a-ha Take On Me

Being a huge 80s fan, I like to see what the videos were like in comparison with the modern day. I think that this video by a-ha has a great concept and seems very advanced for the era. Take on me was released in 1985 and sold 500,000 copies in the UK. The video also required a lot of effort in making. The band was actually put in touch with Mike Patterson - an animation artist from Warner Brothers in Los Angeles. He drew each of the different frames and used the rotoscope technique to build the image. This is where the drawings are constructed over live action frame by frame. Mike drew over 3,000 drawings for this video and the song and video were a great hit, especially in the US where it was played on MTV for a year.

I like this video because it combines reality with sketch. It is interesting to watch and it fascinates me to think that these sorts of techniques were used in the 80s. Although watching the video you can see it is from the 80s, it is still a video I would expect to see in the modern day. I like that this video is abstract in the fact that it is not something you would expect to see and I think the animation of the video has helped to make the narrative more interesting.

Music Timeline

Importance of a music video

This diamond structure expresses the importance of a music video by rank in the opinion of myself and my classmates. At the top of the structure lies the most important factor and at the bottom lies the least important.

Research into the music video industry

9 Key Frames

Genre Shopping List

Song Choices

Song Choices.docx by chc1312

Lip Sync

This is our lip syncing video that we made. We were asked to sing the lyrics to Carly Rae Jepson's Call Me Maybe. This way we could practice our lip syncing for our main music video that we are making. The task was easy to do however when we make our final video we will ensure that we have enough lip syncing footage so that the entire clip looks effective and now jumpy like the one we have created. Overall, it was a useful experience that helped me to get an idea of what it would be like to try and create a music video singing along to words.

Evaluation of A Level Music Videos

This video has multiple editing techniques and addition of animation which enhance the video. However, there are aspects of the video that make it less successful. The use of slow motions works effectively within the action as it allows the audience to focus on what is happening and it highlights the action in the scene. One issue with this video is that the lighting is used very effectively. In the beginning of the clip when the male is singing, the lighting within the frame made it very difficult to see his face and therefore difficult to identify whether he was singing or not. This means that it becomes harder to see what his character is and what his role was at that time. Another issue was that the lip syncing was slightly off in the edit. This means that the words are not being sung properly and therefore makes the piece look out of sync. Although the characters were defined throughout the piece, the lack of sync between the music and the singing made the piece look rushed and amateur. In this video, the conventions of a music video are also challenged. Generally, music video's will have the credits at the beginning of the clip however this video had them at the end. I don't think this worked particularly well as it looked as though the credits were forgotten and quickly added on at the end. I think that the group could have benefitted from more time put into the making of their film and a stronger plan before hand to ensure that everything runs smoothly and then if necessary, re takes can be made.

I like this video. I think that the lip syncing has worked extremely well. The girl pronounces every word properly which makes the idea of her 'singing' the song much  more believable. The video is also very simple using only a green screen as the majority focus within the video. It shows that videos do not need to be complex to be effective. The use of stop motion also shows that the individual can use a range of techniques when producing a music video. One thing that I think could be improved about the video is a short shot within the chorus where the girl breaks eye contact with the camera whilst singing. In my opinion it looks as if she has forgotten the words and is looking at a prompt to help her remember. I think it would have been better to reshoot the scene however it does not have a major impact on the rest of the video as I think the entire thing works effectively.

Infographic about music videos

Music Videos  | Infographics

Dyer Essay - To what extent does a pop stars image influence their audience.

Dyer’s star theory suggests that pop stars are created and manipulated by their managers and are a construction of what is believed to be a ‘pop star’. Pop stars are not ‘real’ people. They are based upon an idea that is generated by society and then they are moulded into this idea.

Managers make a pop star unique to appeal to their audience. Certain characteristics or personalities are connected with the pop star which then makes them an icon. There are many examples which support the unique style of a pop star, both past and modern. Madonna is a very well-known and popular artist. She was particularly prevalent during the late eighties and nineties. Through these eras her appearance changed many times and even now there is a definite difference in her appearance and personality.  Madonna is remembered for wearing a golden cone shape bra. People who support Madonna would have seen this item of clothing as iconic and may have even bought or made one for themselves.  When she was switching through phases, particularly for different songs, her audience may have copied her looks to feel more connected with her.

Without a unique aspect, Dyer said that the individual would not be a successful music artist. This is because they have nothing about themselves to stand out so a development of a connection between the audience and the artist becomes very difficult to construct. It is difficult to relate to a person who has no appeal and so their popularity will begin to decrease.

This demonstrates that having a unique image is important for being successful and that it has a major impact on the audience. If there is no appeal, the audience are not interested. This suggests that the audience want something to imitate or to work towards to become like a person and so an image of some kind is imperative.

