BFI Study Day: follow-up work

BFI Study Day: follow-up work

1) Type up your notes from the day.

Simulacra- An imitation that seems more real than the things it's imitating.

Meta-narrative- A totalising cultural narrative, that organises thought and experiences into a a grand 'story' that makes sense of our lives. 

bell hooks believes that traditionally masculine attitudes and behaviours aren't natural but rather constructed by a patriarchal society. 

Van Zoonen believes that in a patriarchal society women bodies are sexualised and vulnerable whilst men's bodies are sexualised through power and strength. 

Butler believes that gender is a performance: a repeated system of behaviours and costumes that are used so many times they may become seen as 'natural' 

Barthes believes that signs we assume and denotations are actually 'dominant connotations' that hide ideologies. 

Constructing and performing gender: "gender becomes a set of connotations that have become naturalized." Gender roles are constructed, men and women are victimised from a patriarchal society.

Authors 'encode' their work with meaning. Audiences often do not decode meanings the way a texts creator intended, same from negotiated or even oppositional meanings. 

2) Write a one-sentence summary of the ideas of the theorists Matthew Daintrey-Hall covered (you can use your notes from task 1 here if relevant):

Bell hooks: Traditionally, masculine attitudes and behaviours aren't natural but constructed by a patriarchal society.


Liesbet van Zoonen: In a wpatriarchal society, women's bodies are being sexualised and become vulnerable whilst men are sexualised through power and strength.

Judith Butler: Believes that gender is a performance; a repeated system of behaviours and costumes that are used so many times they may become seen as natural.

Saussure: Saw society as a system of institution and social norms that form a collective system that provides conditions for meaning-making and hence decisions and actions for individuals.

Barthes: Believes that signs we assume and denotations are actually 'dominant connotations' that hide ideologies. 

Stuart Hall: Says that audience members adopt one of the following positions when they decode the text
- Dominant/Preferred Reading
- Oppositional Reading
- Negotiated Reading

Lyotard: Believes a totalising cultural narrative, that organises thought and experiences into a 'grand 'story' that makes sense of our lives.

Baudrillard: Hyperreality – a condition in which ‘reality’ has been replaced by simulacra.” 
Simulacra- Imitation that seems more real than the things it's imitating.

3) Choose one of the films we saw extracts from and watch the whole movie: Captain Fantastic (2016), Pulp Fiction (1994) or Inception (2010). Write a 300 word analysis of your chosen film using theories from the study day (use the exam paragraph structure we were shown on the day - theory introduction, examples from text, why this 'proves' or 'disproves' the theory).

Music Video theory - blog tasks

Music Video theory - blog tasks

 

1) How does the This Is America video meet the key conventions of a music video?

Meets the conventions of a music video as you see a lot of performance which expected in a music video. They've included dancers in the background along side the main character and each group is wearing a different set of costumes which could all be used to convey different messages. 

2) What comment is the video making on American culture, racism and gun violence?

The main focus of the music video is black people and black lives as they are the ones being continuously shown.
At 2 minutes when he shoots down people and walks by the police normally, it could be a strategy he's implied to indirectly suggest that this is how people are getting away with crimes and the police don't even spot criminals. 
Gun violence is an issue in America as normal people are allowed to hold possession of them as long as they have a license; this video sends the message across as to how people are misusing this freedom they have.

3) Write an analysis of the video applying the theories we have learned: Gilroy, Hall, Rose and Dyson. 

Dyson has suggested that political hip hop didn't gain the credit/recognition it deserved which is why political hip hop has become like this now; however this music video challenges his suggestion as it carries out a social message that needs to be heard.

Read this Guardian feature on This Is America - including the comments below.

4) What are the three interpretations suggested in the article?

- He’s playing Jim Crow
- He’s duping us with dance 
- He’s taking on the police

5) What alternative interpretations of the video are offered in the comments 'below the line'? 

- 'Nope, he’s bang on the money. Like it or not, that’s all you’re projecting with your comments so far.'

- 'Great video and music. I think it's quite obvious what the song means. Not much 'satirical' about it. Pretty literal to me. Being black in America is deadly.'

