Linkin Park- website

 

This is the main page we see first when we first click on the web page link. Much like the 30 seconds to mars website this first page is actually an advertisement for merchandise and a gift box set which is a limited edition package. This will gain fans loyalty as they want to support the band by buying the merchandise and wearing the bands label and logo. This also attracts fans because they will feel dedicated and up to date with the band as they have their latest album release and collectable produce.

 

This is the official front page of the bands site. again we see light colours being used such as whites and light greys this makes the information look more modern and also looks brighter and will catch the yes attention more. We also see a video which is to get fans involved with creating music and to connect more with their creative musical side. This encourages fans to get involved with music and use linkin park as their inspiration. At the top of the website there is a bar which shows news,your dates and a merchandise store.

 

On the store section the merchandise consoists of T-shirts on the first page to show the audience maybe their best sellers and most popular products. However at the top suggestions for other products also come up to try and tempt fans to buy other labelled products. Fans who wear these products will be advertising the band and their new album and will be promoting the band for the band just by buying the products with a logo or album name on.

 

The layout of this website is simplistic and is easy to work and will attract my genre because of the colours used and the way they have advertised themsleves as a band and themsleves as a product.

Radio head- website

 

This is Radio heads homepage. When we first open the home page animation is used as the little spikes at the bottom of the page begin to rise up the page. When the spikes turn the page completely black the spikes do the same again only in white. This is amusing for viewers and gives them something to be interested in on the website and draws the eyes into the website as naturally we watch things that move so moving animation and advertising is a good way to grab an audiences attention.

 

The colours are very basic but again white is used a bright colour. This makes the website stand out because the white is really bright and allows the audience to easily see the website clearly. The tabs at the bottom offer links to other websites with information about radio head on the website. Also a store tab is shown which sells band products such as merchandise and the bands albums and CD collections.

 

The layout of this website is very simplistic and looks very modern and easily accessable. I think my target audience will be attracted to this website because of the modern animations used and also the colours used. They have prioritised the bands name by having it as the main point of focus planting the band name in the centre of the page in big bold writing.

 

I also like the slightly faded scrratchy font as i think it represents the ggenre of the music of the band because it is a popular coide and convention to use dark grunnge looking fonts for example on the kerrang magazine which sells and advertises alternative rock music.

panic at the disco- website

This is panic at the discos layout for their website. The background image matches the genre charcteristic because it is the artist is placed in an abondoned area which is a popular setting for alternative rock videos.The image is a long shot i think this makes the website look attractive because it makes the website look longer and that there is more to look at for the audience. Also the website has a horizon and this adds depth to the website making the website look more layered out and more 3D. We also see headings at the top which leads us to the websites store, news, tour dates and gallery.

The band name is in a bold font. This grabs the fans attention and shows demand of record label as they advertise their own name. This also makes it incredibly easy for the band to be recognised on the website and labels the webite their own. The colours used are very subtle and soft which i think adds a very pleasant light atmosphere to the website and the website doesnt look heavy. The use of light colours may be a popular code and convention as on the 30 seconds to mars website the colours light blue and white or commonly used.

Also on the website theres advertising for there new album on itunes.  This is also advertising apple and their services as they can allow a digital download through the use of apple itunes. They also have their new video on the site so fans can view the video and gain interest in the new album.

30 seconds to mars- website

 

The first Screen we see when clicking onto the website link is this home screen. Immediately they are advertising their new album release and merchandise so fans can be immediately informed about the latest relases and be able to stay updated with the band. I like how they have sed a screenshot from the video 'Up in the air' for the background of the site as fans will immediately recognise the shot and make the slight connection keeping there advertisement relevent.Under neath this advertisement there is an 'Enter Site' button. when we click this it takes us to the following page.

 

When we click the enter site button we are taken to this page. On this page we are presnted with the bands logo in big. This is so fans can easily recognise the bands page and also feel a sense of loyalty as they are visting their personal site. Under neath the logo we see a list of tour dates again this is immediately promoting the band and they have proritised the advertising before showing the menu bar showing tickets,band news and the store. This is to grab fans attention that a new tour is coming!!

 

In the image below we see the small menu bar which is at the side of the bands logo. When the hover over a tab the hole bar comes out showing these icons. The first one is for band news, The second symbol the plane is for tour tickets, The little play button is to watch their latest videos, the pair of headphones takes you to apple itunes store showing you a range of albums the band has done, and lastly the shopping trolley takes you to the bands merchandies page or 'store' page. This page sells alot of fan based accessories and box sets.

The layout of this website is simplistic and yet easy to understand and will be easy for my target audience to figure out and work around. I think that they have represented their band and their new album well using relevent colours and images including logo's and screenshots from their videos. The colours are relevent as they are colours that are used on the merchandise and on the album cover.

Panic at the disco -digipack

This is not a digipack but instead an album cover for panic at the disco's new album. I like how they have followed popular code and convention in alternative rock by using black and white as i think this represents the genre of the music well. I also like how The album shows just a little bit of colour as i think this attracts the viewers and evan though adding colour to a black and white image is basic editing the fact that it is the smoke from a cigarette makes the album more interesting as this was probably difficult for the artist or photographer to achieve.

I also like how they have used two different fonts on the album covers as we see the album name in different typography's.  The words live and die are in different fonts which almost match the font used on the band name highlighting the significance of those strong words and the band. It also makes the contrast between the two words more obvious and makes the album name more interesting as they have found a way to link these two complete opposites in an album name.

radio head - Digipack

This is an image of radio head's digipack. I like this layout as they have used artwork to help display their disc and album. The artwork is by an artist called 'Stanley Donwood'. by quoting the artist i think they are advertising both their album and the artists works. Like 30 seconds to mars they have used a popular artist to help gain new fans and to also interest their already fans with the artwork. Inside the digipack there is a booklet with further artwork which was made to represent radio head's new album. 