Dyer identified the concept of fandom and the idea that people could be more than just a ‘fan’ of an artist or group. Fandom relates to obsession with artists whereby the love for the music and idolising the artist is developed to extremes. Fandom can be seen, in some ways, as stalking. It is a lengthened obsession where the fans want to be just like the artists. They attend every gig and wait for hours before and after shows to see them, even if the chances are slim. They adopt features of the artist which make them feel closer on a personal level. However, these features may not even be real; they may be purposely manipulated onto the artist as they know it will make an appeal to the audience.

This shows that the image of a pop star is incredibly influential upon the audience. If there is an aspect of an artist that is abstract or no one has seen it before, their audience is more likely to pick up on it and want to incorporate it into their own image.

Overall the image of a pop star is highly influential upon their audience. An image is needed for success as this attracts audience attention. Sometimes, attention can be negative however; attention is still being given which still therefore promotes the artist. An image is an icon and people look up to their icons. A unique image provides this iconic factor which helps the audience to relate and feel as a part of the group.

Jonathan Glazer

Analysis Of A Music Video - Script

I am analysing Eminem’s music video for Stan.  The video was directed by Philip Atwell and Dr Dre and was released in the UK March 2002. The structure for this video is a narrative meaning that it tells a story through the visuals. The video denotes a woman trying to regain the love of her obsessed boyfriend who is dedicating all of his time and attention to his idol, Eminem.

There is little evidence of Propp’s theory within this video. Characters that are present include the hero, which is Eminem, the villain that is Stan and the princess which is Dido.

Todorov's theory can be applied to this video. The beginning of the video demonstrates an equilibrium in which both characters are living together and tolerating each other. Neither character is happy – She wants him back and he wants Eminem but nevertheless there was still an equilibrium. She was also pregnant with his child and they were going to build a family together. This then becomes disrupted when Stan gets upset one day as Eminem does not reply to his letters and so he kidnaps his girlfriend and puts her in the boot of his car. He is torturing her along the journey and then drives over the edge of a bridge. The new equilibrium is the death of both characters.

Strauss's theory of binary opposition can be seen through this video. There is an element of famous VS non - famous whereby Eminem is the famous character and Stan is the non - famous character. The use of these opposites demonstrate Stan's desire for fame and his desire for Eminem. Also, because each of the characters look alike, the binary opposition helps to create an idea that Eminem was once just like Stan. The way they dress is the same and the way they talk is the same. This could be where Stan became inspired by Eminem and then fell in love with him.

Another example of a binary opposition within this video is male VS female. The male being Stan and the female being Dido. They compete against each other for what they want out of their lives. In the end, Stan believes he has won, he kidnaps his girlfriend which therefore prevents her from getting what she wants. This conforms to a stereotype of males and dominant over females. However, the fact that they both die suggests that  no body wins as neither one get what they desire.

Goodwin's theory of the 6 features that a media text must have can also be recognised throughout this piece. In several parts of the video, there are connections between the music video and the lyrics.

(In this part of the video Dido sings 'it will all be grey' and as this happens the camera pans across the pictures of Eminem on the wall and they are seen in a grey scale colour)

(In this part of the video Stan is saying how 'he got a tattoo with your name across the chest' and the visuals show him getting a tattoo of Eminem's nick name 'Slim Shady'.)

(in this part of the video, Stan is singing about when he met Eminem and the visuals then take the audience to the music store where Eminem was signing autographs. This is where Stan gets to meet and hug his idol for the first time)

A final example of the relationship between the lyrics and video Is when Stan is saying 'sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds'. At this point, there is a picture of a red handprint on a blank page which looks as if it had been covered in blood and pressed onto the paper.

Another element is voyeurism. This is where aspects of the video look as if they have been filmed without the actor knowing they are there. An example of this can be seen here when Dido is sitting on the floor and singing. She isn't looking at the camera and it seems that she doesn't realise it is there. This could also be seen when she sits on the toilet. This is a private situation that is not filmed as it is very personal.

Voyeurism can also be seen when Stan is in the basement looking at the 'shrine' he has created for Eminem.  Again, it is a personal moment for Stan and is not something that would be shared with everyone.

Iconography must be seen in a music video for it t be successful. Iconography can be seen through the appearance of Eminem. Eminem has blonde hair and at the beginning of the video we see that Stan dyes his hair blonde. This shows that he sees Eminem as an icon and wants to be like him. Also, throughout the song, Stan sings a line saying that his brother is a big fan of Eminem, even bigger than he is. This is then recognised at the end of the video when his brother takes down his hood in the cemetery and has blonde highlights in his hair.

It is also important for the video to display close ups of the artist. This promotes the artist and gives the audience an image to remember and identify with. Close ups of Eminem can be seen here (3.41) and here (6.23). His face is clear in the shot each time and is the only focus within the frame. It helps the audience to remember his face. Also, because it promotes him as an artist, if they see his album in a shop with his face on in, they are more likely to link it back with the video and therefore buy the album.

