MUSIC VIDEO CODES AND COVENTIONS

PREP MUSIC VIDEO CODES AND CONVENTIONS 
To prepare for the exam, we look at the media language of music videos, such as their codes and conventions below. For prep, copy the points in colour then add your own points in black.

1. Performance - the singer / band are seen to be singing and playing (including lip synching), to provide authenticity, so that followers believe in the talent and can see their star. Record labels sign stars and promote them  to ensure sales. Avril Lavigne sings throughout the video using a mike and draws a huge crowd of fans around her when she jumps onto a car roof in the street. She sings with great passion, energy and conviction, holding the mike close to her mouth. Close-ups show her every word (lip synching is a feature of music videos.) She performs for her fans and for her 'boyfriend' the sk8er boi who features in the narrative. Screens often feature in music video and the sk8er boi is videoing Avril Lavigne as he gazes adoringly up at her. She returns his gaze as she sings about 'we rock each other's world'. The performance element creates authenticity (fans have proof of her talent) because we see her sing.
2. Star - use of close-ups, sometimes direct eye contact with audience, to build relationship with audience. The star is shown with immense attitude with the use of close-ups which show her to be rash and confident with hints of aggression. She gets backed with the audience with her intense eye-contact, suggesting that she was right all along and is telling us the story. The direct eye-contact make the whole video more personal and give the watcher an insight to what she is like, creating a relationship with the singer and the audience. Avril is also shown snarling and scowling at the camera, she uses forceful actions to match the power of the audio. An impactful ending is paired with the closeup of Avril looking defiantly into the camera into the audiences to show, she has succeeded, she's won her man and also put on and completed the illegal concert.
3. The visuals (what the star and other characters are seen doing) illustrate, amplify or contradict the lyrics (the 'story in the words'). Illustration = the visuals play out the story more or less literally; amplify = the words in the lyrics are only the starting point and the story develops in other directions; contradiction / disjuncture = the visuals do not interpret the words of the lyrics and may even show something contradictory. The repetitive use of the star symbol representing her location and her gang's symbol familiarize the audience with the sign but slyly, as it is embedded to all of the actions, for example, doing day to day things, getting a coffee like the boy is shown to do; or more extreme like what the squad were doing to promote her concert- throwing the leaflets in the air. The visuals are also all focused on Avril and the wild life she and her friends live. When she announces that 'Five years from now, she sits at home, feeding the baby she's all alone'. She implys that this is a boring lifestyle and nothing compared to the wild life she lives. She thrusts a five at the camera, again being aggressive towards the girl that missed out on her sk8er boi.
4. The narrative usually features the performer in 'real life' situations but often with experimental types of film making such as hand-held, dramatic camera angles, symbolic codes and lighting. The hand held camera angles also personalize the song to the audience giving a taster to the life they would live if they were the girls and boys in the video. The narrative is stepped into massively after the 2nd chorus as she gloats about herself and her boyfriend. The joy they have together, she and her boyfriend are shown looking lovingly into each others eyes as he gazes into the camera then back into her eyes, matched with the lyrics of her love story.
5. The visuals are usually cut to the beat of the music; the editing is often fast-paced; there is often use of montage, ellipsis and intercutting, stylish effects The opening is cut precisely to the beat of the of the fast tempo music. As Levigne's 'gang' marks the name of the location of their impromptu concert around the city, a montage is inserted showing the characters - Avril and the 'Sk8er Boi', and how they went to school like usual, and what their life is like as their invented persona of a typical 'Sk8er Boi' . Avril punches the air towards the camera in time to the beat after the 2nd chorus and this adds again to the frantic scenes shown.
6. Refrain - repeated chorus, sometimes with variations. The visuals used, intensify the pace and add to the zealous atmosphere of the whole situation. All the chorus' have the gang and Avril together showing and gloating of the fun they have and life they live.

ANGLES IN SK8ER BOI

PREP MUSIC VIDEO CODES AND CONVENTIONS - Explain the use of camera angles in 'Sk8er Boi' - Avril Lavigne.

The use of camera angles are very wild and fast matching the fast tempo and high energy song. The video relates to the song as in the beginning there are skater boys and wild children raiding shops and spraying paint around the city.  The camera angles vairy from low to high shot, which shows despite her being the main character of the video, she is still with all her friends having a good time. When Avril is seen upon the taxi's in the city, with the mike in her hand the upwards low shot shows how she is the most important and has a high status to the rest.
 

EDITING IN CUFFS

PREP Analyse how editing is used in the extract from Cuffs to create meaning. Refer to at least two examples from the extract in your answer. (This means that a good candidate will write fully and freely, covering more than just 2 examples, as we practised in class).
Worth 5 marks: write half a side of A4 and post on your blog tonight. If you have DoE, take an extra 24 hours.