The artist has used a mixture of dark oppressing colours against bright but yet faded colours. This created a very heavy and yet interesting effect as the dark colours over power the bright colours i think this represents the genre well because we can see how the bright colours will at first lead in viewers but then when we look closer we see that the album looks very dark and heavy which is complimenting the music inside the digipack.

30 seconds to mars - Digipack

This is a very creative and interesting digipack for all the art freaks out there ( and 30 seconds to mars fans as well of course). This digipack also like the linkin park digipack comes with a limited edition offer which includes two collectible vinyls, a DVD showing exclusive footage and a booklet including photography and artwork by Damien Hurst and the photographers who helped with the production.

The cover itself was produced by Damien Hurst. I think this allows 30 seconds to mars have a wider audience because they are using a very popular modern artist and fans of his works will look at all his pieces including this album cover and they may be tempted to listen and like just because damien hurts produced the work.

I like how the photography is of the animals used in the video and scenes and props. This shows that the video was relevant and also acts as a constant reminder of the video. Also these images are pleasing to look at and can be used to just generally look at. 

The digipack also looks very creative using both photography art and then themselves being a band they are representing 3 different forms of art and this will attract creative people and will bring them a new audience to attract and also entertain for.

I like the photography element as i think the booklet looks very pleasing and will attracts not only listeners but photographers who are interested in the images took and how they are displayed in the bands booklet.

Linkin Park Digipack

This is Linkin Parks latest digipack. However instead of coming together as just one album they are offering away merchandise with the digipack to tempt fans into spending money on the band merchandise and this is a way of advertising because merchandise which is used,worn,displayed by fans is advertising the bands label name and new album.

However as wee see in this digipack artwork in shown and involved in an included booklet. The artwork is inspired by the album and shows all different types of pieces which are related to the genre and the atmosphere they are trying to capture through the use of artwork. The digipack also shows the cds in sleeves. This allows the art on the front of the cds to be shown and is also a creative lay out for the digipack. I like how all the art work flows right through the whole of the digipack keeping all the album related and looking interesting as the work links the two pages and CD's together. The dark colours used also helps represent the genre as black and white is a popular code and convention used in music videos for alternative rock.

I also like how they are offering all of this as a pack and that it is a limited edition as fans will desperately try to better themselves and prove themselves by showing they have bought this stuff to support the band and new album coming out.

Digipacks!

OK! so looking at a few random digipaks i managed to make a list about popular codes and conventions for digipacks and what they mostly involve:

1. A booklet. The digipack will normally include a booklet full of photography of the band or artwork from the artist who designed the bands album cover.

2.Lyrics can also be involved in the booklet so fans can easily become obsessed and dedicated to the music to sing along and enjoy it more.

3.There will also be a small label at the back where artists, writers and producers are mentioned.

4. The digipak has to represent the artist using images that capture a certain mood and the artwork also has to fit in with the genre.

5. Bar-code. seems legit.

6. Down the spine of the digipack artist/band and album name is shown.

7.On the bag of the digipack a track list is shown so the fans can learn songs by name and be able to identify the different songs!.

8.copyright rules are also advertised on the digipack so people know there is a warning on illegal downloading and sharing the product.

Record Labels

Warner bros. records is the record label that supports Linkin Park a band i have previously looked at to gain research on my genre. I looked into this label and how they distribute there videos and how they advertise to the public.

I found that they have their own website which advertises news and shows new videos and album releases. This is to attract viewers and also keep their fans interested and up to date with what is going on with the bands they are sponsoring and supporting. Also it allows the audience to be able to look up new relevant bands. I also found that they have their own store on the website. On the store sections they advertise and sell band merchandise and albums related to alternative rock genre. This is a popular way of advertising and will work in selling other artists as they advertise best sellers and new produce.  They are keeping in touch with the modern world by using modern technology to allows fans and viewers to visit and contact the site for example twitter, facebook, youtube and also spotify.

I then looked up 30 seconds to mars's record label as they are another band i have been looking at and they are sponsored by Virgin records. Virgin is a very popular global label so this in itself will boost advertising and distribution as they are with a well known popular label. Unlike Warner brother record label they do not have their own website however the have their own broadband and owns a lot other other record labels and sponsor various genres of music videos. Also as we see in the image below they are more in ouch with modern advertising for example they are advertising on their website that they are in touch with facebook, google,instagram,linkedin,pin interest,tumblr,twitter and spotify. This makes it easy for their audience to stay in touch and up to date with their music and also allows them to be able to advertise to a wider audience.

Music Industry

Kerrang is probably and arguably the most popular alternative rock music channel there is out there as they have their own TV show website and radio station.  They often do programmes on their music channel where the audience can ring or text in or even twitter and facebook them about a video they would like to be shown. They also do count downs of alternative rock charts and this enables the viewers to hear the latest songs and watch the newest videos. Music videos are a big element in alternative rock and are as important as the song. So kerrang includes a lot about music videos such as in their magazine but also on their website and TV channel they are doing a greatest rock countdown to find the best of all time videos. They will also often ask celebrities to come onto the show and chose their personnel favorite videos.

Scuzz is also a popular TV channel which distributes and advertises alternative rock music and videos. However instead of having their own music magazine they have a daily blog on which they posy videos of the latest rock music videos and also interviews they have done at festivals. This will attract their audience to keep them updated and informed about all their favorite bands.

