Music Consumption 4

Doing this task has meant that I have looked at one particular music video in very detailed depth. This has allowed me to identify what is effective and done well  in the music video and what I like about it myself as an audience member. I also observed what was done to highlight the music genre. What I can take away from this task are tips and knowledge about what works well that I can apply to my own music video.

Music Consumtion 3

The first student-made music video spoken about in the response video:



The second student-made music video spoken about in the response video:


Learning Comment:                                                                                                              
Through doing this task I got important feedback about what my peers thought about other previous students music videos. This was crucial as they are who my target audience is so what they find interesting and effective about a video is something that I should try and apply to my own video. They also gave useful criticism to do with things they didn't like in the videos such as a confusing storyline and bad quality or shaky footage. This has helped me as I know to take careful consideration of these aspects when creating my own video so as to avoid these problems. Knowing my audience and their expectations helps guide me in the right direction with my video and ensures it is received well and watched by the appropriate people.

Music Consumption 2

Learning Comment:
Through doing this theoretical analysis I now have a more thorough understanding of how variables such as age, gender, social status and social context might affect how different audience members interpret a music video. Despite how a video was originally made and who it was made for or directed towards, this may all completely change depending on the view point of who's watching and receiving it.

Music consumption 1

This is the Questionnaire I used to get feedback regarding peoples music video habits.

My results:



Learning Comment:
Through doing this task I now know about peoples favourite music videos, what they like to see in them and their music consumption habits. Knowing my audience and their expectations are extremely important in ensuring that my video is received well. By asking people about their favourite music videos that are out on the internet now by professionals gives the advantage that I have something to compare with and get tips on how to produce my video to a high standard.

Initial Video Ideas

When thinking about the concept for our video we were torn about what the 'fight' or struggle our protagonist would face should be. We didn't want to do the generic getting over a breakup struggle, or similar issues, and instead do something more serious and complex. We have come up with the idea of our protagonists' fight to be an inner struggle with herself. The idea is that she suffers from a dual personality disorder where she is constantly fighting between these different sides of herself. The narrative would be solely focus on her and told through her body, emotions and personality/image transitions, as well as how her differing personas deal with similar situations. The culmination of these two opposing sides will come at the end where we reach a resolution of sorts where she becomes at peace with herself. The two extreme personalities are a depressed and angry persona, contrasted to a out-going and social preppy persona. In between these two extremes there is just the protagonists' true self who is struggling to cope with her illness and frustration. These binary opposites will be shown through changes in mise en scene such as lighting and camera angles, as well the costumes and makeup the protagonist wears and her body language and emotions.

Artist and Label Research

Learning Comment:
From doing this task I have learnt all about the facts and figures behind the song we've chosen to do for our music video and also about the record label the artist of the song (Rachel Platten) is signed with. This  gives us a better understanding of the artist and her thinking and reasoning behind the song.

Song Permission

Before going ahead with creating a music video for a song, permission must be granted by the artist and company who own the song. This is a mock email that I would have sent to Columbian records if I had been making a real-life music video to 'Fight Song'.

Our Chosen Song and Lyrics

Like a small boat

On the ocean

Sending big waves

Into motion

Like how a single word

Can make a heart open

I might only have one match

But I can make an explosion

And all those things I didn't say

Wrecking balls inside my brain

I will scream them loud tonight

Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I'm alright song

My power's turned on

Starting right now I'll be strong

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care if nobody else believes

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep

Everybody's worried about me

In too deep

Say I'm in too deep (in too deep)

And it's been two years I miss my home

But there's a fire burning in my bones

Still believe

Yeah, I still believe

And all those things I didn't say

Wrecking balls inside my brain

I will scream them loud tonight

Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I'm alright song

My power's turned on

Starting right now I'll be strong

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care if nobody else believes

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

A lot of fight left in me

Like a small boat

On the ocean

Sending big waves

Into motion

Like how a single word

Can make a heart open

I might only have one match

But I can make an explosion

This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I'm alright song

My power's turned on

Starting right now I'll be strong (I'll be strong)

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care if nobody else believes

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

Know I've still got a lot of fight left in me

This is the song we finally chose to do our music video to. We have also listed the lyrics of the song as this will help inspire us when coming up with a plot and creative ideas for the music video we create.

Planning Ideas

When we first started planning ideas for our music video we decided to brainstorm ideas and thoughts that came to us when we looked at the lyrics of the song. We wrote down any imagery and scenes that the lyrics might connote or make us think of as this both got us thinking creatively and, in the final product, hopefully create this sense of connection and coherency between the song and the visuals. Planning in this format was great as we could just jot down any ideas that came to use, as well as creating a visual piece that puts all our ideas in one place.

