Indepth Analysis of Video From Chosen Genre - The XX

The XX - VCR



I have chosen to analysis this song as The XX are an alternative band, and this video for their song 'VCR' has similar themes to what we want to put into our video and also has some similar shots to what we want to put in our video as well. This music video also contains some theories which can be found in Goodwin's Theory of Music Videos.

 

Firstly, this video displays stereotypical genre characteristics of both the genre but also the artist, The XX are an alternative band, and their music and videos completely live up to and adhere to what is expected from this genre. Their music tends to be very mysterious and have a lot of hidden messages, the video for this song is one of their more 'easy to understand' videos as many of them are extremely artistic. Alternative music tends to very deep and about love, this video displays these characteristics as a couple are featured in the video.

 

Secondly The XX are presenting a vague link between the lyrics and the visuals in this video, there aren't any actual things shown in the video which link directly to the lyrics that is being sung at the same moment, however there is an overall link to the visuals and the lyrics. The song is referring to a couple throughout the song by reference to the lyrics 'I think we're superstars,
You say you think we are the best thing' and featured throughout the video is a couple.

 

The link between the music and the visuals also has a very weak link. There are some points when the cuts and changes of shots fit with the music. A good example of when this happens is at the beginning of the video, the songs contains some chiming sounds, and whenever one of these sounds is made, on most occasions a cut happens. This is effective, due to the fact the video isn't very elaborate, the fact that the music and the visuals have a link near the beginning will help get the attention of anyone watching the video.   

 

One of Goodwin's Theory points with regards to music videos is having multiple close ups of the artist in their video, this isn't possible in this video as the artists aren't featured. However the two people in the video, despite not being the artists, do have many close ups, helping the audience see what they are doing and also helping the audience see the emotions they are feeling in the video.

 

In this video there is no obvious attraction to the notion of how people look or dress, or any voyeuristic attitudes towards women. The video is in completely black and white throughout meaning you don't get any real detail on what the characters in the video are wearing, both characters remain full clothed throughout also. Both the female and male in this video are seen to equal as they are doing an equal amount of what could be considered as 'work', also the male doesn't have an characteristic attitudes towards the woman, such as making her a house wife, however this could be due to the fact they are both young.

 

The song isn't featured in any major films, meaning there are no major clips which could have been featured in the video, this may also be down tot he type of band The XX are, as they aren't a commercial band as such, they are unlikely to feature any films in their videos. However the song was featured on a programme called 'Lie to me' which would have given the song some exposure, however there is nothing relating to this show in the video.

 

Analysis of Music Video Using Goodwin's Theory

It's Time - Imagine Dragons

Feature 1 - Music video demonstrates genre characteristics - The genre of the band Imagine Dragons is Indie Rock, this genre of music usually produces music videos which are quite empowering is most music in this genre is rock but is normally quite up beat and feel good. Despite the overall theme of the video being quite empowering and uplifting, the fact that the video throughout has a very dark overall means that the video is partly going against the stereotypical feel of a video in this genre.

Feature 2 - There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals -

'And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit' - When this lyric is being sung the band are seen to be walking out of what seems to be a wreckage or pit.

'The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell' - When this line if sung the band are seen to be walking towards a cloudy dark landscape.

These links between lyrics and visuals help the audience gain a better understanding of the meaning behind the video and help them build a connection between the video and lyrics.

Feature 3 - There is a relationship between music and visuals -

When the lead singer sings the line 'Never changing who I am' he punches his chest in time to the beat of the music. Also for the majority of the video, the cuts only happen on a beat of the music, doing this helps with the continuity of the video and helps it flow better.

 

Feature 4 - Record label demands close ups - Throughout the video there is a frequent us of close ups on the male lead singer in the band, doing this helps the audience get a better understanding of who the lead singer is, but also put empathises on the performance part of the video. The record label require close up as it helps the band and mainly the lead singer or front man of the band to get more public exposure, meaning his is more easily recognisable to the public. The lead singer being more recognisable will lead to things like posters and t-shirt being sold as there will be more interest in the public about him.

 

Feature 5 - Regular mention of how people look & voyeuristic treatment of women - There is minimal reference to the way people look in this video and minimal reference to women, however towards the end of the video, there is a female who is suspended in mid-air, as she is dressed in what seems to be just a t-shirt and a jacket, some would say that she looks vulnerable and has been made to look like an object of desire for the other men in the video.

Feature 6 - Intertextual references - Intertextual references are present when other forms of media can be found in a music video, if intertexutal references where present in this video there would be something along the lines of clips or characters from a film or programme the song has featured in, but because this is present in the video, there are no intertexual reference present in this video.

Goodwin's Theory

Independent Learning - Music Video Fact Sheet

The Purpose of Music Videos in the Digital Age

- The purpose of a music video is to sell products, most obviously the song which is featuring over it, however a lot of other things can be sold through music videos.