Of course the obvious place to go and watch music videos would be YouTube as it is one of the most successful video sites on the internet. Even though you tube itself will have videos uploaded of the music videos you want to watch but where can you start to look for a quick search? Where can you go on you tube to find daily updates and uploads on your favorite bands? well my friends. Here you go.

Fueled by ramen is a popular youtube channel which will post the latest videos and on this channel we see all different videos for the alternative rock bands and this makes it easier for fans of alternative rock music to find more bands to listen to or follow the bands they already like. The channel has videos such as panic at the disco and paramore both alternative rock bands. Also on the channel suggested there was MCR's own channel being advertised for fans.

VEVO is one of the most popular music channels as it covers all genres as we see in the image above they have a different channel for each genre of music and therfore can have a large fan base and please everybody by uploading different music videos and also advertising other genres. There is a RockonVEVO channel and on this channel bands such as 30 seconds to mars, MCR and the killers are advertised on the page. 

For my own music video i could use these music industries to advertise my video as they all do alternative rock music and music videos to create large fan base for both themselves and the bands they show.

The purpose of a music video is to advertise the song as help either show the narrative of the song in the music video or to create a different narrative that will interest viewers and lure them into listening to the song. The music video also advertises the band and is their shot at grabbing viewers attention from music channels so they have to present themselves n the desired way of the audience to get popularity by following codes and conventions. Its also a chance for the band or artist to show how they can be different and present their own image and gain fans by attracting them visually.

Target Audience- Personal habbits

The Average age of alternative rock audiences are around late teens to mid twenties. I think this is because the alternative rock music is quite explicit with its lyrics and this follows in music videos with mature intertextuality and moderated scenes including nudity and sexual references.
   
  My audiences hobbies may include playing a musical instrument probably guitar to feel a stronger connection to their music. My audience will also feel very close to music and will want to be very in touch with their music.They may also play video games included guitar hero and rock bang and sing it! this is another way to get involved with their favorite genre of music.

The target audience are both male and female however they are both equal as to who likes this genre more and it is very hard to figure out the exact percentage as the genre is mainstream and has a very large fan base and audience circulation.

A lot of my target audience will go to gigs and festivals to see bands of similar genres such as pop punk and industrial rock. They may also go to concerts to see their favorite bands and follow tours and be really involved with their bands performances and being supportive in the fan base.

Apart from teens i may also have an older audience as peoples who listened to 80's alternative rock may still be interested in the modern alternative rock such as people who listened to nirvana and R.E.M which alot of modern bands are inspired by as these two bands started alternative rock.

Because i have to remember this older audience i have to think carefully about how i sell my artists album. Inexperienced younger audiences will be able to download the album through Itunes or Spotify however the older generation will have been brought using the traditional way of going out and buying an album therefore CD covers and Digipaks are still and important element i need to focus on to keep all of my audience interested.

Target Audience - Magazine Cover

After looking at kerrang and how they attract my target audience i decided to use photos of my own artist and create my own magazine cover using similar techniques and colours to that of kerrangs magazine cover to represent and attract my audience. Hopefully this is what would attract my audience to read the magazine and look into my artist.
 My Magazine is called Scream! i called it scream because screaming is actually a popular code and convention in alternative rock videos and so my audience would be able to guess the genre of the mag quite quickly.
I also included dark colours with dirty patterns on to look rough and dirty like kerrangs magazine cover. I also included a large picture of my artist with her name on the front to attract the viewers. Hopefully this will attract an audience for me.

Target Audience

To have a better idea at who my target audience is i did some research on the bands that i have looked out and found a common link. They have all at one point been represented by kerrang. I then looked up the target audience of kerrang to find out my target audience for alternative rock and for my own music video. I looked at some of the statistics of kerrang and found that the median age of buyers are 22.   This means my audience could range from being around 18 to oldest 25. I think this is suitable because alternative rock music can have explicit lyrics and videos that a younger audience may find disturbing or may not even understand. Also from doing my research on Alternative rock i found that the music and lyrics are mainly aimed at a rock star lifestyle including sex and drugs. People who buy kerrang normally have an abc1 profile so they are old enough to be earning a bit of money to be buying the magazine at £2.99.
             I also found out that 87% of readers buy every issue of kerrang and this will allow the audience to follow and keep in touch with there favorite bands as kerrang will have all the latest band information. It also means that the majority of the buyers are dedicated fans and love to hear about their band.
                 From looking at what i have found out i then decided to look at a kerrang magazine myself so i went out and bought the latest issue.

This is the issue i bought. I will be referring to this a lot so i can see how they have attracted there target audience as i may be able to use some of these techniques for my own magazine ad or album cover. Th

e bold lettering and dirty looking Font immediately captures the genre as it looks very rough and reminds me of grunge.The colours on the magazine are bright which capture viewers attention and the colours are red and yellow which can both connote to danger. I think this makes the magazine look intimidating and almost aggressive. The person on the front cover is also aggressive looking as he is facing forward looking directly at the camera.

When looking through the magazine i found this page which is a whole article on the foo fighters and an interview with Dave Grohl the lead singer of the band. Foo Fighters are a band i have actually looked at and therefore this shows that i am on the right track by looking at kerrang. I think this shows that the foo fighters have the same target audience as kerrang for them to be having a whole double page spread article on them.

I then found this page!! AHAHAHAHA!...Anyway this is a page on what kerrang believes are the best rock music videos and they have included bands nirvana and 30 seconds to mars. Again these are bands i have looked at and so this shows i am on the right track looking at these as its these types of videos that my audience will be interested in and what i will have to aim for when creating my own music video.

