BFI Study Day: follow-up work

BFI Study Day: follow-up work

The BFI Study Day on critical theory was a brilliant opportunity to develop our knowledge and understanding of media theorists.

We covered a lot of ground from gender to semiotics and postmodern theory. Complete the following tasks on your Media 1 Exam blog to follow up our work from the study day:

1) Type up your notes from the day.

Patriarchal Society - Male dominated society.

Gender is a performance - Series of gestures, actions, behavioural and dress codes that construct imaginary 'man' or 'woman'

Denotation - The direct or obvious meaning. 
Connotation - What we can infer from it.
Polysemic - Meanings aren't fixed.
Culturally determined - If you live somewhere with high police corruption, the denotation may be different to you than others E.G. Creates anxiety for you however, makes others feel safe.

Negotiated reading - Audience accepts some elements of meaning, but reflect others.
Oppositional reading - Audiences understand the intended meaning but decide to re-interpret the text to deliberately create an alternative.

Simulacra - Imitation that seems more real than the thing it is imitating.
Hyperreality - 'Mediated experiences' - Intensity that surpasses 'reality'

2) Write a one-sentence summary of the ideas of the theorists Matthew Daintrey-Hall covered (you can use your notes from task 1 here if relevant):

bell hooks: Bell Hooks is a radical black feminist. She believes that women are objectified and gender roles are constructed, not 'natural'.

Liesbet van Zoonen: Van Zoonen believes that in a patriarchal society, women's bodies are sexualised as being vulnerable and weak, whilst men's bodies are sexualised but through their power and strength. This offers male spectators pleasure by making them feel strong. 

Judith Butler: Butler believes that what we think of as gender is actually just performance: a repeated system of behaviours and costumes that are used so many times they become seen as 'natural'.

Saussure: Saussure believed that significance is made inside language in the relations of contrast between its parts, for instance semiotics, He considered society to be an arrangement of organization and social standards that structure an aggregate framework that gives conditions to importance settling on and thus choices and activities for people.

Barthes: Roland Barthes believed that signs we assume are denotations are actually 'dominant connotations' that hide ideologies. He called these 'myths'.

Stuart Hall: Stuart Hall said audiences often do not decode the meanings the way a texts creator intended. Some form negotiated or even oppositional meanings.

Lyotard: Lyotard trusts a totalising social account, that sorts out idea and encounters into a 'terrific 'story' that comprehends our lives.

Baudrillard: Baudrillard says "Hyperreality – a condition where 'reality' has been supplanted by simulacra."

3) Choose one of the films we saw extracts from and watch the whole movie: Captain Fantastic (2016), Pulp Fiction (1994) or Inception (2010). Write a 300 word analysis of your chosen film using theories from the study day (use the exam paragraph structure we were shown on the day - theory introduction, examples from text, why this 'proves' or 'disproves' the theory).

The story of Inception is that the hero, Cobb is a mechanical covert operative (Spy) who as opposed to breaking into an individual's home, office, or significantly personal computer, gets the data he needs by getting into the individual's psyche through their fantasies. Somebody approaches Cobb and needs to contact him yet as opposed to getting data out, the man needs Cobb to embed something, a procedure called "commencement." Cobb is reluctant to do it, however when the man offers to help Cobb return to his youngsters, Cobb concurs. Toward the end, he prevails with the mission, and reunites with his youngsters. Stuart Hall's hypothesis, can be connected to this motion picture, as the favored perusing the chief needs to put crosswise over to the gathering of people is this is definitely not a standard government agent kind film, as it doesn't include thefts and so on, as appeared in this film it is through his brain, this subverts the typical covert agent type storyline, which could allure groups of onlookers into watching it, as it is interesting and unique. Be that as it may, the oppositional perusing for this film is that getting into individuals' brain from their fantasies, could demonstrate the unreasonable idea of this film, which in this way could be a procrastinated on for a group of people, as a general rule you can't go into somebody's psyche and control it. Additionally, as Lyotard trusts that there is a totalising social account, that arranges thought and encounters into a 'fantastic 'story' that understands our lives. He expresses that media writings, have a 'terrific account', in Inception he needs to defeat a test to be brought together with his kids, this leads into the fabulous story of this film, and the utilization of storyline of being brought together with his youngsters connects back to the gathering of people, and how they cherish their friends and family, this makes the fantastic story, and at last satisfies the 'meta-story.'