Common - Letter to the Free blog tasks

Common - Letter to the Free blog tasks

Social and cultural context

Read this Billboard interview where Common talks about Letter to the Free, political hip hop and contemporary American society. Use the article and the notes we have made in lessons (also available above) to answer the following questions on the social, cultural and genre contexts for Letter to the Free.

1) What other projects has Common been involved in over recent years?

Common performs at Tribeca Talks where he also performed his song 'Letter to the Free'

2) What is the 13th Amendment of the American Constitution?

It is the law that was inputted in the US to abolish slavery in 1865.

3) What were the Black Codes?

Laws passed onto the States to restrict African Americans' freedom, and made them have to work in a labour economy based on low wages.

4) Why do people suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect to American culture 150 years after it was abolished by the 13th Amendment?

Because regardless of the law being inputted years ago, there is still unfairness and racism against black people in the States. 

It is also believed that the system works against black lives as black people tend to get sent to prison more easily and seem to be having to spend more years in prison for small things than Caucasians would have to. Statistics show that more black people seem to be getting into prison than to university.

5) Why was Ava DuVernay inspired to make the Netflix documentary 13th?

“It started as just an exploration of the prison industrial complex and the profit—prison for profit-punishment for profit. I was always disturbed and fascinated by and furious with what we were not talking about the fact that, you know multi-billion dollar companies were profiting off of black bodies and people from my community, in prison,”

6) Focusing on genre, what was the most significant time period for the rise in political hip hop?

It was developed in the 1980's as it was inspired by political preachers from the 1970's.

7) Common talks about other current artists that have a political or protest element to their music. Who are they? Are there any other hip hop artists that you are aware of that have a strong political element to their work?

- Kendrick Lamar
- Chance (the rapper)
They both speak in consciousness and put a voice of revolution or to say 'this is how we're changing things' even though they know this isn't necessarily what people are looking for when they listen to hip-hop.

8) What album is Letter to the Free taken from? What was the critical reception for this album? You'll need to research this - the Wikipedia entry for the album is a good place to start.

- The song is from the album 'Black American Again'

- The album received widespread acclaim from critics

-  "Although there's no hit to rival the Selma soundtrack epic, "Glory", and a reunion with its vocalist John Legend is the worst of furrowed-brow, gluten-free beat poetry, this is intelligent, impressive work.

Close-textual analysis and representation

1) How does the Letter to the Free music video use cinematography to create meanings for the audience? (Camera shots and movement).

The camera shots change from long shot, medium angle, close ups etc. so that we can get to see the location (surroundings) from the long shots, medium angle puts the focus on the person in the scene, and close-ups allows audiences' to have a look at the persons facial expressions where they could pick up more messages from and understand the characters emotions.

2) What is the significance of the constantly moving camera?

The significance is that is sows different parts of the location instead of staying in one place so audiences get to see the setting as well and that would also convey messages to them e.g. when they showed a prison cell. The camera work also constantly changes as different singers or musicians come into the song. Another reason for the camera constantly moving is so that they can feature all the artists involved in the music video.

3) Why is the video in black and white?

The black and white video creates a dull and serious atmosphere which sets the mood for the music video as they carrying out a serious message. 

It could also be because they are talking about things in the past such as the 13th and how they believe things still have't really changed years down the line.

4) How is mise-en-scene used to construct meaning for the audience - prison setting, costume, props, lighting, actor placement?

Mise-en-scene is used to reinforce black culture e.g. when one of the musicians is scene playing an African drum. All the characters are dressed in 'normal' outdoor wear which you see in America which could be represent they are the same as everyone else. They have used low-key lighting to create the mood as this music video isn't intended to create a bright, happy feel as they are talking about black life struggles and inequalities. 

5) Focusing on the track, what are the key lyrics that suggest the political message of the song?

'Slavery's still alive, check amendment 13' which suggests that although the law was made 150 years ago, slavery still exists in the name of 'criminals' rather than directly referring to it as slavery.   

6) What is the significance of the floating black square motif? Discuss your own interpretations alongside Common's explanation of it in the Billboard feature linked above.

The floating square could be used to represent a shadow over black in the States all throughout their lives as it is being shown throughout the music video. 

7) How does the video reference racism, slavery and the oppression of black culture? Make reference to specific shots, scenes or moments in the video.