- Other things which can be sold are things like, the album the song is on, a film that song might be featuring in, an upcoming tour the artist is doing or things like merchandise or clothing brands.

- Music videos are a very different way of marketing to normal forms of marketing as the consumer is actually getting the product they are being sold. For example when you see a car advert on TV, the advert is making the item desirable to you, and not actually giving it to you, however a music video is giving you the song and the video.



YouTube Homepage

- Giving people full access to the product in marketing before the digital age was far to problematic as songs where only available to listen to at certain times in certain places like Top Of The Pops.

- However due to advances in media technologies people are able to watch music videos on portable platforms like YouTube by viewing them on their Mobiles or I-Pods.

- However the fact that people can view things online and on mobile platforms means that people are less likely to buy physical copies of an album/song as they can listen to it online for free.

- At first artists and record companies were reluctant to allow people to upload videos to sites like YouTube due to copyright, however they realised it was impossible to control who uploaded what so they ended up allowing it but by controlling who does it.

- Artists have realised that having their own channels and linking things like iTunes links to buy their songs or links to their social media sites actually helps with publicity and making money.

Conventions of Music Videos

'Haim - Don't save me' - showing one of the main convention
of featuring the band.

- A music video adds something to the experience of listening to the song it is with.

- Although music videos can be extremely varied due to genre there are conventions which are evident through out.

- Movement is essential to music videos and usually complements the rhythm of the song.

- Most music videos have a narrate
ve, the narrative links to the lyrics and illustrate what is being said or be independent from the song and tell a different story.

-Most music videos feature the band and the artist as they are also a product to be sold. The artist is usually seen playing an instrument or lip syncing to the track, depending on their role in the band.

 

- I got this information from a fact booklet which was put together informing people about the purpose of a music video and the conventions you find in a music video.

Initial Ideas on our Music Video

 

After talking with my group we decided that we didn't want to use a song by a well known artist, we would rather pick an artist who isn't as well known and is more independent, this is because it would be easier for us to contact them, plus we will be able to have the actually artist starring in our video when we come to make it.

 

After going over musicians that each of us know we decided to go with an artist called Ben Pavitt, who is good friends with Me and Charlotte. Deciding to use his original song called 'Lights' means we can work closely with the artist during the filming and he will be easily available if we ever need to re-shoot any of the shots.

 

Below is a digital version of the initial diagram we did when thinking about all the aspects of our video.

 

Notes On Music Artist Poster

Lady Gaga - Born This Way - Music Poster

Initially what makes this poster stand out is the fact that there are only 3 colours used, the main ones being Black and White and the other one Red is only used slightly on Lady Gaga's lips. This draws attention to the poster as it is very monotone and basic, which can actually be more effective that something that has a lot going on. The poster uses the same font throughout and stands out a lot due to the contrasting of the colours of the background and the font. The artists name and the date of the album release are shown in a white font and the name of the album is shown with black lettering on a white background. This is done to draw more attention to the fact that the album is by Lady Gaga and the date it comes out, allowing the viewer to find out what the album is called after they have got this information. The image used is striking also as it is of the artist, and because its the album cover, not many people have seen it before meaning it will draw them too the advertisement. Due to the fact the artist looks a lot different from how she did on the cover of her last album, it makes the person viewing the advert want to listen to the album and see if her music has changed as much as her. 

Why? - I have analysed this artist poster as it will aid me in how I am going to make mine. This analysis will help me decide what I need to include on the poster buut also how big and what colour everything needs to be as certain things need more attention than other things, like the artists name and the release date are more important that a picture of the artist or the album name.

Notes On Magazine Advertisement

Queen of the Stone Age - Like Clockwork Advert

Initially when you see this advertisement you are stricken by the bold colour red that is used in the background which contrasts a lot with the colour black that the two figures are wearing. 

The font used in the advertisement is the same throughout , however despite being quite thin, it is coloured effectively against the background, meaning the words stand out, especially the 'OUT NOW' which is white on black, a combination that works very well. Also the bands name is bolder than the title of the album, showing how making sure the readers know who the band are is more important than them knowing the album name. This advert is very basic and doesn't contain any actual images, just a sketchy cartoon picture of two figures, however because of the colouring it makes the advert very interesting and draws the reader in. Also the slight use of the colour blue helps the advert to stand out more. The words which you are most drawn to on the page is 'OUT NOT' due to the fact it is contrasted well with the black and also because it is central and bold, it the most important thing the advert has to get across to the reader. 

Why? Analysing this magazine advert will help me in many ways when it comes to making my digipack, firstly iw will aid me when planning what to include in my magazine advert such as wording and colour, it will also help me as it gives me an insite into what attracts people to the advert, for example wether you need the bands name or the album title on the album, and how much of the page does it need to take up.