 I then found this whole double page spread dedicated to MCR (My Chemical Romance) which is another band i have looked at. I have found out by buying this magazine that i have been looking at the right bands for my targeted audience and hopefully i can create my own music video by following the codes and conventions of the videos i have looked at and i will attract my target audience.

30 Seconds To Mars- The Kill

How goodwins theory applies to this video:

This video is very performance based as we see them literally performing on a stage however this is not a live performance its a staged one for the video. The narrative is very strong in this video and i think intertextuality is represented as i think the narrative is supposed to be similar to the hit film 'The Shinning' as we see all the band members stranded in a hotel slowly going insane and hallucinating about other visitors being their. Woman are also represented sexually in this video as at one point we see two women kissing each other which is seen to be very sexually attractive for men and this is so a male audience will be interested on the video.

Mise En Scene:

We see all the band members wearing suits but the black eye make up and shaggy hair makes the outfit look more rugid and more smart casual. again the video is filmed in an empty hotel which follows the general stereotypes of alternative rock music videos and is not a common site so the scene of an empty hotel will look abnormal and attract viewers. Also at some points during the video we see flashes of a dead woman covered in blood i think this really gives the video a sinister twist and gives the video that deeper meaning and intensifies the narrative to create a more sinister surreal representation.

Editing:

In this video reversed clips are used. This is a popular code and convention and creates a surreal effect and will help tell the narrative of the video and look visually pleasing for the audience. The transitions are quick and this helps to show more of the narrative and also allows viewers to stay watching as they don't want to miss part of the story the like the flashes for example.

Camera Angles and Movement :

A high angled close up is used so we just see the lead singer looking up at us as he sings and i think this akes him look very angelic and innocent. This also reminds me of MCR's music video  - I Dont Love You as they use the same camera angle for a similar effect. Long shots are used to really highlight to fact that the place is o empty for example in the hallways. The long shot shows the public the empty background. Tracking shots are used throughout the video so viewers can feel they are walking with the band members and feel more involved with the video.

Panic At The Disco- Mona Lisa

How Goodwins theory applies to this video:

We see a strong element of stage performance and narrative represented in this video as the clips switch from the narrative to what looks like the band performing in a room. This keep audiences satisfied with what they see and also follows another part of goodwins theory which is demands of record label as the band are definitely represented throughout the video. The narrative is that the lead singer of the band has been murdered and his ghost is trying to tell his mourners who did it till he finds a girl who can see him and shows them who did it.

Richard dyers theory is also represented as this video is actually supposed to be a sequel to panic of the disco's previous song 'i write sins not tragedies' so some elements of that first video is represented in this video such as the church pews and his top hat this allows audiences to make the direct link and make the narrative more understandable for fans. I think this also sells their previous songs as devoted fans will understand the link and new fans will look into the previous song to find out the link between the videos.

Mise En Scene:

We see old abandoned church pews covered in cobwebs and dust. This is to represent the time it has been since there other video which is the prequel to this one. High key lighting is used so we can clearly see the effort gone into costume and the setting and see clearly the band members. I like how he wears a clockwork costume stating he is either the master of time and that is why he is able to show you this video even though the narrative says he is supposed to be dead. Everything around him including the actors seems to be old fashioned with old fashioned clocks and dress sense this creates a very creative atmosphere as we seem to be fascinated as a modern generation by history and how things were. He also shows in the video two different identities which is a common code and convention as it is shown in a few alternative rock videos. One identity is him as a band member singing his song the other identity would be his dead bodies ghost trying to grab the attention of the people at his funeral. This could be his representation of how he feels dead because nobody will acknowledge him anymore and he just wants people to listen to him and his music and the lyrics within them.

Editing:

I like the transition used at the very beginning as the door closes and when it opens again the room is full of people. I think this is a representation of an illusion and how things can quickly change and are not what they seem. I think it is a very creative and interested quick way of starting the music video. Typography is edited into the video to show the steps that the actress takes in fooling the mourners into believing that she is just a normal mourner as well as. In some scenes we see the lead singer in threes so the frames have been tripled and layered on top of each other 3 times. I like this effect as it again connotes to illusion and dizziness and hep create a dreamy fee to the video.

Camera Angles and Movement:

Close ups are used to show the fans the lead singers most beautiful face. C'mon he is so gorgeous. ANYWAY! this allows viewers to see him clearly and also helps create the narrative as we see him change from one character to another and close ups help us identify the different details. Rolling shots are created to help build up and represent the high energy in the video and to make the viewers feel more involved almost like they are attending his funeral themselves. I like the low angle used when he is on the stair as this makes hmm look quite strong and a powerful character as he dominates the frame and we look up to him.

Nirvana-Lithium

How GoodWins theory can apply to this video:

There is a definite representation of a stage performance in fact that's all the video is and this could be showing fans a visual experience of what it would be like to see them perform. Genre characteristics are represented as well as we see the band members jumping around throwing their instruments about to show an aggressive nature and highly energetic performance.

Mise En Scene:

We see in the video dark colours being represented such as blacks and purples. This helps create av dark heavy strong atmosphere which reflects the power n the music and highlights to strength of the guitar used in the song and rough singing. We see the code and convention of high energy being shown as he swings his guitar round and we see the band jumping around performing. I like how silhouettes are used in this video as i think it help create a dark heavy surreal effect as we watch the shadows dance. The low key lighting used helps create a heavy atmosphere and also helps represent and maintain the feeling of a live performance.