Thinking of a concept/song

Learning Comment:
This task was a very useful way of looking at song choices in an objective and detailed way before eliminating choices to use as our music video song due to pros and cons that we listed. It forced me to think in a deeper and more detailed way, analysing songs to determine their effectiveness and suitability. In the end we have decided to go with Rachel Plattens' song 'Fight Song'. This is down to several reasons; the lyrics offer a strong narrative and the opportunity to produce an original and creative video for the song. It also has a strong and distinct beat that would make editing easier and more effective. Timing in the editing of a video is crucial to maintaining an audiences engagement and interest. Finally, 'Fight Song' is a fairly well-known song but not modern or recognisable enough that everyone who hears it instantly has a prior image or judgement about what story the lyrics tell or how it should be represented. Most people haven't even seen the music video for it which is good as that means they wouldn't be biased to comparing our music video to the original. The only concerns we had about this song is that the lyrics direct you down a quite obvious narrative route and we want to create an entirely unique plot and video, it may share similarities with the original music video but that would be totally un-intentional and tried to be avoided.

Music Video Analysis 2

This video has a mix of narrative and performance elements but the main emphasis seems to be on the performance. This is because the narrative is done in a slightly more unusual and different way than usually seen in a traditional music video. The narrative is seen in quick glimpses that doesn't follow one person or storyline in particular but instead flashes from one teenagers face to face to another, the synopsis being that everyone is struggling with their own problems and fighting to 'save a life'.  In particular the difficult teenage period of your life where problems such as suicide are prevalent and increasing. These shots of teenagers are both moving and distressing as the use of close ups and medium shots reveal their devastated emotions and curled up body language. These are effective in conveying the extreme distress teenagers often go through, if not about themselves, then if one of their friends are going through troubling times and you are helpless to do anything. These narrative snippets aren't in the normal chronological order or following Todorovs Narrative story that tells of a distinct beginning, middle and end. Instead they're shown at random times dispersed throughout the footage of The Fray performing the song.
The performance parts takes place on the same empty white background as seen with the narrative sections. This gives it a sense of cohesion and as though they're all linked together and not on two separate sides of a wall where one can't understand the others situation. It is simple performance images of just the band playing against the striking background that allows for the mind to interpret any scenario or situation it wants which furthers the idea of everyone having different struggles. The band play in a passionate and fervent way which matches the heartfelt video and message.
Alongside visuals of different teenagers faces and their stories are words that act as help and advice. Examples are '7. Forgive',  '35. Cry', '13. Release' and '11. Remember'. These act as help towards people trying to 'save' themselves or others and are both a message to those struggling in the video but are also aimed at the audiences watching the video who may find themselves in a similar situation.
Finally, another clever way they have incorporated narrative in the video is with the frequent quick images of a caterpillar and a butterfly. This is symbolic of the change you are going through in your teenage years as you're growing into yourself, trying to find out who you truly are before becoming an adult. This is reflected in the transition a caterpillar makes when it goes into it's chrysalis only to come out as a butterfly. It is connoting that the caterpillar goes through this dark and scary time but comes out the other end as more beautiful and themselves which is what the message of this video is trying to get across that you'll only come out stronger on the other side despite whatever it is you're dealing with at the moment.




This is an example of an entirely performance based music video. The whole video consists of the two artists (Labyrinth and Emeli Sandé) performing the song 'Beneath your Beautiful' but made interesting with the use of different editing and positioning. The actual location of sorts stays the same the entire time but the two artists swap places in regards to whether they're being projected on the large screen or situated in front of it. This is done in a very clever way so that they are both always with each other when singing but without interaction as only one is ever actually there.
The way one is always projected is so effective as gives a comparison of different sizes and depth with the artist on the screen seeming to tower over the stage and appear larger than life but also in a way very vulnerable and naked. This is because close ups have frequently been used which shows the intricacies and emotions on the artists face as they emphasise with the music and the other singing; as well as helping the audience appreciate the 'star persona' of the two artists as Andrew Goodwin states is important.
The idea of this video is intriguing as no obvious plot or storyline has been used. There is no definitive narrative structure that Todorov proposes is in most media texts consisting of an equilibrium, disruption to it, resolving it and then returning to a calm equilibrium. When this type of video is done, the narrative must then be told solely through the performance itself which, if looked at deeper, can be seen in this video. The song speaks of wanting to see their partners true self underneath the guise; "take it off now girl..I wanna see inside..Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight". The idea of one or the other always being on the screen and not being there in person is particularly poignant and symbolic of the song and illustrates it's lyrics with txt image cohesion. As they're never actually there beside each other  it connotes that they're hiding behind a mask or hiding from each other in a way that doesn't let the other one totally in or allow them to see and understand who they really are.
This way of creating a music video is a subtler and more unique way of telling a story as it's done merely through he artists themselves performing their song.