The editing in the scene where the officers are having a fight in the racist's thug house emphasizes how Jake feels and deals with the stressful situation. The video is blurred and slowed down so we as watchers can understand how he is feeling, caught up in the moment and very flourished with everything that is going on. The shot reverse shot also implys he has trouble focusing as his point of view is constantly being rushed around from person to person. The muffled screaming of the PC's asking for help of him adds to the whole frantic and terrifying scene. 

When the distraught mother is talking to DI Felix Kane, he refuses to meet her eye as he is embarrassed and unsure of what to do. The shot reverse shot of the two characters show the awkwardness and uncertainty of the DI, and the utter despair and worry of the mother who's child has been abducted.

Another example of meaningful editing would be when DI Kane is inspecting the footage that the father took of himself and his child and he finds a clue, the way in which he rewinds and repeats the footage creates a suspense that he would be caught. The last frame is held for a long time as he processes what he has seen, this shows to the audience that he has got the clue he needs to track down the abductor. It is followed by extreme closeup of a sheet of paper with few pens on top with a logo of the hotel they are in.

The shot reverse shot between DI Kane and Lauren's father shows the suspense between the two characters. The slow zoom into the hand grasping the ledge and the innocent frightened girl in the reflection of the window slowly enhances the anxious tone. The camera lingers on Kane as he has to think of what he may do and the knock on effect of what he may do may lead the man to jump and trigger him. He catches him as he is about to jump and the camera spends time on Lauren's father to show how he is surprised that he could've just ended his life.

MISE-EN-SCENE

Analyse how mise-en-scene is used in the extract from Cuffs to create meaning. Refer to at least two examples from the extract in your answer. (This means that a good candidate will write fully and freely, covering more than just 2 examples, as we practised in class).
Worth 5 marks: write half a side of A4 and post on your blog tonight.


When Jake and Ryan are in the drug addicts front room, the placement of the syringes, empty bottles and general state of the very crucial to the audience to create a sense of menace and seediness in the atmosphere and understanding to the audience. The empty bottles provide us with background knowledge of the man as an addict and alcoholic. Showing that the alcohol has not only made his home a mess but his life as well, the bottles are a metaphor for him as well.

Another example of mise-en-scene in Cuffs would be around 7minutes in when the male -who is later on an identified criminal- is looking at the young girl through the fence in a convict-like shot where he appears to be behind bars of a cell. The way in which this is paired with the police car driving by foreshadows the events that may occur in the near future. The gentleman casted looks normal and could easily be a father but he is messy, he's unshaven and has greasy hair; presenting him to be in a bad place, presenting himself on the inside on the outside which again gives the watcher detail, not too much though so we are engaged and want to continue watching to learn the story of the man.

CAMERAWORK IN CUFFS

Analyse how camerawork is used in the extract to create meaning. Refer to at least two examples from the extract in your answer. 


When the hippy with long dreadlocks is angrily protesting over her imprisonment is threatening the desk Sargent with her family relations there is a focus pull from the face of Ryan when he's saying 'We don't care what peoples parents do' to the face of a confused Jake, until he clocks what is happening and the comment made was a sly dig at him as his father is the chief constable. He acts un-phased until there is reaction shots from the other officers which show they are laughing at him, he is then soon after seen as hurt and angry.

When Jo is in the Chief super's office and asks if Chief Super Robert Vickers is around to meet later and he turns her down and pushes her away there is a point of view shot to the image of the Chief Super, his wife and son on the side of his desk. This was put in to remind the character of what he has at home, and that he doesn't need any women outside of home to please him and entertain him. 

Soon after coming out of the office after being rejected, there is a slow zoom into Moffat's face. Harsh lighting and the slow zoom present all her emotions, she looks, old, drained, upset, embarrassed and very disappointed. This makes the viewers side with the character and feel for her.

During the pursuit between the burglars and the officers, there is a birds eye view / crane shot, this shows the places in which they are dealing with to be very confusing with roads leading everywhere; it may also act as an establishing shot to whats ahead of the pursuit. It allows us to sympathize with the driver Ryan, their job must be very stressful and confusing especially with a rookie in the car next to them, stressing over instructions.

EXAM Q5

QUESTION 5: 'Explain how social contexts influence television programmes. Refer to The Avengers.'

In the episode ‘The Town of No Return’ of ‘The Avengers’ it is noticeable that the time in which it is  set massively contributes to what we see on screen. This is obvious when looking at their social interactions and activities they do. At the near beginning of the episode while Miss Peel and Steed are on their way to the Little Bazeley, the interaction between them and the gentleman who gets on the train seems shocking to an audience of 2017, this is as now days with the use of mobile phones and other electronics it’s rare that face to face interaction occurs especially in places like trains. Also during the train scene afternoon tea between Steed and Miss Peel happens, this is also very uncommon to the 21^st century.