Editing:

Because of all the dark colours used in the video i think that maybe at some point colour filters were used to help achieve this effect. We see the use of overlapping frames in the video and this helps show two different performances and helps keep the video interesting and allow them to make fade in and fade out transitions. Slow motion is also used mainly throughout the whole of the video this helps create a dramatic effect on the video making the video look intense and highlights the song.

Camera Angles and Movement:

At one point there is a scene where there is a 180 degree tilt used on the drummer this creates a surreal effect and is very pleasing for viewers to watch as it messes with your eyes. High angles are used on the audience to give you the band members perspective as they perform to allow viewers and fans feel a connection to the band. Low angles are also used in shots where we see the band members playing their instruments this is to represent the fans perspective as you watch them perform. Also a lot of close ups ares use on both members of the band and their instruments so we can feel the music and also be introduced to the band members as first time viewers.

Foo Fighters - Walk

How GoodWins Theory applies to this video:

There is a strong narrative to this story being that he is sick of everything being so difficult these days that everything bad happens at the wrong places to the wrong people at the wrong time and it going to take us all sometime to adapt to the change of learning to become independent and learn to walk again. To show this narrative throughout the whole video different settings and actors are used and there also seems to be visual conversation happening in some frames but the music audio plays over so we are still listening to the song and enjoying and understanding the video. There also seems to be a direct link to the video and the lyrics as we hear him sing 'Learning to walk again' and he had decided to get out of his car and walk to work instead of drive. There is also a complementing link between the music and the visuals as when we first hear the guitar introduced into the song it comes in very loudly and as this happens we see a scene were the lead singer bursts put in anger and starts to hit a shop keeper which matches the genre of the music. The video itself follows genre characteristics by showing scenes of violent high energetic nature.

Another theory that can be applied to this video would be Richard dyer as we see the lead singer always carrying his guitar making his occupation obvious and he is showing his fans an obvious representation of his career and this builds up his fan base by showing that he plays his own instruments and also shows that even in his video representations he is involved with music.

Mise En Scene:

We see our lead singer dressed in a tie and trousers however his long hair helps soften the outfit fitting the genre characteristic of wearing smart casual clothing. It also shows him trying to fit in and represent other general public as most of the male population have to dress in a suit and tie for a job. Although he is walking outside we see him taking backstreets still making the scene and setting look very deserted and different helping viewers focus more on the artist rather than on the setting to get viewers and fans interested. We see that he shows aggression throughout the video and this represents his high energy and fits in well with his soundtrack and it mirrors the aggressive heavy guitar and also makes the video more interesting to watch especially for a male audience.

Editing:

Little editing is used in this video as the actor is already walking around and moving a lot within the video.However i did notice that the transitions are a fade in fade out technique. This may have been used to help slow down the video after all of the fast motion shown within the frame and energetic acting.

Camera Angles and Movement:

A lot of close ups are used on the lead singer for fans to recognize and establish the lead singer within the video. Shot reverse shot structure is used throughout the video to help highlight that conversation is supposed to be taking place. Tracking shots are also used as he walks to follow him walk and help give the impression of the distance he is walking. Rolling shots are also used to helps create the energetic atmosphere and to allow viewers feel more involved and interacted with the video itself and to help them connect more with the video.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers- Cant Stop

How Goodwins Theory links to this music video:

We see a representation of a stage performance as we visually see the band on a stage like setting performing using their instruments and the camera shot helps emphasis this and give the public a feel for the band and what it could be like to go and watch them perform. Their performance doesn't really have a dance routine however the lead singer is shown doing some sort of dance....at least that's what i think hes doing... The demand of record label is also shown as we see the band being constantly represented.

Another theory represented would be the The John Stewart theory as high key lighting is used to highlight the band and the white backgrounds or plain orange background helps keep the viewers eyes focused on the band and the artist instead of being distracted by a background setting. Also a mirror is used with a curved surface making his face fill the entire frame almost making viewers look at him as he becomes confronting.

Mise En Scene:

We see the room they are performing in is bare. This is a popular code and convention to create the video in a near abandoned place as it allows viewers to focus more on the song and the bands performance. We see the band members being constantly trapped in objects such as tubes, bins, tents and buckets. This could be a visualization of how they feel restricted during everyday life when they are not performing. I like the first scene were we see them all running with the lights on as backpacks as it could show that they all have their own stardom and are all seen as individuals with their own spot lights. This scene could also represent intertextuality as they look a bit like the ghost busters with their back packs.
 High energy is represented in this video another popular code and convention as they jump and crawl around showing them all having good fun listening to the music.

Editing:

little editing is used in this video as they rely on camera angles and movement mostly to create a visual attraction. However some effects are used such as sped up scenes when the camera goes through the tube this gives an illusion feel and is almost like Alice falling down the rabbit hole and entering the world of madness. Another editing technique would be a cgi image of the barrel spinning on a band members finger. This looks abnormal and intrigues viewers almost like a magic trick.

Camera Angles and Movement:

A close up is used on the lead singers face as his head is in the tube this makes viewers focus on him performing even more even though his head is already in a confined space limiting viewers visuals. A close up is also used on the mirror scene to make the lead singer seem intimidating and to attract the audience and help please fan base. A wide angle shot is used frequently to show the whole band in one shot and this shows demands of record label. We then see each member have their own close up and this is to represent them all as individuals not only a band and this helps viewers gain interest in the band as they are introduced one by one to each member of the band.

R.E.M- End of the world.

Mise En Scene:

We see the setting is immediately untidy and cluttered and looks quite bare and not a very homely environment. This follows the code and convention of alternative rocks videos by being performed and filmed in what looks like an abandoned house.The lighting in the scene seems to be high key filmed in the day i think this is so we can establish the setting. When a boy is holding what looks like a family photo we see low key lighting being used and the only lighting used looks light its being shone from a torch instead of a spot light.