Common - Letter to the Free

Common - Letter to the Free blog tasks

Work through the following tasks to create a comprehensive case study for Common's Letter to the Free.

Social and cultural context

Read this Billboard interview where Common talks about Letter to the Free, political hip hop and contemporary American society. Use the article and the notes we have made in lessons (also available above) to answer the following questions on the social, cultural and genre contexts for Letter to the Free.

1) What other projects has Common been involved in over recent years?

Common has always been one to incorporate activism into his music, but perhaps one of his most moving works is the haunting "Letter to the Free" from his 2016 album Black America Again. He turned that song into an affecting visual, which he debuted a longer version of at Tribeca Film Festival Sunday night (April 23).

2) What is the 13th Amendment of the American Constitution?

The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the US."

3) What were the Black Codes?

The Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states in 1865 and 1866 in the United States after the American Civil War with the intent and the effect of restricting African Americans' freedom, and of compelling them to work in a labor economy based on low wages or debt.

4) Why do people suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect to American culture 150 years after it was abolished by the 13th Amendment?

Some people suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect to American culture because of how traumatising the whole things was for black people.

5) Why was Ava DuVernay inspired to make the Netflix documentary 13th?

Ava was inspired to make the Netflix documentary, in order to draw attention to the fact that slavery still exists in America today.

6) Focusing on genre, what was the most significant time period for the rise in political hip hop?

The 1980s marked the diversification of hip hop as the genre developed more sophisticated styles, for example the political rise of hip hop.

7) Common talks about other current artists that have a political or protest element to their music. Who are they? Are there any other hip hop artists that you are aware of that have a strong political element to their work?

George and Common addressed the differences in hip-hop as activism now, with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper, versus when Common's career was just kicking off.

"I definitely have to first say that it was music in the late '80s and '90s that was truly reflective of a movement. It was the movement of black empowerment, black love, consciousness, just being aware. It was all of the above," Common said.

8) What album is Letter to the Free taken from? What was the critical reception for this album? You'll need to research this - the Wikipedia entry for the album is a good place to start.

Black America Again is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Common, Letter to the Free was taken from this album. Black America Again received widespread acclaim from critics.

Close-textual analysis and representation

Re-watch the music video several times to complete the following tasks in specific detail:

1) How does the Letter to the Free music video use cinematography to create meanings for the audience? (Camera shots and movement).

In this video, there is a wide range of long shots used throughout the music video, this could be done to create a clear narrative and realism, as it is trying to make the video as realistic as possible, this then makes sure there is an absence of close ups, but there is some evidence of some medium shots used in this video.

2) What is the significance of the constantly moving camera?

The moving camera could likewise imply how dark Americans were always moving around in America, and never truly got settled, additionally a more profound significance into subjection could proposes how slaves were relied upon to function extended periods and continually moving from spot to put, and in this video the camera is moving at a moderate pace, and that is the means by which it could have felt for the slaves amid subjugation, and the agony that they suffered when confronting circumstances, for example, these.

3) Why is the video in black and white?

This video could be shot in highly contrasting in which to connote the genuine tone of this melody.

4) How is mise-en-scene used to construct meaning for the audience - prison setting, costume, props, lighting, actor placement?

They have utilized a jail setting, to mean how dark individuals feel in America, always caught, abused and so on. It likewise fortifies the generalization where dark individuals are dependably in jail, and utilizing the jail as the focal topic, could demonstrate how they done it deliberately to strengthen the generalization, and bring issues to light on the issue.

5) Focusing on the track, what are the key lyrics that suggest the political message of the song?

Basic is likewise a referencing Ava Duvernay's narrative thirteenth. "Letter to the Free" is the tune Common pitched to Ava, "as an impactful summation of her ground-breaking narrative", and it shows up in the narrative also.

6) What is the significance of the floating black square motif? Discuss your own interpretations alongside Common's explanation of it in the Billboard feature linked above.

The floating black square suggests that black people are trapped in the system and there is no way out of it.

7) How does the video reference racism, slavery and the oppression of black culture? Make reference to specific shots, scenes or moments in the video.

8) How can Gilroy's idea of black diasporic identity be applied to Common's Letter to the Free?

The most striking reference to bigotry in this video, is again through the dark square toward the finish of the video, the building up shot of this spot demonstrates the dark square in a cotton field, which again could demonstrate another way subjugation is being displayed as frequently dark Americans needed to work at fields.

