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Friday, 24 September 2010
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Audience Profile
The genres of the band that we have chosen are Alternative rock, Pop Punk and Emo.
Alternative rock had originally appeared in the middle of the nineteen-eighties, meaning that the age of fans of the genre can be varied, ranging from younger people who are listen to musicians such as ‘Fall Out Boy’, all the way to older artists, such as ‘R.E.M.’ and ‘The Cure’.
Fans of alternative rock area also typically fans of similar genres, such as ‘punk rock’ or ‘Britpop’. Overall it seems that alternative rock is popular with a rather wide variety of people. It is both popular with males and females, and the age range of fans of the genre seems to range from early teens – 13/14 – to both men and women, in their thirties and higher. However it would seem that alternative rock and it’s subgenre’s aren’t as popular with those aged about 50 and upwards as they are with the younger audience.
Genre Conventions of Alternative Rock
Characteristics:
Alt-rock through much of its history its rejection of the commercialism of mainstream culture had been its defining tribute. The Lyrics in alt-rock songs tend to contain topics of social concern such as depression, drug use and environmentalism; this is not the case for all alt-rock songs though. There is no set musical style for alt-rock but in 1989 The New York Times stated that the genre is “guitar music first of all with guitars that blast out power chords, pick out chiming riffs, buzz with fuzztone and squeal in feedback.
History:
Alternative rock started in the 1980’s when a majority of groups around that time signed to independent record labels, this represented a major break from the futuristic, hyper post punk years of that time. During the 1980’s alt-rock was mainly an underground phenomena. Even though it was considered an underground phenomena occasionally a song would surface and become a commercial hit or wold receive praise from mainstream publications such as the Rolling Stone magazine. The underground Alt-rock bands built followings by touring constantly and by performing gigs and releasing many low budget albums. Over the years the Alt-rock bands of old had cemented the ground work for future Alternative bands making them popular and successful. British alt-rock was different from alt-rock in America as it had a more pop orientated focus. Not many Alt-rock bands from Britain were big hits in the States but through British radio in the 80's gained exposure in Britain and so were successful over here to.
Conventions:
In alt-rock videos there is usually a narrative within the video that either tells a story that follows the lyrics of the song or the story will completely ignore the lyrics and be something random or something that still holds a meaning behind them but not necessarily what the lyrics have to say. As well as the narrative there is also a live a performance of the song by the band lip syncing and playing their instruments. The videos always have many cuts between the actual performance of the song to the narrative which usually stars the band as either portraying themselves or fictional characters.
Below is an example of a Alt-rock video performed by the band Fall Out Boy.
Here we can see a few of the conventions that I have talked about, One such conventions is that there is a performance of the song by the band in the video. Another convention is that the lyrics and the video itself have a meaning, some of the lyrics when put with the video are a way of telling their fans that things change but people don't, this was done as may fans were angry with the band changing from alt-rock/punk rock to a more pop-punk/pop rock band so the video was made to say that yes they had changed genre but they themselves had not changed and that the fans shouldn't be angry with them for changing.Friday, 9 July 2010
Magazine Advertisement Deconstruction
I have chosen to deconstruct an advertisement for the Foo Fighters greatest hits CD.
The only image on the advert is that of the Foo Fighters logo which all the fans of the band would be able to instantly recognise it as the bands logo and know it was their CD. The image is in the centre of the advertisement under the band’s name and takes up the most space making it easier to spot from a distance.
The band’s name is in big text above the logo, the size and positioning of the text is very good as with it being over the logo if anyone didn’t recognise the logo, say for instance people new to the band, the name of the band is there big enough for all to see and helps people to recognise the bands CD. The further down the advertisement you look the text size gets smaller and smaller as below the name of the band and the logo is the release date of the CD, what it is coming out on (CD, DVD, and Download) and a short list of some of the songs on the CD. I think the text is smaller as the name and logo are big enough to get your attention and once the advertisement has your attention it can then give the reader the information about release dates and so on.
I think that the text and the images work well on this advertisement. I think that they work well together as the CD is of the bands greatest hits and rather than having a great or witty picture on the cover the band just use their logo and name and they know that is enough to sell their CD. The text and logo work well together as the logo is colourful and big and brings the cover to your attention and from there the name comes into view identifying who the band is if you didn’t recognise the logo.
This advertisement brings to mind that the band like to keep their advertisements and CD covers to minimum resorting to just having the band’s name and logo on the cover and advert, this also points out to me that the band think more about the music itself and concentrate on making the music the best they can for their fans.
Again the name and logo are the only signifiers to me as they are instantaneously recognisable and even if you didn’t recognise the logo I think that the name of the band is well known worldwide and I think that many people would have heard of the Foo Fighters at some time in the band existence.