Editing:

The transitions are quick throughout the video to maintain maybe the panic the boy may be feeling rummaging around through the stuff. A 360 degree tilt is used. I really think this is effective in keeping the viewers attention as it messes with their eyes because its an unusual camera movement and connotes to the world spinning and how everything changes.

Camera Angles and Movement:

Rolling shots are used to show the actors movement and allow viewers to be sucked into the video as they try to concentrate and focus on the narrative of the video. Low angles and close ups are used on the clutter to make the room look more messy on a bigger scale. A medium close up is used as the boy stands with the picture this is so we can focus on both the picture and the actor and try to figure out the direct link between the two. A high angle is used as he lays with his dog. I like this as i think it shows how isolated he is because we are all looking down on him and we cant see anybody else or anything else its just him and his pet dog.

Public Questionaire

I made up a questionaire for my class to answer after i had shown them the 30 Seconds To Mars- Up In The Air video. The Questionaire was made to help me gain knowledge on what in the video attracted the audience more and what i could use from this video when creating my own. It also helps me establish a suitable audience as the age of the pupils who answered my questionaire were 17-18.

Intertextuality

This notion was introduced by Julia Kristeva and she argued against the concept of text as an isolated entity within media elements.
'Any text is the absorption and transformation of another'.
Every text or object is full of representations or references to other media texts or genres.
Some refer directly to each other for example film remakes or how the program 'The Simpsons' relates to real life.
This theory is influence by the public's knowledge and awareness of other texts.
The theory refers to other texts and media's to incorporate reality into the media persuading the audience that the narrative is real.

A clear example of this is musicians taking inspirations from past artists who have had hits because of their visuals. The theory being by copying these visuals the different musician's song will also become a 'hit'.

Marilyn Monroe- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.







 Madonna- Material Girl.











From looking at intertextuality i have seen how i can make my video more popular with my audience by creating common recognizable ground. What i mean is by showing them something they are familiar with they are able to relate more and connect more with my video. So in my video i may use common fears in my video that people may recognize and relate to and even feel empathy towards my actor. This way my viewers will feel more involved and engulfed with my video as they carry on watching for the thrill as that is what my genre focuses on. Thrill and representing high energy.

Codes and Conventions of alternative rock music

Camera:

-Close ups used on band members.
-Group shots used to show the whole band.
-Big close ups used on lead singer.
-Rolling shots often used.

Mise En Scene:

- Unusual abnormal setting such as deserts or warehouses.
-Smart casual dress e.g. jeans and shirts, converse and suits.
- Lighting used to create alternate atmospheres.
-Energetic jumping and screaming to compliment the music.

Editing:

-Same speed as the music.
-Editing uses quick transitions.
-Slow motion or sped up scenes used to create dramatic effect.
-Reversed clips used to emphasize an action or scene in the video.

Fall out boy- Young Volcanoes

In this music video animal masks are used again creating the surreal atmosphere and also taking away the woman's identity making her interesting to look at. Also she is wearing a pig mask connotating to dirtiness and being greedy. The band themselves seem to be seen creaming this seems to be a popular code and convention in alternative rock videos. We see the band being force fed this links to the pig mask as when someone eats too much they are called pigs. This looks actually disgusting and will make people feel squeamish. We also see images of raw meat. This could connote to gore and wounds and again can make viewers feel uncomfortable with the sight of raw meat and blood. The meat is flesh they are showing us clips of raw uncooked flesh.

Panic at the disco- Miss Jackson

In this clip we recognize some familiar editing techniques used in other videos i have looked at. For example the slow motion scenes where he is jumping out side of the motel and the sped up scenes when he is sat in front of the static TV and looking at himself in the mirror. I like the effect and narrative it creates as the sped up scenes reflects his agitation and him feeling stressed and literally going insane because of what he thinks he has done. We also see him screaming a lot in this clip however we cant hear it because of the song being being played but this still denotes his stress and anger.

Fix Teddy

Although this isn't a music video I came across it by typing into you tube surreal videos as I think I could gain some sort of knowledge fro them and this is my favourite video that I have found. Some of the sound in the video is ambient sound as we can hear slight crackling noises which add to the creepiness of the video as we can suggest that something is wrong and maybe not working properly. Also we hear a man speaking narrating the video. His voice seems very off and over pronounced making his vice seem very unusual and scary as his obvious acting is to add to the surreal atmosphere of the video. Whilst the 'Doctor' is dissecting the bear we see elements of adult habits and adult limits for example the cigarettes in the bear. This takes away the bears innocence which again is replaced by creepiness as the bear becomes personified as a smoker. A 'unicorn crotch' is also mention and is healthy as opposed to the rest of the bear suggesting the bear takes part in sexual activity is again is an adult action and makes the teddy seems quite sinister. The very thought of producing a medical procedure on a teddy bear seems like a childlike activity as they play doctors and nurses but the severity of this case makes the video seem very serious and intellectual adding to the weirdness. The video also carries a sense of gore as real organs are used during the video which could make a child or any body really feel squeamish and is again personifying the bear itself.

HollyWood Undead- Dead Bite

I like how we see a character entering a new world guarded by a bouncer with no eyes this all seems surreal already. The lighting is low key however we do se flickering which is suggesting something is not right and is a classic 'horror movie' tip Rihanna's video - Disturbia also includes this. When the character enters the room everyone is wearing masks there are no real identities and this makes them look less approachable and friendly they all also seem to have no eyes but instead lights making it harder to connect the the individual actors. A lot of quick shots and quick camera movement are used to make this new world seem chaotic and dream like and makes it harder for veiwers to understand or establish the setting. We also see an example of circus entertainment such as fire breathing and fire eating creating a surreal atmosphere to confuse viewers more about the setting circus entertainment is also represented in the video 30 seconds to mars- Up in the air I looked at. Also a lot of fire is represented in the video as its in the entertainment and in drinks. Fire is associated with destruction and is yet beautiful to watch and creates a pleasing visual for the audience.