9) What other theories of race and ethnicity can be applied to this video? E.g. Hall, Rose or Dyson.

Stuart Hall suggests that audiences often blur race and class which leads to people associating particular races with certain social classes.He suggests that western cultures are still white dominated and that ethnic minorities in the media are misinterpreted due to underlying racist tendencies

10) What current events in America and worldwide are referenced in the song and video?

Racism in America within the black community.

Music video: theory

1) How does the This Is America video meet the key conventions of a music video?


The This Is America video meets a numerous amount of key conventions of a typical music video. Throughout the music video there was performance element used as Childish Gambino was singing. Furthermore, he was also dancing. The use of mise-en-scene made the music video more interesting to watch and the narrative was being told in a very unique way. The music video used a variety of camera shots in the video. From long shots to tracking shots and close ups.

2) What comment is the video making on American culture, racism and gun violence?

The music video is telling us a message and the message is that there are a lot of things that are wrong with American culture, from gun violence to police brutality and racism. The fact that Gambino used the gun in the video clearly portrays how easy it is to get hold of a gun and kill someone.

3) Write an analysis of the video applying the theories we have learned: Gilroy, Hall, Rose and Dyson. 

Gilroy - Gilroy is especially keen on dark diasporic personality – the sentiment of never fully having a place or being acknowledged in western social orders even right up 'til the present time. Gilroy proposes that dark music expresses diasporic encounters of protection from white entrepreneur culture. As appeared in this video, Gambino endeavors to raise the issue of prejudice, and how they have basically must be accommodating to white individuals in America. Gilroy has additionally examined the idea of "twofold awareness", this is simply the thought individuals have see through the eyes of others-as a rule a white commanded media, this could associate back to the issues brought up in this video about bigotry, and how it isn't followed up on, also this connect to the white-ruled media, and how they reject any sorts of prejudice in the public eye, particularly of an alternate ethnic gathering.

Stuart Hall - Essentially, Stuart Hall recommends that crowds regularly obscure race and class which prompts individuals partner specific races with certain social classes. He recommends that western societies are as yet white ruled and that ethnic minorities in the media are confused because of fundamental supremacist propensities. BAME individuals are regularly spoken to as 'the other'. This connections back to one of the qualities he trusts that is in the american media, 'the comedian/performer', it could be contended that this video of Childish Gambino, could be identified with that, as in this video it could be deciphered that he an entertainer, and to specific individuals they can locate his acting and moving in humerus, and not looking for the more profound importance to this video.

Tricia Rose - Rose recommended that hip jump at first gave gatherings of people a knowledge into the lives of youthful, dark, urban Americans and furthermore gave them a voice (counting engaging female specialists). Nonetheless, Rose has since reprimanded business hip bounce and recommends dark culture has been appropriated and abused by private enterprise. In this video, Childish Gambino is endeavouring to give the crowd a knowledge of how it resembles living in America if your dark, and through this he is attempting to bring issues to light, and as Rose stated, 'give them a voice', as watching this video you can see Gambino is attempting to demonstrate to you what's going on with the American culture, as express as could be expected under the circumstances, to give an understanding of youthful, dark, urban Americans.

Eric Dyson - Dyson recommends that political hip bounce during the 1990s didn't get the credit (or business achievement) it merited and this prompted the rap music of today – which can be conspicuous, sexualised and glamorizing criminal conduct. Dyson states: "Hip bounce music is significant accurately on the grounds that it reveals insight into contemporary governmental issues, history and race. Getting it done, hip bounce offers voice to peripheral dark youth we are not used to got notification from on such pundits. Unfortunately, the illuminated parts of hip bounce are disregarded by commentators who are out to fulfill resentment against dark youth culture… " This can be connected back to Childish Gambino and how a dark rapper, is making a melody with such an amazing message and video to bring issues to light, indicates how powerful hip jump music can be, this demonstrates a difference the thing Rose has recently said about Hip Hop music.


Read this Guardian feature on This Is America - including the comments below.

4) What are the three interpretations suggested in the article?

1. He's playing Jim Grow.
2. He's duping us with dance.
3. He's taking on the police.

5) What alternative interpretations of the video are offered in the comments 'below the line'? 

One 'below the line' comment that was made is "It's just music"

Music Video introduction blog task

Music Video introduction blog task

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #69: Music Video. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets - you'll need to save the factsheet to USB or email it to yourself in order to complete this at home. Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What is the purpose of a music video?