The Avengers was one of the most iconic movement in woman’s history, with an independent and capable character of Miss Emma Peel, prior to all of this, it would be almost unheard of to have a heroine, let alone a strong dominant female character, despite women getting the vote in 1928. Her violence to the imposters at the end of series four must’ve shocked many viewers around the time it was aired and she defied many stereotypes of women around the world.

What is even more obvious about the social context is the dialect and costumes. The characters announce all their words perfectly, reflecting their social class as being very intellectual and respectful. All of the characters are well spoken and most are polite again portraying their social class well. Their sentences are very well formed in that they always make complete sense. The costumes are very formal, Steed is always dressed well, presenting himself as bright and trustworthy individual, ideal for his characters role and very suitable and fitting for the time that The Avengers is set in. The Avengers is set around 20 years after the war which is noticeable in the clothes they wear and again the way in which they speak.

The war is also evident to have been recently this is because of subtle references, such as the bricks which spell out; ‘piggy warren killed in action, 1942’ the war ended in 1945, and The Avengers first aired in 1961, the location of what appears to be a deserted air field also has hints of a War atmosphere. During the first night, when Steed and Miss Peel first turn up to the pub, there is small planes hanging by a thread. ‘Ah, the old 33, RAF fighting squadron stationed here during the war, airfield just outside the village’ announces Smallwood, showing he has a clear knowledge of the war, which again was very common around the time in which the series is set. The rubble of the airfield again presents the war as a recent event – which it technically was; only 20 years ago planes were having dogfights above us and we had troops fighting for our lives and safety.

The influence of all of these occurrences effect story lines and characters massively, whether it be the small props like decoration in a pub, interactions on a train or even day to day greetings or the dialect, accent or way they dress, they all effect the series in some way shape or form.

EXAM Q2

EXAM QUESTION 2; Analyse how far the extract depicts the polices point of view rather than the criminal's point of view. In your answer you must;

• analyse aspects of the extract using examples to support your analysis

• judge how far these aspects depict the polices' point of view.

In the beginning of the first episode of cuffs, there is a voice over, whilst PC Ryan Drapper is rushing about in a police car to a crime scene, a voice over of the Chief Constable states how their officers will be 'facing constant challenges' will have to 'remain calm and assertive' and will be 'always striving for conflict resolution'. The use of voice over enhances how hard working and dedicated the police officers are. As Drapper approaches the situation between the nudists and the stag do revellers, the video is put in slow motion, the effect this has on the audiences view of the officers is that it makes us respect them, and envision them as hard-core, tough individuals, but when we see the situation between the men on the naturist beach the scene is quickly make lighthearted to the viewers, this and the controversy between what is said on the voice-over makes the scene very entertaining, but also may confuse the viewer of what our viewpoint on the police force should be.

Another scene shows a frightened drug abuser a confident short tempered Jake and a calm and assertive Ryan, this scene clearly shows how the officers can adapt to whatever frame of mind they need to be in. When the drug addict is so edgy and scared, he threatens whoever is at the door -which appears to be the officers- with a blade, to this Jake - the inexperienced yet confident rookie, flares up and becomes aggressive, this is quickly stopped when Ryan - the well experienced policeman pulls him away from the door. He quickly forms a relationship with the criminal as is visible when he asks 'do you remember me'. Later on in the scene Ryan searches the house meanwhile Jake is left to bandage up the cuts on the drug addicts arms, infront of our very eyes he is turned from an aggressive hands-on man, into a sympathetic and understanding individual. This is intensified by the use of slow piano music transforming the scene from tense to tender in a matter of seconds, the pointer view shot, gives an insight to the life of the victim. The use of closeup of Jake helps the viewers side with him, in his moment of realization of what being in the Police Force really takes.

The final example of a criminal is very major compared to the other examples, the scene in which a racist thug enters a shop and brutally assaults a young man, with no reason. The scene starts with foreshadowing an incident ahead, this is when the victim is on the phone to his mother and states 'everything will be okay'. But of course, this is incorrect. Soon after the young man enters the shop the thug follows him, at this point the shop keeper disappears behind the counter. The thug starts by asking 'are you laughing at me', this intimidates the victim, as he shuffles to another aisle. The thug then 'squares up' to the victim and states two racial slurs to the boys face. The scene is then cut off, zooming into where the shopkeeper was last seen, then zoomed out, revealing a whats thought to be lifeless body left stranded on the floor with a pool of blood surrounding him. PC Jo Moffat is left  to deal with the incident, when she tries to question the shop keepers son, their lawyer states that they are not obliged to make any comment, this reveals that it is hard and stressful trying to sort a lot of incidents as the lawyers are constantly involved making situations harder while they are only trying to back their clients.