             I have looked into how the theory's I have looked at could apply to this short clip. From the john stewart theory we see in the clip a representation of cinema and entertainment to share a common life event with the viewers to connect with them on a more personal level and help establish setting. The mise en scene is showing and representing a party lifestyle and atmosphere and tis could be representing the artists genuine lifestyle as apposed to what you would be able to see on stage. From Steve Archer I can see that the clip cuts from the narrative to he band a lot to support demands of fans and loyal listeners. The Star Gaze theory applies to his short clip briefly as we see women are represented wearing nightwear gowns and close ups of them drinking and there masks. Richard dyers theory can be applied as an object is used to help the band themselves be recognised through an item and this help create fan base as all the band members wear masks. Elements of goodwins theory are also shown in the video as we see a character watching them perform which is a form of voyeurism.

       I think this video clip will help me create my own video because I am going to take inspiration from the costume they have in this video by wearing the masks as I think it has a nice effect on viewers and I have found that masks are commonly shown in my genre of music that I researching as in 30 seconds to mars's song - Up in the air a man is shown wearing a rabbit mask.

Christina Aguilera - Fighter

Although  this is a very short clip from her music video I like a lot of things about it. I like how the actor is made o look crooked by bending far forward and this makes her look unnaturally bent. I also like how a shallow depth of field is used to make the hands a main focus point for the viewers to look at. Her hands look very gracious and elegant however because of her crooked posture the gracious delicate movement has a different surreal sinister perspective.
                This short clip will help me when creating my own video as I will consider different camera focusing techniques to create different effects and I will consider were I would like my actor to place the main point of focus for my viewers to fixate on.


I like the idea of her having two identities in this music video and they are easily presented to the viewers through he use of contrasting colours and materials for example black and white and at first she wore black silk and then it changed to like a cotton material. This creates more of a narrative within the video as viewers see her character develop adapt and change throughout.
                        For my own music video I would like to represent the elements of having two different sides of a character as I have found by doing my research alternate worlds is commonly represented in alternative rock videos for example 'Linkin Park- paper Cut and Hollywood Undead- DeadBite'.


  In this clip we see lots of different shots of different eyes at different angles. The eyes are all shot at a close up and this adds definition and beauty to the eyes. The different make up techniques gives us the impression of lots of different people were the eyes could all be from one model. The eyes are supposed to show emotion and are said to be the windows to the soul. Weird eyes weird soul?
                   I think the different close up shots will look interesting in my music video and help allow me to create the atmosphere I want and represent and show my narrative and intentions clearly.

Tool-StinkFist

What I like about this clip is the make up. I like how we are shown scenes of actors pulling off their skin I thin this could be a visualisation of many different representations for example peeling off skin could be a representation of shedding the skins of your old self and revealing a new you. This whole gesture in itself sounds and looks very surreal and it also creates some slight discomfort within me to watch as the action seems slightly gory to peel off your own skin.
             Because I really like how this creates discomfort with the viewers and creates the excitement and thrill of a horror movie scene I have decided to try and show this in my own video.

Panic At The Disco- This is Gospel

   I like how immediately from this clip we see that all the movements are abnormal because they've an unusual sharpness about them and seem really precise and accurate rather than being all relaxed. I also like how the lighting in the clip is coming from above looking down on him giving the impression of a surgical lamp. I think it helps create set the scene as we see there is no background setting just black. We also see props such as surgical masks gas masks and scalpels to help set the scene. The costumes of the surgeons is well thought out with overalls gloves and the masks and looks really authentic. His costume consists of just a t-shit and jeans so he can still appear normal and attractive to his viewers. However there is slight dirt smears on his shirt o suggest he may have been in a scuffle or an accident. I also like how the surgeon makes a heart shape with his hands to sow another surgeon where is heart is I think it looks very innocent and makes the thought of surgery seem almost playful and sweet. There is a small scene were he screams and struggles I slow motion I think this helps add drama and desperation to the scene as we take a moment to recognise  and his strength and how much he is desperately trying to run away. I also like a short scene within the clip were loads of surgeons hands over up his mouth ganging up against him I think this can represent the pressures of other people and how we try to keep our mouths shut to stay out of trouble. I think this small action can be seen as quit sinister and depressing in a way as he is being forced into containing himself.
                       Goodwins theory could be applied to this video clip slightly as we see links between the lyrics and visuals as he sings 'this is gospel for the fallen ones' and is being operated on as the surgeons try to kill him and further on in the video succeed.
     From this video I want to consider the body language shown throughout the short clip to maybe represent in my own video as I think the use of sharp quick precise movements helps create an abnormal atmosphere.

WoodKid- Iron

In this short clip from WoodKids video we see how the use of slow motion can help emphasise a scene and double the dramatic input. Because this scene is in slow motion we see each actors efforts and each muscle move and each step took and this makes the scene appear very powerful. I also like how the video is filmed in black and white as I believe it makes the scene more powerful as the complications of matching colours and outfits isn't needed. There is also no setting or background this allows the veiwers to focus only on the scene and begin to wonder what the motif of the gesture is.

