2. In what way does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media
products?
3. Codes and conventions for music videos are easily subverted and adapted in order to match the genre of music. I
therefore found it, after research into my chosen genre, easy to develop ideas for my music video and develop the
codes and conventions of the indie genre. Another thing I found whilst developing my research and watching
different music videos was that many bands developed their own 'style' of music video through often keeping the
same director in order for the style of their music to be constantly presented within their music videos. In addition
to this, many directors often subvert codes and conventions in order to represent the band through the music
video.
All music videos which use the same
director.
This understand of subverting the codes and conventions of music videos through the representation of the band
and their music allowed me to adapt ideas I had seen through their other music videos and artwork in order to
maintain the band's sense of identity in order to subvert the typical indie genre of music videos and play with
ideas which I had previously had before settling on a genre of music.
4. My first idea was to keep the music video conceptual, I decided upon this idea as I decided that I wanted to
subvert the typical indie genre of performance based videos. I therefore went about finding a concept to focus
upon. I looked into previous work the band I had chosen (COURAGEHAVECOURAGE) had done and noticed
a considerable amount of stuffed animals featured within their work. Although I didn't want to copy this idea, I
wanted to take these quirky elements which featured within the bands work and adapt it for my own video;
this is ultimately what lead me to the masks.
5. Subverting codes and conventions began to lead me to far away
from the indie rock genre and I decided that I should also include
a performance based element throughout. This idea was mainly
influenced through watched both proper music videos in addition
to previous work done by A2 students. Whilst watching both types
of work I developed my ideas further and decided that the band
would be needed throughout the video. The band idea proved to
hard though in terms of setting, I wanted to keep the filming outside
to work with the conceptual elements and pair the two together,
however, the band was too hard to move everything out side and I therefore decided after further research that it
was vital to include a performance based element but this could still be achieved by the use of only the singer as
representing the band. I therefore was able to develop the codes and conventions of a typical indie music video
in addition to subverting parts in order to represent the band.
Once I had settled on this idea one music video in particular came to mind as something which I felt I'd enjoy to
adapt and take ideas from in order to develop the genre was The Scientist by Coldplay. When looking back
through my work there are many points which are influenced through moments in the Coldplay video. The video
helped me gain confidence to attempt things I previously was too scared to try.
One thing which I decided to attempt during my music video in order to both develop the genre as it had already
been done but additionally attempt to subvert it through adding originality was rewinding both singular and
sequences of shots in order to cannote the message of the song as 'nothing makes sense'
6. Further shots influenced by the Coldplay video helping me develope the genre.
The reversing footsteps
I did not copy the entire music video and my
music video is featured in real time. However, I
decided that including the reversal of sequences
and shots would allow me to both subvert and
develop the indie/ indie rock genre of music. I
further believe that I added a postmodern element
to my music video due to the change of time,
allowing the audience to become detached from
the music video rather than submerged in it in
order to consider the effects and shots in relation
to the lyrics of the song.
The wood shots with the lead singer.
I was further influenced by the wood sequence
during the Coldplay video and watching this
helped me discover a range of different shots
which could work through my music video and I
tried to adapt these as best I could in order to
develop the genre of my music video.
Although I drew influence for clothing for
several different bands of the genre, Coldplay
too had a similar dress code that I was going for
to represent the genre of music and I believe
that similarities can be drawn between the two in
order to develop the genre.
7. How effective is the combination of
your main product and your ancillary
texts.
8. After research into artwork I now understand the importance of the ancillary task. Although the music video is able
to portray the band behind the song, the CD and artwork is similarly an equally important part in terms of
presenting the personality of the band.
I looked into many different bands in order to see how they were able to portray what the album or the band
represented in order to be recognised by their fans. One thing I found many bands of the indie rock genre had it
common was album covers which cannote a message behind the album in particular, rather than the bands
themselves taking. This was what helped me develop my ancillary texts and what helps the combination of my
music video and ancillary texts work well together, as I don't have to represent a band which I was similarly unable
to do through my music video. In addition to this I believe that the combination of music video and ancillary texts
were effective as the images used in the indie rock genre allow for interpretation, something I had attempted
throughout my main media product.
The tiger is symbolic of strength
and physically power, therefore
denoting the title of the album
'This Is War'
Jimmy Eat World is able to
use the colourful peacock
feather in order to cannot the
'light' featured within the
album name.
9. Although I had learnt what was typical of the indie rock genre I looked further within my research in
order to maintain the personality of the band through both the video and the artwork in order to make
them both effective and looked into previous artwork of the band and this is what I found and arguably
heavily influenced my front cover of my artwork the most.
Picture of the
ocean - typical of
The bold lettering is
the indie rock
also something
genre as it leaves
which I found
meaning up for
representative of the
interpretation.
indie rock genre.
The pale colours are
not typical of what I
found from the indie The shape at the
rock genre - which foreground of the image
was bold and either is what I believe to hold
very dark or very the most personality and
bright but I beleive most representative of
this once again the band in terms of their
presents the band artwork as it subverts the
themselves rather typical indie rock cover
than a genre. Which and this is something I
can be easily decided to carry forward
changed and mixed onto my own ancillary
together to creat texts.
hybrids.
10. In addition to the guitar linking the music video to the artwork I decided
to include it in order to represent the rock side of the genre.
I decided
also to carry
forward the
lettering of
the band just
as a signed
band would.
My use of
image
behind was
due to the
music video
as I decided
that this
would make
the two
more
effective.
I decided to similarly use a shape in
Similarly to the guitar the masks appear in block colour in order to carry forward
order to represent the music video and by doing the band themselves and what their
so I believe make the two effective. previous artwork presented.
11. In order to create synergy between my two ancillary texts I
researched into posters and found that typical of the indie
rock genre is for bands to use the front cover of their album in
order to give the band their identity in addition to making the
album easily recognisable for the audience.
As the poster found be featured in
streets, shops and magazines I
decided that it was important to
adapt my idea and to perhaps add
more of an effect to the poster in
order to make it stand out and still
be recognisable to create synergy
between the two.
13. From my audience feedback I was able to learn what people did and didn't like about my music video and this
included the technical side to the video too. What I found from the majority of my feedback was many responses
reflected my own personal views when looking back over the music video.
An example of some
responses
Although answers I received varied I do overall believe that the general issues to focus upon was the meaning
presented throughout my music video in addition to things such as the lip syncing. I agree that the lip syncing was
not perfect when watching my music video back after completion and there are bits that I do would like to have
changed. As for the miscommunication of the meaning of both the song and video, both are up for interpretation,
however, my personal understand of the song lead me to take the approach which I did with my music video
through the presentation of metaphors with the cups of tea symbolising the relaxed nature of the song, the idea
that we need to stop worrying because nothing will ever make sense but that's the way that it is.
Most of my feedback towards my effects was highly positive, this is an aspect which surprised but pleased me as I
thought that not everyone would like it, however, it was used in order to portray the same message as the shots.
14. The feedback from my ancillary texts was mainly positive with only the slight corrects suggested such as the use
of more instruments within the images. Overall I too was highly happy with my ancillary texts and am pleased that
they have received such good comments. I have learnt that people would have expected different things for the
genre, however, I believe that although not entirely fitting into the genre I was able to capture the video within the
artwork therefore creating the identity of the band.
I have learnt things I could change and given the opportunity I would take on some of the comments on bored and
try and incorporate and change some things which have been suggested too me.
