NARRATIVE THEORY

TODOROV'S NARRATIVE THEORY is divided into five different elements:

1)EQUILIBRIUM (happy balance)

2)DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM (when something goes wrong)

3)RECOGNITION OF THIS DISRUPTION

4)AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE EQUILIBRIUM IS MADE

5)EQUILIBRIUM IS RESTORED OR A NEW EQUILIBRIUM IS ESTABLISHED (when the balance is obtained again after something goes wrong)

This music video titled Hozier 'From Eden' suits very well with the Todorov's theory as it follows the sequence. The video starts of with the happy balance of a family. Then the disruption takes place once they try to brake into a private property. The disruption is recognised and attempted to repair. Although the man character is the disruption the equilibrium is restored through the rest of the family. We can also say that a new one is obtained as the woman and the child are forming a new, balanced and happy relationship.

CUTTING TO BEAT

This is a final response to the task titled 'cutting to beat'. Our aim was to practise editing skills in relation to the speed of the soundtrack. After choosing a song we have collected around fifteen secondary images which we have then combined with the soundtrack.

This task will definetly help me with the final product as I am going to be able to cut to beat various scenes after recording my own music video. Besides, I will be able to develop better quality product as I already have some idea about the editing process. Depending on the beat speed the cuts will be slower or faster. This is not going to be a problem as I know how to accuratly put the scenes or images in place. Furthermore, I used Adobe Premier in order to practise skills such as importing files or exporting the video which is also important in order to keep high quality of the files. This task also improved my understanding of the software which is going to be vital in the soonest future during while editing my final product.

WHAT IS A MUSIC GENRE AND HOW WE DEFINE IT?

DIFFERENT MUSIC GENRES & THEIR ASSOCIATIONS / CONVENTIONS

WHAT IS A MUSIC GENRE?

A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions.Music is perceived through its physical properties, which are affected by things like the instruments used, the recording and processing techniques employed, and the creative decisions regarding structure and format (time signature, having verses or choruses or bridges or whatnot, what kind of role the output intends to fulfill, etc). Another element which we tend to identify a music genre is through mise-en-scene. This can include a certain style, behavior characteristics, interests and so on. This is often associated with social stereotypes which build up associations to a certain music genre. Here are some examples:

This is a brainstorm representing rap associations which significantly identify genre's characteristics such as muscularity, swearing, graffiti, violence, money or clothing including hoodies, tracksuit, expensive trainers or bandannas. All these characteristics have been developed over years by media institutions including magazines, TV or music videos. These negative representations have been also developed through stereotypes which portray rapers in a negative light of crime including violence or vandalism. This can be supported through their mise-en-scene such as hoodies which hide their facial features (showing relation to crime), gold chains which can be treated as symbols of money but also expensive gadgets including sport cars. Their 'careless' image supported through their confident, aggressive poses and inappropriate use of language makes the audience believe and reinforce listed above associations. 

The modern pop genre associations include an image of  young artists with female look characteristics. These are significantly contrasting associations to rap genre which are  reinforced even more with the innocent and cheerful looks of pop musicians. Their mise-en-scene is based around stylish costumes which allow them to be seen as unique and creative. A good example for this characteristic is Katy Perry which is continuously surprising people with her imagination. This differs from pop bands that tend to have matching costumes that allow them to reach higher recognition. 

The R&B genre associations show clear similarities to rap characteristics. This includes baggy clothing such as loose jackets or hoodies, muscularity and confident poses, although the overall look seems to be more casual and stylish. This is why I have included Drake image - a hip hop artist which dresses more causal. This can be supported through the black shirt that can be seen as more formal, going against the hip-hop dress code which is dominated by hoodies and loose jackets. In terms of the woman appearance the costumes seem to be also revealing just like in hip hop genre. This creates an idea of woman being sexually objectifying in both R&B and Rap genres due to confident, exposing poses which might be appealing to man audience. 

The last association brainstorm includes Rock and Alternative Rock genres which are very similar in terms of their mise-en-scene in particular. Both genres support characteristics such as tattoos, piercing, leather jackets / trousers and other black clothing or long hair. Besides, from that they might be considered as aggressive due to confident and strong beat found within their music. This might link to the audience's interest in instruments such as guitars or percussion that allow to create strong, confident and aggressive performance. 

MUSIC VIDEO TECHNIQUES / MEDIA LANGUAGE ANALYSIS

SKUNK ANANSIE - CHARLIE BIG POTATOE <- CLICK TO WATCH HERE

The genre of this music video is alternative rock. Alternative rock is a genre of rock music which emerged in 1980s. This music video is concept and performance based therefore it is again a hybrid. In this video a mix of thematic and symbolic concept has been used as the video is packed with small symbols as well as a theme. The symbols used in the music video are hard to understand as they convey a concept that the artist had however objects like water and bugs could be used to symbolise  the artists concept. I believe that this music video clearly represents the alternative rock genre by what is visible in the video itself as at the first sight it does really stand out to what is shown by the mainstream music. In the video we have a lot of symbols which do interlink with the concept based idea of the music video. Water, insects or even abstract way the artists sit could symbolise the thought the artist had behind the music video. 