The purpose of a music video is to sell products, the most obvious of which is the song featured in the video. However, other connected products are also marketed by a music video. For example, the album the song is featured on, the film the song is part of the soundtrack for, an upcoming tour by the artist and merchandise like t-shirts.The purpose of a music video is to sell products, the most obvious of which is the song featured in the video. However, other connected products are also marketed by a music video. For example, the
album the song is featured on, the film the song is part of the soundtrack for, an upcoming tour by the artist and merchandise like t-shirts.The purpose of a music video is to sell products, the most obvious of which is the song featured in the video. However, other connected products are also marketed by a music video. For example, the album the song is featured on, the film the song is part of the soundtrack for, an upcoming tour by the artist and merchandise like t-shirts.The purpose of a music video is to sell products, the most obvious
of which is the song featured in the video. However, other connected products are also marketed by a music video. For example, the album the song is featured on, the film the song is part of the soundtrack for, an upcoming tour by the artist and merchandise like t-shirts.

2) How has the digital age changed the production and distribution of music videos?

The development of new media technologies meant that music videos, and the songs along with them, were more widely available at any time. Videos could be uploaded to video hosting sites like YouTube and viewed using portable media devices such as mobile phones and iTouch devices, allowing audiences to see the video

and hear the song whenever and wherever they liked.

3) Which three major record labels are behind VEVO? What is VEVO and why was it created?

In America, three major record companies, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Abu Dhabi Media (along with content licensed by EMI), have also launched Vevo, a video hosting site specifically for music videos. The content of Vevo is syndicated to YouTube in the UK with YouTube and Google receiving a share of advertising revenue for directing users to the official versions of music videos rather than those uploaded by a third party.

4) What are the key conventions of a music video?

The purpose of a music video is to encourage viewers to purchase a copy of the song featured and other products associated with the artist. Movement is essential to music video and usually complements the
rhythm of the song. A music video may have a narrative. The storyline may relate to the song’s lyrics and illustrate what is being said or be independent from the song and tell a different story. Music video is such a well established genre that it is possible for producers to play with the conventions by making references to
the genre in general and to other music videos. This is called intertextuality.

5) How can narrative be used in music video? Give an example of a music video that uses a narrative.

A music video may have a narrative. The storyline may relate to the song’s lyrics and illustrate what is being said or be independent from the song and tell a different story. For example, I Was a Teenage Anarchist by Against Me! features a loose narrative which links to the song’s lyrics. The video features a young man running along Venice Beach trying to avoid the police who are chasing him, indicating that he is a rebel or ‘anarchist’.

6) What examples are provided in the factsheet for intertextuality in music videos?

For example, the video for My Chemical Romance’s Teenagers features ‘alternative’ cheerleaders, which is reminiscent of the cheerleaders in the video for Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. Most fans of My Chemical Romance are likely to be familiar with Nirvana and this iconic video.

7) Why do audiences enjoy intertextual references in media products?

references can also be more esoteric and obscure, allowing the audience to feel pleasure when they recognize the reference.

8) Read the music video example analysis on page 3 of the factsheet. Select a music video of your own choice and write your own analysis using the following headings:

SL - FWA Boss (Official Music Video)

SL is a 17 year old rapper who is signed with the following record labels: Resopal Schallware, HH Records, SL, SL MUSIC. The music video covers typical music video conventions such as lip syncing, performance element. The music video also has a clear narrative which is that: There is a female character who looks innocent in the beginning however, she pulls out a gun and shoots a male character who is sitting on the car. She then sees her main targets with the briefcase she is looking for, she uses a sniper to shoot them one by one. The female character then goes onto walking casually and then suddenly stabbing another female in the stomach. She finally delivers the briefcase to the artist (SL) who is also a actor in the music video. The target audience for the type of music SL creates ranges from 15-24.

9) Watch the video for Ice Cube's It Was A Good Day (1993). How did this video set the conventions for later hip-hop music videos?

 

10) How important do you think music videos are in the marketing and promotion of music artists in 2018? Are music videos essential to a band or artist's success?

This music video covers many conventions of a typical music video and goes beyond it. The use of the cinematic shots make it look more than just a normal music video. The artists have clearly gone above and beyond to give their fans something amazing to watch. The use of the drone footage gives the music video a real movie feel. The artists (Hardy Caprio and DigDat) have both used performance element within the music video as they lip synced.
The music video also had visual effects such as the strobe effect which a lot of music videos use nowadays.