It references them from 1.25 to 1.45 when the singer mentions how families were separated during slavery and how police still hold black people on suspicion and they get treated like criminals due to their colour.

8) How can Gilroy's idea of black diasporic identity be applied to Common's Letter to the Free?

Gilroy's theory can be applied to Letter to the Free as it is suggesting the message that black people still don't feel like they fit in due to race issues.

9) What other theories of race and ethnicity can be applied to this video? E.g. Hall, Rose or Dyson.

You can argue that stereotypes have been challenged in this music video because hip hop music s typically used to represent hood culture and create a bad image of black people whereas this video has been used to carry out a social message. Michael Eric Dyson has also previously spoken about these stereotypes.

10) What current events in America and worldwide are referenced in the song and video?

'Make America Great Again' which Donald Trump's phrase however black people are still getting treated unfairly. 

Music Video introduction blog task

Music Video introduction blog task

1) What is the purpose of a music video?

Its purpose is to sell products, the most obvious of which is the song featured in the video. There are also other connected products that are also marketed by a music video. For example, the album the song is featured on, the film the song is part of the soundtrack for, an upcoming tour by the artist and merchandise like t-shirts.

2) How has the digital age changed the production and distribution of music videos?

The development of new media technologies meant that music videos, and the songs along with them, were more widely available at any time. Videos could be uploaded to video hosting sites like YouTube and viewed using portable media devices such as mobile phones and iTouch devices, allowing audiences to see the video and hear the song whenever and wherever they liked.

3) Which three major record labels are behind VEVO? What is VEVO and why was it created?

 Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Media. It is a video hosting site specifically for music videos. The content of Vevo is syndicated to YouTube.

4) What are the key conventions of a music video?

The purpose of a music video is to encourage viewers to purchase a copy of the song featured and other products associated with the artist.

5) How can narrative be used in music video? Give an example of a music video that uses a narrative.

The storyline may relate to the song’s lyrics and illustrate what is being said or be independent from the song and tell a different story. An example would be Dilemma by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland.

6) What examples are provided in the factsheet for intertextuality in music videos?

Such references may be very obvious, such as the way that the Blink 182 video for All the Small Things makes references to videos by pop artists such as Back Street Boys (I Want it That Way) and Christina Aguilera (Genie in a Bottle) by directly copying scenes.

7) Why do audiences enjoy intertextual references in media products?

References can also be more esoteric and obscure, allowing the audience to feel pleasure when they recognize the reference.

8) Read the music video example analysis on page 3 of the factsheet. Select a music video of your own choice and write your own analysis using the following headings:

• Conventions (movement/narrative/artist) - The song 'Thinking out Loud- Ed Sheeran' is a music video made to promote the product; being the song and also the artist who sang it as it features him in the video. He is seen lip syncing to the song in the music video so that people are aware it is him that sung the song.

• Intertextuality - The music video intended to promote the song itself, the artist who sang the song and the album that the song was a part of. 

• Representation - Ed Sheeran is shown throughout the whole music video as he is the main artist. He is seen dancing with another woman as it links to the storyline as if he is singing the song for her. They are being represented as a couple as the song takes on a romantic genre. 

• Audience - The target audience for this song would be a bit more of mature audience over the age of 16 as they would more likely enjoy this type of slow, romantic music. Most of their audience would also most likely be middle class white people as they have only shown white people in the music video which may be to connote who their target audience are.

• Institution - 'Thinking out Loud' was released on YouTube by VEVO as they are the main distributors of music on YouTube and Google especially in the UK.

9) Watch the video for Ice Cube's It Was A Good Day (1993). How did this video set the conventions for later hip-hop music videos?

The music video mainly featured the artist and the storyline was based on what's happening in his life and what he's singing about in the song. 
This music video has also set a thug, gangster representation for hip hop music where it started off with a family, then slightly showed audiences life on the streets, black stereotypes when the police start following them, then when to a funeral followed by a woman being represented as a sex item. They have used conventions to represent what's known as the hood life or how black people were thought of being in those times. 

 

10) How important do you think music videos are in the marketing and promotion of music artists in 2018? Are music videos essential to a band or artist's success?