The only image on the advert is that of the Foo Fighters logo which all the fans of the band would be able to instantly recognise it as the bands logo and know it was their CD. The image is in the centre of the advertisement under the band’s name and takes up the most space making it easier to spot from a distance.
The band’s name is in big text above the logo, the size and positioning of the text is very good as with it being over the logo if anyone didn’t recognise the logo, say for instance people new to the band, the name of the band is there big enough for all to see and helps people to recognise the bands CD. The further down the advertisement you look the text size gets smaller and smaller as below the name of the band and the logo is the release date of the CD, what it is coming out on (CD, DVD, and Download) and a short list of some of the songs on the CD. I think the text is smaller as the name and logo are big enough to get your attention and once the advertisement has your attention it can then give the reader the information about release dates and so on.
I think that the text and the images work well on this advertisement. I think that they work well together as the CD is of the bands greatest hits and rather than having a great or witty picture on the cover the band just use their logo and name and they know that is enough to sell their CD. The text and logo work well together as the logo is colourful and big and brings the cover to your attention and from there the name comes into view identifying who the band is if you didn’t recognise the logo.
This advertisement brings to mind that the band like to keep their advertisements and CD covers to minimum resorting to just having the band’s name and logo on the cover and advert, this also points out to me that the band think more about the music itself and concentrate on making the music the best they can for their fans.
Again the name and logo are the only signifiers to me as they are instantaneously recognisable and even if you didn’t recognise the logo I think that the name of the band is well known worldwide and I think that many people would have heard of the Foo Fighters at some time in the band existence.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc 9 Frame analysis
Shot 1 0:23/4:15 - This shot shows a close up of 2D’s face, from the close up we can see that he looks to be in a half asleep state with his eyes half closed with red circles around them, his head is also lowered down also donating the effect of his half asleep state. In this shot there is nothing but 2D with a red curtain behind him, this could depict loneliness as it appears that he may be the only person awake at the beginning of the video. The lighting in this shot is dark making it look like 2D is in an enclosed area demonstrating one of the themes behind the song, this theme being imprisonment. The video follows a cross between a performance and a narrative, they both depict that three of the band members are trapped inside whilst one is free outside pointing out some of the themes of the video, Imprisonment, mental freedom and the “dumbing down” of mass culture. The narrative shows 2D trying to wake everyone up in building he is in whilst wishing to be outside and free.
Shot 2 0:42/4:15 - The next shot is a mid shot on a canted angle showing Murdoc who is also in a sleepy state with two girls leaning on him. The shot is of Murdoc lying down and when put with the canted angle it adds to the affect of the half asleep like state that the band members seem to be in. The two girls leaning on Murdoc show what has happened to the people in the room with Murdoc, 2D and Russel it seems that they are all asleep but it again points out the theme of the dumbing down of mass culture. A bass guitar is used in this shot as Murdoc is the bass player of the band and this is where the performance is tied in as Murdoc plays along with the bass track in the song for the video and again the lighting is dark in this shot once again giving the feeling of an enclosed area and imprisonment.
Shot 3 1:04/4:15 – Both 2D and Murdoc are in this mid shot, we see 2D singing into a megaphone appearing to try and wake the other people from their sleeping state whilst walking to a window and in the background Murdoc is rising up from the ground whilst still playing his bass. We can see more people on the floor between the two band members. Again just like the other shots this one has dark lighting giving the same effect as the two shots before it.
Shot 4 1:25/4:15 – A wide shot shows the bright blue sky with a windmill coming out of the white fluffy clouds. This shot helps to identify one of the main themes of the song and that is mental freedom. The bright colouring of the blue sky and light coming from the Sun give off the feeling of freedom very well and demonstrate the second theme of the song perfectly.
Shot 5 1:54/4:15 – A live performance is introduced in this shot, a wide shot of the room is used to show the big screen in the room and from this shot we can also see the many people on the floor sleeping. The many screens flickers into action and we see a live performance of the rapping part of the song performed by to non band members. The two rappers are used as a the image of the corrupt media that is “dumbing” every one down and they mock 2D in his efforts to wake them up. The image of them coming through the television screens demonstrates how big the media industry is as the images on the screens show enlarged images of the rappers donating their power and influence over everyone.
Shot 6 2:18/4:15 – By using a mid shot we can see 2D being tormented by the rappers making fun of his attempts to wake everyone up and we also see 2D being controlled by the lyrics of the rappers as he cannot control his body and is forced to start dancing. Once again the lighting is dark to show the darkness that 2D is trapped in and that he cannot escape his imprisonment.
