Task 1

Analysing my music video

This image of the lead singer's back is shown diffracted in the mirror behind him and is one of my favourite shots because for this reason it develops the form and conventions of other music videos because it gives an allusion and a symbolic code referring to the broken relationship that the lyrics entails. McMahon and Quinn argue that in order to understand the convention of an image it is vital to have an shared understanding of symbolic codes. This is a repeated shot throughout the music video, which achieves this shared understanding of symbolic codes. This repetition also promotes the star image of the artist, which Richard Dyer has argued is essential in any media text. 

The shot on the left of the boy and girl embracing is relating to the description of the lyrics and showing that the piece is half narrative based. It is conforming to typical boy/girl teenage relationships with break-ups and getting back together. By placing the world of our target audience into the piece, it creates a greater link between the artist and the people. The narrative also shows form and style through the meaning that is displayed.
Steve Archer quotes, "Often, music videos will cut between a narrative and a performance of the song by the band. Additionally, a carefully choreographed dance might be a part of the artist's performance or an extra aspect of the video designed to aid visualisation and the 'repeatability' factor." Archer speaks about the importance of repetition alike Dyer that i mentioned previously. 

 

The shot to the right is the location that we filmed the music video was in a studio; this is using typical conventions as a high majority of music videos are filmed in studios. The set design is important in establishing a pop/rock genre to the music video. Through the mis-en-scene we developed the star image, by having a contemporary costume pattern of leather jackets and jeans brought this rock notion across. We created the scene by using technical codes. Directional lighting was produced from the up-lifters on the floor, which highlighted the smoke and the band and creating the desired effect. 
Keith Negus also identifies star image as being "a specific product with a brand identity, ready for mass consumption." Negus believes that the use of special effects within lighting, CGIS, and in camera effects help accomplish the desired star image.

The band and instruments introduce the performance elements of the music video supporting and using the conventions of real media products. The performance also gives the band a level of integrity and shows the audience that they are real musicians, which also gives the band a level of style and form.

 

Through the narrative we presented the ‘lovers’(left) as dancers as this is a commonly used convention in music videos today as it presents style and form. We were inspired to include dance because of Christina Perri’s ‘Jar of Hearts’ music video below.

Because it is a boy band and the pop/ new rock music is of a familiar style and form its falls under a mainstream music category, keeping it within the conventions of real media products.

 2 panels from my digipak cover

This was one of my first final drafts of the CD cover, which uses traditional CD conventions because it utilises a different graphic illustration and combines art work. For this I was inspired by the pop art photograph called 'Turquoise Marilyn 1962' by Andy Warhol. I enjoy this type of pop art artwork because it incorporates a 1950s style. This has become popular to manipulate with modern images. This is what lead me to develop it into one of my ideas. I also included light leeks on the cover to create a direct link to the music video where light leeks are prominent. We included them to show the explosive relationship in the narrative. Below is a picture of the first opening shot in our video of a light leek.

We scrapped the initial CD cover design because it did not include enough members of the band and looked as though it was promoting a solo artist. I kept the light leeks in to represent the narrative of the lyrics and made the band name bigger, to catch the viewers attention.

Above is our entire CD Digipak. This includes the conventions of; the band name and hit song title on the stem on the album, and the back side has the barcode and information on copyright. This helps form branding and gives the audience a sense that the band is legitimate and important. 

2 panels of poster

I feel as though the poster could have further been adapted as there could be more information about the band. It does however state the band name and hit song and shows that it is ‘Out Now’ persuading the audience to buy the song while it’s new.

Another member in my group also created this poster to be included in the CD for the buyer making it a free promotion. This includes the band members as well as the lyrics of the hit song, which promotes the band further. 

-In conclusion, My music video and CD Digipak use the typical conventions of media products.