  Although this clip was taken from the same music video we see a complete opposite being shown. The boy reading from the book has been sped up and I like how this looks abnormal as its too fast for us to figure out what he is saying and we obviously cant hear him because of the music in the background hover this short clip intrigues me and makes me wonder what he is reading and what he is trying to say a could be important.

      From these two clips I have recognised how editing the speed of a frame can create different effects to a frame and scene and I intend to remember this knowledge and consider these editing techniques for when I film my own video.

Bat For Lashes- Whats A Girl To Do

 

I like how the people behind her are all wearing forest animal masks. I think this helps veiwers establish the setting for the music video and help create the atmosphere of outdoors but I also like how I takes away the actors identities and this makes them seem less friendly and creepy. Also the use of masks and animal heads remind me of cults and different sinister meanings and suggestions. The fact that this was filmed during the night also helps create that weird atmosphere as many people find discomfort in the dark and at night time.
             From this video clip I like the representations of masks and forest animals and this could be something i consider looking at when filming my own video.

Rihanna-Disturbia

  In this short video we see Rihanna at first shaking her head side to side. This small gesture seems to me like it has been sped up a little bit to give the notion a sharpness  unreal quickness to make the action seem more weird and abnormal. I also like her make up as she is behind the bars confined in her jail cell. The contacts in her eyes make her look vacant and yet her facial expressions say other wise this allows her to look very ghost like and surreal to scare and interest her viewers. I also like the beam lights behind her flickering as I think they create a real stereotypical 'horror movie' atmosphere and these back lights contribute to creating a light source within the low lit set. I also like how we see two frames over lapping each other as this creates a dizzy fatigues distorted view of her reaching out.

 I like how in this short clip she Is representing a very common fear 'claustrophobia' and this is the fear of small tight spaces. I like how this can create a very uncomfortable short scene and may cause discomfort  some viewers to watch to b completely immobilised from being chained up and restricted and then stuck in a tiny space. I like the idea of representing a common fear to create discomfort and yet the viewers will keep watching because of the artist.

                                 Different theory's can be applied to both these clips for example There is a switch between a performance and the narrative of the video supporting an element of goodwins theory as throughout the whole video there is a dance routine. When she is chained up in the small room close ups are used as she struggles on her face and on her feet this is an element of the male gaze theory as we are made to look at her struggle and analyse her distress. Also in both clips her costume is very limited and she is showing skin in both clips to make herself appear more appealing and sexy to viewers. Archers theory is represented in the element that she aids visualisation with a dance routine throughout the whole video.
                   I like the editing techniques shown of overlapping two frames as it creates a dizzy dream like surreal effect and I will consider using this in my own video. I will also think about representing a common fear in my video as i like the discomfort and yet curiosity it creates among the viewers.

Serj Tankian- Harakiri

Serj Tankian- Harakiri

This video is alternative rock however the video is a little different from what you would stereo-typically expect from a rock music video because his music video is all about making a stand and saying a message. I have chosen to continue to look at this video however because there are certain elements that make the video enjoyable to watch and interesting and educational all at the same time.

How goodwins Theory applies to this music video

because of the nature and meaning behind this music video finding a theory to apply to it is difficult however there are some elements of the video that can still be related to goodwins theory. For example There are obvious direct links between his lyrics and his visuals as he sings about 'the black birds they fall from the sky' to then show an image of a dead blackbird however he also shows the facts this one being that on new years eve 2011, 4500 black birds died. Good wins theory can also be applied because even though there isnt really a 'story' being shown theres still footage used and the video cuts from scenes of the footage to the singer and this is demand of label so the artist is represented for the audience to look at and enjoy watching.

Mise en scene: The setting where the artist is placed is an abandoned house in the middle of a desert. The fact that he is place in an abandoned house with graffiti on the walls creates an immediate recognizable scene for veiwers as this is a popular used setting for alternative rock band music videos for example the 30 Seconds To Mars video and the Linkin Park video both used abandoned warehouse r just house in general and the Linkin Park video also included graffiti on the walls. The video mainly consists of added footage to go with the facts he is singing about this is to aid visualization for the veiwers and to help them make the direct link and concentrate on what the artist is trying to say. We also see that the music video with the artist involved is all black and white until near the end of the music video. This could be him coming into the light and standing up an speaking about what he believes in and that he wants to be seen as an individual and an inspiration.

 

Camera Angles and movement: Alot of close ups are used on the artist himself this is to make him a focus point and also allows veiwers to see the extent of his emotion when he sings his song. This is also to make him look visually attractive to his audience as we can see the whole of his face. A lot of low angles are used aswell throughout the music video so we seem to be looking up to him. This also makes him look powerful and intimidating as he sings about all the problems in the world and challenges the government. There is slight camera movement in the video as rolling shots i think this is to make his lyrics and music seem more chaotic and this helps grab viewers attention more to concentrate on what he is singing about.

Editing:  The obvious editing would be all the different video clips used within the music video. He has used these clips so he can visually shows all the problems he is speaking about to make it more understandable and make his lyrics more relevant to his video. Another piece of editing is with all the birds falling down in a circular motion. This will all be computer generated but helps the audience have a main focus point of where the sun is and this also looks visually attractive in a cruel way. Has also included the facts to be written up with his clips about what he is singing about. He has also included a quote to further support the beliefs he is singing about and i think this is very powerful and useful as he is suggesting he is not the only one who thinks we needs change ' Man is fully responsible for his natures and his choices'- Jean-Paul Sartre. There is a scene where we see a bucket full of bullets and the birds falling and then a cyclone. These images are all circular and it creates an attractive visual pattern within his video and allows the viewers to focus on the center and also proves his point of how all problems are related in the smallest of ways.