At $7,000,000 Michael & Janet Jackson's hit single Scream is the most expensive music video promo ever made. The representation of gender and sexuality is apparent through the different elements of Mise-en-scène, including camera angle & position, costume & make up. This representation of gender can be in many different forms, including making both male and females look equal, or making the female or male look more dominant and vulnerable than the other.
The representation of gender and sexuality is conveyed through Mise-en-scène. The occurs through many different elements. The first is costume. Costume helps to represent gender and sexuality in different ways. For example, in the music video of Scream, Michael & Janet are dressed very alike, though reasonably odd looking (futuristic clothes). This represents them as equal, as both male and female dressing up very alike. The effect on the audience is that they are likely to think that Michael and Janet are a team, in outer space on a spaceship, both taking an equal part in duties on the ship.
The second element is camera angle & position. There are many worms eye shots used in the video promo on both Michael & Janet Jackson. This is to show dominance and importance of both of the characters, which makes Janet come across as manly and independent. An example of this is at around 2:02 in the video, Janet is sitting in a chair looking down at the camera in front of her singing down into it. This shows proves her independence and dominance to the audience, and helps to show understanding that male and female are equal in the music video. Also, there are other shots taken, for example a shot hanging from the roof upside down is used many times in the video. This shot is used to show difference, difference between reality and what can happen in space. With this kind of camera shot included in the video, the audience will be able to loose their sense of reality and be drawn into the music video – it makes the video more believable. Also, there is a shot at around 1:02 in which the camera is turning round along with Michael Jackson, as if they were in a space ship and floating around. This is used to capture the idea that Michael is In space. The main idea of this is to make the video more believable to the viewers, it gives an effect that the audience actually believes could happen in outer space. This helps to represent gender in a way in which equality is apparent. This happens due to the fact that there is both a male and a female in outer space.
The last element of Mise-en-scène that will be linked to the representation of gender and sexuality is make up. Make up is used in music videos, primarily to sell the artist. It is also used to create effects that are used to make the music video more believable. In Scream, make up is used on both Michael and Janet Jackson to give the effect that they are in outer space and are on a space ship. For example, throughout the video, Michael & Janet both have crazy messed up hair, and have very little make up. This gives the audience reason to believe the video and get into it, because after all, how many astronauts would wear make up? Also, the messy hair adds to the effect, this shows that they have no need to make themselves look presentable, as nobody else is around. This also represents gender due to the fact that both Michael and Janet are very alike in the way they dress, and the way they act. Giving an effect to the audience that they are again, both equals.
In conclusion, these elements of Mise-en-scène show both Michael and Janet Jackson as equal in the music video industry even though their gender is different. The elements are used in music videos primarily to make them more believable to the audience, and help sell the artist and their records. Most of the time this is the case and it is sure to say that if this is done correctly, then the artist is going to be making a substantial profit from their music video.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Task 2 (Research - Genre Comparative Study)
Genre Comparison
Amber Pacific and Yellowcard are both the genre of punk rock. There are many similarities and differences in the two music videos. The first music video I will be looking at, is for a song by Yellowcard which is called Believe. I will be comparing this video to one from Amber Pacific, called Poetically Pathetic.
In the two videos, as they are both from the same genre, they have some typical conventions. For example, in both of the videos, at least some parts of it are focused on the whole band playing and singing into the camera as a whole. This shows the conventions of the genre, this scene appears in most punk rock videos. This also cross references conventions of genre's with selling the artists. The artists will do this to draw people in and show their faces so they will become more recognised. This will inevitably mean that there will be more sales due to the fact that more people will know about them and their music in general.
On the same token, both of these music videos have other story lines that run along side them, which are called parallel narrative. For example, in the Yellowcard video, it is about the 9/11 twin towers act of terrorism. This storyline of how firemen stayed strong and helped people and actually died saving others runs along side another storyline where the band is in a car park singing as a group into a camera. This is also in the Amber Pacific music video due to the fact that whilst they are singing into a camera, this time in a posh house living room, there is also another storyline of two lovers that reverse in time, to when they first met, then get married, and then are old, which is at the start of the video.