This music video by a 'P!nk' is a balanced mix of narrative and performance elements. It follows the story of a relationship breaking down where she feels her partner is fading away from her and she doesn't know why but is fighting for them to stay together. The symbolic meaning behind this video is of course subjective to the person analysing it, as is any music video. The narrative begins with the equilibrium of where Pink is seen to be floating on a mattress in the clouds at night before Todorovs theory of the equilibrium disruption comes into play as the scene quickly changes and you see the mattress is actually floating on a misty sheen of water. Barthes symbolic codes can be applied here as this connotes that originally she thought they were both happy in their relationship, 'on cloud nine' so to speak. Instead when her partner draws away from her she feels herself drifting away from him as though on a raft in a river. Therefore comes in the mattress on the water, the loneliness and isolation of this image is also important as it shows how alone and lost she feels without him, just herself stranded in a vast expanse of water and night sky. Due to this, she feels as though she has reverted back to childhood when in times of loneliness and in need of comfort your companion is your teddy bear, shown next to Pink on the mattress.
The narrative moves back and forth from scenes such as this, to passionate scenes of Pink and, who we assume to be, her partner. These may be flashbacks or recollections of when they were together that Pink can't let go. In scenes such as this, there is no fog covering the water, instead it is totally clear connoting that when they were together everything made sense whereas, when apart, everything is confusing and unclear, disorientated and lost in the fog. Other scenes are dispersed throughout the video of Pink fighting her way underwater which could suggest she feels like she's drowning without the love of her partner and struggling to get her head above the surface.
The performance elements of this video take place with a muggy white background that has the effect of the fog filtering through. These scenes appear either as the whole frame or often displayed on the small and old-fashioned television that is floating near the mattress which Pink is lying on during the narrative. This is a clever way of linking the two aspects of the video together and furthering the sense that Pink is trying to find answers from anywhere.




This video is entirely narrative based with the artist (Ed Sheeran) only making a brief cameo appearance in it. The video starts immediately with a disruption to the equilibrium that you expect with the ominous sound of sirens and the image of a girl dead on a mattress and then a young police man walking towards her. This then rewinds to the start of the equilibrium when she's alive, sitting on her own in a dingy apartment. You get the sense that she is extremely lonely and desperate for some human interaction and companionship. This is subtly hinted at by shots such as an eye line match to a pair of models embracing which makes it distinctly clear that this is something that she doesn't have. The next scene shows her in discomfort before pulling out a bloodied feather from her back. This sets things into motion and ,after growing wings and chiseling a bow and arrow, she becomes a real-life version of 'Cupid'. In desperate need for love and unable to get it for herself, she makes it her mission to bring love to other, random, unsuspecting people. She seeks out people on the streets and in clubs, striking them with her arrow to make them feel affection for those around them. However, this has the opposite effect of what she wanted and instead makes her increasingly more lonely, isolated and depressed.
The narrative ends with her committing suicide with one of her own arrows in an attempt to end her loneliness. However, as the scene reverts back to the one we saw at the start and Todorovs idea of an equilibrium is restored, the young police man bends over her and instantly the blood disappears, her eyes fly open and breathes again. The symbolism being that she finally found someone to love her and that love is what ends her bitter loneliness and breathes life back into her.
This video is very meaningful and moving with the visuals perfectly illustrating the lyrics being sung. In this particular video, performance elements weren't needed as the narrative itself was so effective and moving on it's own that to bring in performance scenes would only distract from the stunning visuals and story of the girl who was desperate for love thus the repetitive singing of "Give me love".



Doing this task has been extremely helpful as it has given me a thorough understanding about the difference between performance based and narrative based music videos and the pros and cons that accompany them. Personally, I have found that I enjoy narrative based music videos the best, but I think a balance between the two is what's most effective. I will take this knowledge and apply it to my own music video, hopefully having a strong emphasis on the narrative, with performance parts thrown in at different parts.

Music Video Analysis 3

Doing this task has meant that I have looked at music videos in depth and detail, seeing what makes them effective and stand out. The most important aspect of this task was choosing and analysing videos from different genres. Looking at what identifies each video as a member of a certain genre clued me in to common codes and conventions and made me consider how my own music video might either follow or challenge these. There is a large discrepancy between the different genre videos but yet they were all still effective as they all contained certain conventions which made them work. These universals are found in all videos and I will ensure that I use them in my own production - e.g. fast cuts, editing to the beat, close ups and an interesting and unique storyline/video concept.

Music Video Analysis 1

Through doing this task I have learned a lot. By focusing on four main aspects, I can go into detail about how the use of these have been done effectively. The effective use of these aspects are the most important parts to making a good music video and even small variations in each one can change the whole feel and execution of the music video. Knowing the importance and the crucial, effect these aspects can have, I will take very careful consideration and time when it comes to applying them to my own product.

Analysis of Student Videos

From doing this task I have learnt what works well in a video and what doesn't work quite so well. I have seen the very high and professional standard that some student videos have been made to which has inspired me and made clear the amount you are able to do even at an amateur level.  I now know the common areas that people often trip up on and I need to be careful not to do in my video such as having a shaky camera, out of time lip syncing and a confusing storyline. I will try hard to make sure none of these are done in my video. This task has also taught me about the differences between different genres in videos and that the faster and upbeat ones with a clear narrative to the lyrics are ultimately easier and better to use and work with. A balance between narrative and performance elements make a successful and engaging video due to the relationship created between the audience and characters and artist featuring in the video.