Dyers theory of fandom suggests that people share a love for a specific topic. Stan is a clear fan of Eminem and this can be seen through many aspects of the film. The idea of fandom can also be said to be extreme where the fan becomes infatuated with artist and does obsessive things.

Stan has become obsessive of Eminem. He has a room dedicated to Eminem where the walls are covered in his pictures. He always sends letters to him hoping for a reply, not realising that has a famous person, he does not always have time t read and reply. Stan also got a tattoo of Eminem's nick name 'Slim Shady' across his chest. This connotes a commitment to Eminem and the idea that he will never leave him. It also shows that Eminem is a part of him and that part will never die.

Stan also explains during the song how he cuts himself to see how much it bleeds. He cuts himself for Eminem so that he can get a thrill out of what he is doing. It could also be used as a sympathy line to gain attention from Eminem and see if it will affect his chances of being with him.

Stan is in love with Eminem so much that he even sticks pictures of them together to make them look like a couple. This sort of action is not stereotypical of a grown man but more of a teenage girl. Nevertheless, it still shows how Stan feels about Eminem and what he wants to happen in the future.

Everywhere Stan looks, Eminem is there. Not only is there pictures around his basement, the small television always plays footage of Eminem. Another way in which this can be seen is in the car. When he takes his girlfriend a picture can be seen hanging from the centre mirror; it is an image of Eminem. When the car crashed, the image falls to the grown connoting that as they have died, the love for Eminem has also died and he does not exist in Stan's life anymore.

Dyer also said that artists must have a uniqueness which makes them different from everybody else. Eminem is unique in several ways and one of them is the fact that he is white. Stereotypically, when Eminem first came into rap, all other rap artists were black. He was the first white artist which definitely made him stand out from the crowd. As a result of being so different, it could be said that this is why Stan fell for him so much. Eminem had the courage to stand up and do what we wanted and so Stan wants to do the same thing.

Eminem's blonde hair is also iconic to Eminem. The hair represents his youth and how he portrayed himself when he was younger. Now, Eminem has gone back to his natural hair colour and is becoming a mature artist that is representative of his age.

Propp's Theory

Todorov's Theory

Todorov said that every media text has to have a narrative of at least three stages. The first stage is equilibrium. This is where everything is normal and nothing is wrong. The next stage is the disruption. This is where the equilibrium is ruined or disrupted. The final stage is the new equilibrium. This is where the problem has been resolved and a new happiness has taken place.

This video expresses Todorov's theory at the very beginning of the video. To start, the two characters have landed in the jungle. This is the equilibrium. The male character then gets eaten by a tiger which represents the disruption of the equilibrium. The female character realises that he has been attacked and so she runs away. She then reaches a new equilibrium whereby she feels comfortable in the jungle and acts as a 'queen' of the jungle.

Goodwin's Theory

Auteur Theory

Quentin Tarantino

An auteur is a person that has their own unique style of work that can be identified within different media texts. An example of an auteur is Quentin Tarantino. His style is based around the chronology of media texts whereby he pieces together his film in non - chronological order. This means that the sequences are not in time order and so the text jumps between what is happening and what has already happened.

Michael Bay

Michael Bay has worked with both film and music video and is also known as an auteur. Michael Bay directed the film 'Transformers' and also the music video 'Anything for love' by Meatloaf. His unique style is using explosions to attract the attention of the audience and make the story progress. 

Claude Levi - Strauss

Claude Levi Strauss came out with a theory which says that all media text must contain binary opposition. This is where two opposites are intentionally or unintentionally involved in a conflict against each other. An example of an intentional conflict is Good vs. Bad. Other oppositions include male vs. female, rich vs. poor and lucky vs. unlucky.

Barthe's Theory

Roland Barthes was a French theorist who believed that all naratives have a structure which brings the piece together in several ways. Barthes suggested that there are 5 different codes which help to generate meaning in a narrative. These are:

Action Codes - This code refers to action within a narrative and how a resolution is produced through action.

Enigma Codes - This code teases the audience by presenting a riddle or puzzle for the audience to think about or solve.

Semic Code - This refers to the denotation of the image/imagery.

Symbollic Code - This refers to the connotation of the image/imagery.

Cultural Code - A device used in which the audience can recognise and relate to.

Dyer's Theory

Richard Dyer was an English academic born in 1945. He specialises in cinema and is a professor of film studies at Kings College University, London. His theory was known as the star theory and this was also presented in his 1979 book 'Stars'.

Richard Dyer stated that the terms pop performer and pop stars have become interchangeable but in fact they have two separate definitions. Pop performers are forced to be a pop star. By this, Dyer means that artists are forced into a new image which the managers believe represent the industry and genre they are a part of.

