefore the emphasis is more on him as opposed to the name; he is almost recognizable just by his face and you don’t need to hear his name to know who he is. This suggests his success and popularity. It is also quite a clean and professional font because it is thin.

Task Brief

For our A2 Media Studies coursework, we were asked to produce a music video and an additional CD / Digi Pak cover for a new artist / band which had to be aimed at our chosen target audience. As well as create, we were asked to research and plan for our music video and cover to ensure that it suited our chosen genre and audience well.