The sound in this music video is a mix of both diegetic and non diegetic as we can partially see the whole band perform and partially a concept story being shown. In my opinion having both diegetic and non diegetic sound really helps to get the concept across as the audience is not focused on the artist singing but on what is shown in the video. In terms of the mise-en-scene used in this music video we can see that a very dark theme has been set. The band is wearing black leather clothing which is mainly associated with rock music therefore this clearly presents the genre to us. Additionally the clothing contained spikes which to the audience signifies the sharp and hard-core tone of the music. To emphasise the dark theme the video uses a low-key lighting which makes the scene very mystical, allowing for a very effective use of strobe lights which can be seen in the background. In terms of the editing, this music video used a high amount of cuts. The cuts have been done at both fast and slow paces depending on the songs rhythm. By this the song is emphasised as the audience gains tension according not only to what their hear but to what they see. The cinematography used in this video included close ups on the walls and face, tracking shots, medium shots and medium close ups . The close shots such as the close up or medium close up were used either to show the scene or show the artists emotions. By the use of such various cinematography, the artist conveys her performance and the concept behind it very clearly to the audience.

MUSIC VIDEO TECHNIQUES / MEDIA LANGUAGE ANALYSIS

BEYONCE- IF I WERE A BOY <- CLICK HERE TO WATCH

The genre of this music video is R&B. “If I were a boy” is a tragic love song which conveys feelings of sorrow and sadness. This is because by the title of the song we can tell that the artist conveys miserable feelings as she questions herself. Overall the music video portrays two sides to a story; at first we can see the woman being a policewoman and the man being a business man however in the end of the video is a completely different story is portrayed with the characters having their roles being swapped over. This is a very useful technique as by this Beyonce shows us a woman in a male surrounding which is very controversial as we mainly associate a police job with a male. The video is mainly narrative however it includes performance based areas therefore I consider it being a hybrid. Non diegetic sound has been mainly used throughout the video which as a result caused the audience to focus on the storyline presented via the video. 

As we can see in the video, both characters have their roles shown by their clothing and location. The woman (Beyonce) is wearing a police uniform whereas her video husband is wearing a rather elegant suit which depicts his high paid job. Later on in the video we can see that Beyonce is in surroundings such as the police car, police station or at a police party which shows us a rather working class environment whereas the man is seen in a nicely designed office while searching for expensive jewellery. This shows us a direct comparison of social classes, which I believe links to the conflict the characters have in the music video. By this the two characters differentiate from each other as of their surrounding and their acting.  In the video we can see a wide range of shots being used such as a medium close ups at the very start of the video, medium two shots, tracking shots, low angle shot. For example a low angle shot has been used deliberately as by this it emphasised the power which the female police character has in order to arrest a man, showing a manly job done by her. In terms of editing this video manly uses cuts which vary with the speed according to the pace of the song. Additionally they use a slow motion being used and a fade away. By the use of slow motion they have underlined the tension seen in the Policewomen job which is done by Beyonce, which as a result empowers her in the music video. On the other hand a fade away has been used in order to take the tension away which gives the audience a very soft feeling after which we can see Beyonce in a completely different character. The use of fade away contrasts with the use of cuts throughout the music video.

RESEARCHING MUSIC VIDEOS UNDER DIFFERENT STYLES,CONVENTIONS AND EDITING TECHNIQUES

 

Within this task I have been exploring and researching different types of music videos which fit into style, conventions and editing techniques. I found this task quite useful as it allowed me to develop my understanding of different conventions showed within music videos. I also managed to watch a range of clips which have widen my knowledge about different music genres, their concept, use of editing techniques and more. This will definitely helped me with choosing my own music genre for my final task. This will benefit me in many ways, including identifying different ranges of styles, codes and conventions but also editing techniques, mise-en-scene and sound.

 

 

 

MUSIC VIDEO TECHNIQUES / MEDIA LANGUAGE ANALYSIS 

BRUNO MARS - JUST THE WAY YOU ARE <- CLICK HERE TO WATCH

The song 'Just the way you are' by Bruno Mars represents pop genre which is portrayed using animation. (Animation is a rapid display of a sequence of images that is used for an effect to create an illusion of movement). The use of this technique allows the video to be more appealing and understanding to the audience as it is portrayed almost like a cartoon way which is often associated with children. This makes the story line of the video be seen as exaggerated but at the same time easy to understand. In this example the animation technique is combined with the performance and narrative, creating a hybrid. This makes the clip even more successful as it makes the audience feel more engaged with what's happening in the video. 

CONCEPT: 
 

The concept of the video is focusing around relationship and love. Within the animation a cassette can be seen as a symbol which portrays the feelings of the artist towards the woman. The use of this prop allows to portray the narrative in an interesting and unique way, allowing the concept to be visually appealing.  