Again, in both of these videos there are more similarities. The next similarity is the links between the visuals and the music. In both cases, the music is quite upbeat and fast, and at the same time, the movements of the band are fast, for example their actions – playing an instrument quickly, or dancing. In the Amber Pacific video, the band when seen as a whole inside the posh room are moving very quickly in time with the music. This is also apparent in the Yellowcard video, when the band is playing in the car park, they are doing exactly the same thing. This is because if they were playing their instruments very slowly while the music was very fast, it would look incredibly unconvincing and unrealistic. This helps to sell the artist.
There are more similarities in these two videos. The next is how both of these videos sell the artist. The way in which the artist is sold in both of these videos is not very original. Close up shots of all of the band members are very apparent throughout both videos, whilst at the same time there is even more close up shots used for the main singers. For example when the whole band is playing in the Yellowcard video, there are close ups of the band main singer while he is singing into a microphone, but also a few shots of the band members playing their instruments. This is exactly the same in the Amber pacific video. Also, in these videos, the artist is sold by making them look the part, it is evident that all of the band members hair cuts have been styled and they are likely to be wearing make up. For example in the Amber pacific video, the lead singers hair has been done to suit the type of music to appeal to the right audience, as it is a hair style in which the punk rock genre of people tend to have, as well as other bands. This is the same in the Yellowcard video, the only difference is that the lead singer has gone as far as bleaching his hair to bright blonde.
There is another similarity between the two videos, which is the link between the visuals and the lyrics. In both of the videos, when there is a significant point in the video, there are also lyrics to go with it. For example, in the Yellowcard video, as the band sing, “climbing higher, through the fire, time was running out” there is a fire engine speeding towards the twin towers in the video itself. This trait is also apparent in the Amber Pacific video, the example of this is when the main chorus is sung with the most effort and most affection, it is the point in which the two lovers kiss for the first time, and at this point the lyrics begin with “you bring me out, you show me light”.
In conclusion, there are many similarities between the two different bands because they are from the same genre. It is very typical for these types of bands to have the conventions that they do, as it appeals to their audience, which is primarily the bands aim, which will in turn help them sell many more records, which evidently leads to more money for them.
Amber Pacific and Yellowcard are both the genre of punk rock. There are many similarities and differences in the two music videos. The first music video I will be looking at, is for a song by Yellowcard which is called Believe. I will be comparing this video to one from Amber Pacific, called Poetically Pathetic.
In the two videos, as they are both from the same genre, they have some typical conventions. For example, in both of the videos, at least some parts of it are focused on the whole band playing and singing into the camera as a whole. This shows the conventions of the genre, this scene appears in most punk rock videos. This also cross references conventions of genre's with selling the artists. The artists will do this to draw people in and show their faces so they will become more recognised. This will inevitably mean that there will be more sales due to the fact that more people will know about them and their music in general.
On the same token, both of these music videos have other story lines that run along side them, which are called parallel narrative. For example, in the Yellowcard video, it is about the 9/11 twin towers act of terrorism. This storyline of how firemen stayed strong and helped people and actually died saving others runs along side another storyline where the band is in a car park singing as a group into a camera. This is also in the Amber Pacific music video due to the fact that whilst they are singing into a camera, this time in a posh house living room, there is also another storyline of two lovers that reverse in time, to when they first met, then get married, and then are old, which is at the start of the video.
Again, in both of these videos there are more similarities. The next similarity is the links between the visuals and the music. In both cases, the music is quite upbeat and fast, and at the same time, the movements of the band are fast, for example their actions – playing an instrument quickly, or dancing. In the Amber Pacific video, the band when seen as a whole inside the posh room are moving very quickly in time with the music. This is also apparent in the Yellowcard video, when the band is playing in the car park, they are doing exactly the same thing. This is because if they were playing their instruments very slowly while the music was very fast, it would look incredibly unconvincing and unrealistic. This helps to sell the artist.
There are more similarities in these two videos. The next is how both of these videos sell the artist. The way in which the artist is sold in both of these videos is not very original. Close up shots of all of the band members are very apparent throughout both videos, whilst at the same time there is even more close up shots used for the main singers. For example when the whole band is playing in the Yellowcard video, there are close ups of the band main singer while he is singing into a microphone, but also a few shots of the band members playing their instruments. This is exactly the same in the Amber pacific video. Also, in these videos, the artist is sold by making them look the part, it is evident that all of the band members hair cuts have been styled and they are likely to be wearing make up. For example in the Amber pacific video, the lead singers hair has been done to suit the type of music to appeal to the right audience, as it is a hair style in which the punk rock genre of people tend to have, as well as other bands. This is the same in the Yellowcard video, the only difference is that the lead singer has gone as far as bleaching his hair to bright blonde.