Music videos are important in these days as it allows artists to promote their music by including visuals, sometimes even if the music isn't great is audiences enjoy the visuals in the music video, they may still watch it. Audiences are also aware of who the artist is by watching music videos as it easier to remember artists by how they look rather than by name this would also help them find other songs made by the same artist. Music videos are also used a sort of teaser to promote one or some of the songs in an album so that customers can then purchase the album to listen to the rest of the songs if they enjoy the song they heard for free. 

My favourite music video

My favourite music video

This is my favourite music video as the scenary’s are unique, they begin by showing a snake and mouse in the beginning of the music video which is a unique beginning that you wouldn’t tend to usually see in music videos as it would be thought of as odd-putting. The editing and visual effects is also done well as they have this melting effect in the background when it comes to the car, the trees etc. which shows advanced-tech and tells audience that they are ahead of the game. The music video also comets of s normal; average pace of editing as the song isn’t slow and the visuals aren’t constantly changing so audiences get a chance to digest what is happening. They also tend to long and medium shots so that you can see the background and the actors aren’t just the main focus.

TV index: Capital & Deutschland 83

TV index: Capital & Deutschland 83

1) Introduction to TV Drama

2) Capital: Case study

3) Capital: Marxism and Hegemony

4) Capital: Applying Marxism

5) Deutschland 83: Case study

6) Deutschland 83: Close-textual analysis notes

7) Deutschland 83: Postmodernism

8) Industries: The rise of foreign-language TV dramas

9) Industries: The impact of new/digital media on television

10) TV: 750-word exam question

The impact of new/digital media on TV: blog task

The impact of new/digital media on TV: blog task

1) What does the 'industry' concept in A Level Media Studies refer to?

'Industry' refers to the companies that create and distribute media texts, the standard practices of media production, as well as the regulatory and legal frameworks in which the companies operate.

2) What does David Hesmondhalgh argue with regards to how the creative industries have changed since the 1980s?

He states that there has been a significant shift in cultural production. 

3) Choose the three most significant points Hesmondhalgh makes regarding the changing cultural industries. Why are these the most significant in your view?

- Niche audiences are increasingly targeted. This shows that the market is starting to grow and there are media productions being made to suit nearly everyone now.

- Digitisation has allowed the technology sector to compete directly with traditional media companies. This shows that there is space even for smaller productions in the market now, newer trends and changes are able to compete with traditional market meaning they are now just as good and getting onto high levels.

- There has been an increase in media corporations owning companies in different sectors of the industry. Large companies are producing content suitable for more than one target group; the business as a whole has a mass market although they are producing different content being aimed at niche markets.

4) What is technological convergence? 

Media technological convergence is the tendency that as technology changes, different technological system sometimes evolve toward performing similar tasks.

5) How are technology companies challenging traditional broadcasters in the TV industry?

Technology companies haven’t had to invest vast amounts of money in a distribution network, such as cable or satellite. They also use the internet which means the whole world has access to view their content; getting them more views and fans around the world compared to traditional broadcasters.

6) What budgets will Netflix, Amazon and Apple spend on original programming next year according to the article?

- Netflix plans to spend $8bn on original material

- Amazon’s budget is estimated at $4.5bn

- Apple has recently joined the fray with a $1bn spend.

7) How many countries are Netflix and Amazon available in?

- Netflix launched itself in 130 new countries and is now available in 190 countries.

- Amazon is open in 200 countries.

8) The global nature of modern television means producers are having to consider international audiences when creating content. What example from Netflix does the article use to explain this?

Netflix have created a Japanese version of one of their successful series 'Stranger Things' so that non-english speakers can enjoy the show without having to use subtitles. 

9) Do you think technology companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon will increase their interest in the television industry?

In 2017 Facebook launched Watch, which hosted original ‘reality TV’ programming. Google has yet to make the same move, obviously satisfied with the amount of money it makes from serving up other people’s material; from YouTube and the search engine. 

10) How do changes in technology influence the creation of TV dramas such as Capital or Deutschland 83? How?

The changes in technology have influenced shows such as Capital and Deutschland 83 as they are now able to reach out to a larger group of audience and have global viewers as online streaming gives people in other countries access to watch the series. 

People are more influenced to create different types of content as they are able to research and get an overview of what types of shows people are now enjoying or how to target their niche or mass audience and produce content to suit them and also market it in a form so that it reaches out to them.