Shot 7 2:46/4:15 – Another mid shot is used this time outside, this shot depicts Noodle the female band member set on the edge of the floating land mass with the windmill on it from shot 4. The lighting in this shot is once again bright and colourful showing the contrast between the inside where 2D is imprisoned and the freedom of outside that Noodle is in. Noodle is shown playing her guitar and the sound of the guitar is also a major contrast with the rest of the song as it is much quieter and more peaceful when comparing to the drum and bass that is played during the inside sections of the song.
Shot 8 3:02/4:15 – This is a close up shot of 2D and it shows him pressing up against the window showing his wish to be free and how he wants to be outside with Noodle. We see the two different types of lighting coming together in this shot as the darkness in on 2D’s back whilst the light from outside is coming in and shining on his face and the two colours come together on 2D. This shot helps to show how people can feel trapped and want to be free.
Shot 9 3:44/4:15 – A wide shot is used to show the television screens with the rappers on again and whilst this is happening 2D is returning to his seat that he was in at the beginning of the song. The lighting is again dark and it works well with this shot as it depicts 2D sitting back down seeming to have given up on his wish to be free and also on his attempt to wake people up so he is returning back to the darkness from which he tried to escape. The reason for this shot I think is to demonstrate that no one can escape and with the rapper watching over 2D as he is sitting down it shows how big the media is compared to everyone else as the rappers face is huge behind 2D sitting back in his seat.
Shot 2 0:42/4:15 - The next shot is a mid shot on a canted angle showing Murdoc who is also in a sleepy state with two girls leaning on him. The shot is of Murdoc lying down and when put with the canted angle it adds to the affect of the half asleep like state that the band members seem to be in. The two girls leaning on Murdoc show what has happened to the people in the room with Murdoc, 2D and Russel it seems that they are all asleep but it again points out the theme of the dumbing down of mass culture. A bass guitar is used in this shot as Murdoc is the bass player of the band and this is where the performance is tied in as Murdoc plays along with the bass track in the song for the video and again the lighting is dark in this shot once again giving the feeling of an enclosed area and imprisonment.
Shot 3 1:04/4:15 – Both 2D and Murdoc are in this mid shot, we see 2D singing into a megaphone appearing to try and wake the other people from their sleeping state whilst walking to a window and in the background Murdoc is rising up from the ground whilst still playing his bass. We can see more people on the floor between the two band members. Again just like the other shots this one has dark lighting giving the same effect as the two shots before it.
Shot 4 1:25/4:15 – A wide shot shows the bright blue sky with a windmill coming out of the white fluffy clouds. This shot helps to identify one of the main themes of the song and that is mental freedom. The bright colouring of the blue sky and light coming from the Sun give off the feeling of freedom very well and demonstrate the second theme of the song perfectly.
Shot 5 1:54/4:15 – A live performance is introduced in this shot, a wide shot of the room is used to show the big screen in the room and from this shot we can also see the many people on the floor sleeping. The many screens flickers into action and we see a live performance of the rapping part of the song performed by to non band members. The two rappers are used as a the image of the corrupt media that is “dumbing” every one down and they mock 2D in his efforts to wake them up. The image of them coming through the television screens demonstrates how big the media industry is as the images on the screens show enlarged images of the rappers donating their power and influence over everyone.
Shot 6 2:18/4:15 – By using a mid shot we can see 2D being tormented by the rappers making fun of his attempts to wake everyone up and we also see 2D being controlled by the lyrics of the rappers as he cannot control his body and is forced to start dancing. Once again the lighting is dark to show the darkness that 2D is trapped in and that he cannot escape his imprisonment.
Shot 7 2:46/4:15 – Another mid shot is used this time outside, this shot depicts Noodle the female band member set on the edge of the floating land mass with the windmill on it from shot 4. The lighting in this shot is once again bright and colourful showing the contrast between the inside where 2D is imprisoned and the freedom of outside that Noodle is in. Noodle is shown playing her guitar and the sound of the guitar is also a major contrast with the rest of the song as it is much quieter and more peaceful when comparing to the drum and bass that is played during the inside sections of the song.
Shot 8 3:02/4:15 – This is a close up shot of 2D and it shows him pressing up against the window showing his wish to be free and how he wants to be outside with Noodle. We see the two different types of lighting coming together in this shot as the darkness in on 2D’s back whilst the light from outside is coming in and shining on his face and the two colours come together on 2D. This shot helps to show how people can feel trapped and want to be free.
Shot 9 3:44/4:15 – A wide shot is used to show the television screens with the rappers on again and whilst this is happening 2D is returning to his seat that he was in at the beginning of the song. The lighting is again dark and it works well with this shot as it depicts 2D sitting back down seeming to have given up on his wish to be free and also on his attempt to wake people up so he is returning back to the darkness from which he tried to escape. The reason for this shot I think is to demonstrate that no one can escape and with the rapper watching over 2D as he is sitting down it shows how big the media is compared to everyone else as the rappers face is huge behind 2D sitting back in his seat.
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