There is another similarity between the two videos, which is the link between the visuals and the lyrics. In both of the videos, when there is a significant point in the video, there are also lyrics to go with it. For example, in the Yellowcard video, as the band sing, “climbing higher, through the fire, time was running out” there is a fire engine speeding towards the twin towers in the video itself. This trait is also apparent in the Amber Pacific video, the example of this is when the main chorus is sung with the most effort and most affection, it is the point in which the two lovers kiss for the first time, and at this point the lyrics begin with “you bring me out, you show me light”.
In conclusion, there are many similarities between the two different bands because they are from the same genre. It is very typical for these types of bands to have the conventions that they do, as it appeals to their audience, which is primarily the bands aim, which will in turn help them sell many more records, which evidently leads to more money for them.
Friday, 19 June 2009
Task One - Music Video Analysis
The music video that I have looked at is by the All – American Rejects. The song is called 'It Ends Tonight'. There are many different conventions, Links between music and lyrics, links between music and video, intertextuality, the selling of the artist and different examples of voyeurism included in the video.
The conventions of the genre of music that it is, are shown throughout the video. The music is quite slow and in a way lonely at times, which is demonstrated through it only being one main character at the beginning. At this point he is a playing a piano.
There are also many links between the visuals and the lyrics. An example of this during the video is when the last chorus is being sung, the words that are sung are “ when darkness turns to light, it ends tonight” as this is being sun the night time turns into daytime with sped up camera shots.
Also, there are many links between the visual and the music. For instance, when the video first starts it is calm, and at the same time there is only one man playing on instrument, but later on in the video when there is a lot of different instruments going on at the same time, there is more people that are playing these instruments as it is more up beat.
There are also many different examples of the artist being sold to the audience in this video. There are many close up shots on the main actors face and also many other shots on the whole bands faces to make them more well known. There is also another example when the main character is not only singing by himself in the middle of the desert, but he is also at the same time the lead character of the story line that goes hand in hand with the song being sung, and the lyrics.
Lastly, there are examples of voyeurism that are shown throughout the music video. An example of this is that the camera mainly focuses on the lead singer's face, to show what he looks like to the audience, mainly aiming this at teenage girls other.
In conclusion, there are many different examples of all of these different ways of showing music videos within the video 'It Ends Tonight' by the All-American Rejects. These are promoted and shown through different camera shots and different ideas and story lines put into the video. This helps to sell the song and also provides entertainment.
The conventions of the genre of music that it is, are shown throughout the video. The music is quite slow and in a way lonely at times, which is demonstrated through it only being one main character at the beginning. At this point he is a playing a piano.
There are also many links between the visuals and the lyrics. An example of this during the video is when the last chorus is being sung, the words that are sung are “ when darkness turns to light, it ends tonight” as this is being sun the night time turns into daytime with sped up camera shots.
Also, there are many links between the visual and the music. For instance, when the video first starts it is calm, and at the same time there is only one man playing on instrument, but later on in the video when there is a lot of different instruments going on at the same time, there is more people that are playing these instruments as it is more up beat.
There are also many different examples of the artist being sold to the audience in this video. There are many close up shots on the main actors face and also many other shots on the whole bands faces to make them more well known. There is also another example when the main character is not only singing by himself in the middle of the desert, but he is also at the same time the lead character of the story line that goes hand in hand with the song being sung, and the lyrics.
Lastly, there are examples of voyeurism that are shown throughout the music video. An example of this is that the camera mainly focuses on the lead singer's face, to show what he looks like to the audience, mainly aiming this at teenage girls other.
In conclusion, there are many different examples of all of these different ways of showing music videos within the video 'It Ends Tonight' by the All-American Rejects. These are promoted and shown through different camera shots and different ideas and story lines put into the video. This helps to sell the song and also provides entertainment.
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