CAMERA MOVEMENT:

Already at the beginning of the video close-up shots are used to introduce the audience to the characters but also to set the scene. This is effective as it brings viewers attention to what is happening within the scene. As the video continues, over the shoulder shot is used to empathize the characters reaction to the taken Walkman. This short episode effectively introduces the audience to the conceptual idea of the clip. This can be seen as a convention which is often used by the artists to set the scene to the audience. It's not specific to any music genres.

The over the shoulder shot is continuously used throughout the video to represent the woman's reaction to the words the artists is performing. After almost each lip-sync the camera is focused on the girl. This is effective as it creates a link between the two characters. Besides, from that it also empathizes the concept of a relationship and feelings as both character's reactions towards each other are portrayed in a continues prose.

One of the main camera shots used within the clip is the point of view that allows the performer to demonstrate his movement. This shot is used throughout the clip to reinforce the use of animation, as the artist is manipulating the tape in order to create the story line. The animation is used to speed up this process. This is effective as the artist is giving a sense of realism to the clip although the set of images is created using editing techniques. The combination of animation and realistic frame can be seen as challenging the codes and conventions of other music magazines as these elements are hardly ever mixed together. At the same time this allows the song to reach greater success because this convention can be seen as a unique point. 

 

 

Furthermore, a medium close-up shot is used in order to empathize the artists performance using animation. The cut between the realistic scene and animation allows the audience to see the performer from different angles. The lip-sync is used in both types of shots, however the animation allows the artist to bring more body movement which is successfully reinforced using lip-syncing in a form of a medium shot. The idea of performance within an animation may be considered as again challenging the codes and conventions as we tend to see the artist singing in a realistic setting. Although, this makes it extraordinary as this clip element might be considered as more engaging due to creative visualisation. 

 

The ending of the clip is demonstrated using medium close-up shot with a side way focus onto the performers facial features. This is effective as the concept of the clip was more reviling at the beginning of the video in order to bring audiences attention whereas towards the end it starts to flow back to the song and the artist itself. The medium close up and the use of depth of field allows to bring awareness to the strong expression of feelings and the exaggeration of body language, which might make the audience more engaged, as the artist seems to be revealing his emotions. 

EDITING TECHNIQUES:

 

A variety of quick cuts has been used within the video in order to empathize the facial reactions of both characters. This allowed to empathize the symbolic concept of love found within the video as the audience was constantly informed about their reaction caused by one another. Besides, from that I think the quick cuts worked quite well as they made the video seem to be more energetic and powerful due to the continues movement within the frame but also the non-diegetic sound of the song in the background.

Another editing technique used within the music video is the fade towards the end of the clip. The speed of fade is quite slow allowing the audience to casually withdraw from the told story. Besides, from that the use of fade empathizes the change in the speed of vocal from fast to slow. This allows the audience to see this change visually. The use of fade can be seen as a convention used within the music industry, however it is not specific to any genre, although it's an effective way for an ending. 

MISE-EN-SCENE:

 

The mise-en-scene is used within the clip to bring emphasis to both of the characters using costumes. However, at the same time the casual but stylish look also reinforces the modern pop genre. The woman is wearing quite loose clothing which could be associated with R&B genre, although her body figure and overall appearance suits really well with the image of a pop character. In contrast Bruno Mars is wearing a casual jeans coat and a hat which also gives him a comfortable and informal look. This use of costume links also very well with the concept of the video, which is clearly set at the 'couples' apartment. The relaxed, informal look may be seen as a exaggeration in order to make the clip more appealing for the audience and make the story flow even more.

 

 

The cassette is used as a symbolic prop within the video as I have mentioned above.  It's aim is to build up representation of love and a relationship. The tape within the cassette is used to create a visualisation for the song lyrics which are focused around these themes. At the same time is demonstrates the artist singing towards the woman again showing him revealing his feelings using the song and the tape to portray what he loves about her. This is then supported using reaction shot or over the shoulder shot which demonstrates the facial response of the woman.

 

SOUND:

Parallel sound was used accurately with the speed of the video frame, meaning it reflected the mood of the song. This was quite essential as the video included a lot of quick cuts which supported the fast pace of the beat, allowing to create fluent and accurate music composition for the pop genre. 

The non-diegetic sound (the sound track) is used throughout the entire music video. This is successful as the sound has much more advanced quality due to the fact that the sound from the surroundings is not included, allowing the soundtrack to be clear, accurate and expressive. At the same time the high accuracy links with the visualisation (animation and the rest of the frame) as the clip portrays images using the lyrics and lip-syncing. This significantly creates a bigger impact upon the audience. 

Lastly, at some points in the clip the performer stops miming the soundtrack, this is then quickly followed by the animation which creates an image of the artist and carries on singing. This is effective as we hear one artist, however visually we are able to see him in two different styles. This can be seen as a convention as in many music videos we tend to see the artists in different situations or stylisations. This is portrayed using cuts from one scene to another. It allows to build up curiosity and allows the audience to make various opinions about the artist as they might suit one of their styles.