A pop star must have a unique selling point to be successful. This can be seen through both old and new artists. For example, Madonna's golden cone bra gave her something that her fans could replicate as did the beehive of the late Amy Winehouse.

Dyer said that a true pop star is someone who can last. Again, examples of these include Madonna, Prince, Bon Jovi, David Bowie and The Beatles.

Richard Dyer also said that there is no formula for construction and that managers make a pop performer into a pop star based upon an image that does not exist. There is no set way in which a pop artist must look, it is simply the managers beliefs that they must be manipulated into an image which makes the special. In short, pop stars are not real people. They are fake. The real person lies within the pop performer.







'A star is an image not a real person that is constructed (as ant other aspect of fiction is) out of a range of materials (eg. advertising, magazines etc as well as films [music])'
Richard Dyer 1979





Ideology and Culture

Stars can influence their audience by the decisions that they make. The life of a pop star is constantly under scrutiny and not their work itself. Aspects of a pop star that impact on their audience are things such as their image including what they wear and how they portray themselves. An example of this is the Jonas Brothers. They began wearing purity rings to show that they were pure men. This then led all of their fans to also wear purity rings as a sign of recognition and loyalty. Another example is Rihanna. She has a star tattoo running from her neck down her back. The star tattoo on the neck then became popular with a lot of people around the world, further showing their devotion to the star.

Character and Personality

A star begins as a real person and is then constructed into someone who is false and unreal. Pop stars can be seen as actors, especially as many of then change their image to suit eras or phases. Receiving publicity keeps a star in the spotlight regardless of whether it is positive or negative. An example of this would be Rihanna. When she first came on to the scene at 16 she was a 'girly' teenager who was just finding her feet within the singing industry. She then went through a phase of a dominant woman who was very hard looking and fierce. From then, she turned almost gothic and quite scary before proceeding to a phase of erotic and sexual. This is where Rihanna is now in the current day.

Within a character, it is also common for some artists to create their own alter egos or characters. an example of this is David bowie and his Ziggy Stardust personality.

Fandom

Fandom is used to describe a subculture which have a common interest in a certain topic. Many artists have a fan base which support them throughout every thing that they do. However, there are also times when fans become too attached to artists that it becomes almost dangerous to the individual and sometimes other people. An example of fandom that has pushed boundaries is stalking, copying an image that can effect your health or have financial impacts and having a mind set to harm others over the artist or group.

Fast and Furious 6

The song 'We own it' by Wiz Khalifa and 2 Chainz is the theme song for the movie Fast and Furious 6. Originally I heard the song on the radio and thought it was catchy. Later that day I went to the cinema to see Fast and Furious 6 and I heard the song at the beginning of the film. Having never seen any Fast and Furious films before, I instantly decided that I liked the film purely based on the fact that the song was associated. This is an example of how synergy has worked well in my circumstance. As a result of this, I downloaded the single on iTunes and I will be buying the film when it is released in mid September.

Purpose Of Music Videos

Music Video Structures

Narrative

A narrative structure is where the music video tells a story which doesn't necessarily have to be parallel to the song that is being played.

Narrative videos are usually used by a range of different genres. The example above is pop genre but other examples can be used. For example: Bon Jovi - Always is a rock song and Rihanna - Take a bow is an RnB song.

Performance

A performance structure is where the film is based around some sort of performance by the singer or by characters within the video.



Performance strutures can be used in any music video genre. The above video is from a techno band and they use each different group of people to represent an instrument within the song.

Abstract

An abstract video is where the content within the video has no real relevance to the song that is being played.



This song is of pop genre and is named 'California Gurls' however the video appears to be a boardgame made of sweets in which humans are used as the characters. There is no correlation between the theme of hte video and the song which therefore makes it abstract.

Hybrid

A hybrid structure music video is made of a mixture of 2 or more sturctures. For example, the music video could be both performance and narrative. This would be the case if the video told a story and had focus on the singer performing in the video.

(Warning - Use of explicit language)

This song is of RnB and Rap genre however is uses both a performance and a narrative structure within the video. It is also common for other genres to use this structue for their music videos.

My Favourite Music Video

My favourite music video is 'Bon Jovi - Always'. This video has a hybrid structure in which the majority of the video is a narrative with interval scenes focused on the main singer - Jon Bon Jovi, singing the lyrics to the song. This structure is performance.

I like this video because of how the narrative matches the song. It has a great relationship to the lyrics and gives the audience a real feel for the emotions behind the lyrics. The video also allows you to empathise with both of the main characters of the piece. The lyrics are coming from the point of view of a man who cheated on his girlfriend. The video helps the audience to understand how he is feeling when the words match his mood. The video also allows the audience to understand how the female is feeling after being cheated on and this is mainly portrayed through the video and narrative itself.