What representations of the artist are constructed in this music video? How does the use of camera, editing, mise-en-scene help to construct these?
Norman Cook, namely known as the DJ 'Fat Boy Slim' is considered as one of the most familiar faces in the British electronic music scene. His music helped define the 90s and records popularised his profile.
Intertextuality is used in the opening of the music video through slapstick comedy of a child's TV programme. The viewer hears Tom and Jerry - being played on the TV in the background of the actor painting pottery. That image may foreshadow the sillyness of the video that is yet to be discovered and how unrealistic the entire music video of someone's true daily life is. Also, the slapstick actions may reflect those in the music video where their movements are exaggerated and exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. As if the actors are copying what they have watched from the show initially and are influenced by a comedy programme more than human lives itself. These activities hint at the artist himself since his personality is unserious and lives to enjoy the life that surrounds him. Overall, those representations portray Norman Cook's persona as a carefree, friendly individual who enjoys the fun side of life.
In one particular scene, especially the fast paced parts, from a behind the scenes I have discovered that they use a blue poll that is attached to them and are influenced/controlled from where the poll is going.
In terms of representation of the artist himself, during the majority of his music videos - Cook was not present in the making of them. "Ya Mama" is a narrative based video which unreels how immediately as soon as the man living in the house receives a parcel of a cassette and starts to listen to it he starts to loose control of their feelings. It is further emphasised by the camera movements and edit upon how some shots are sped up in order to accentuate the turbulent and deranged atmosphere. Clearly, the music video has purposely been portrayed as Norman Cook as an individual who 'thinks past the normality of life' as the music video is presented almost as a real life cartoon. Everything conveyed from the music video when his song plays is unusual however when its not playing people are living an ordinary life.
Throughout the construction of the music video, there appears to be a constant motif within all Fat Boy Slim's music video's even though he does not direct them and each one produced is created by a different director. Most of his videos include normal dressed people who are overly dancing abnormally to his music. His music almost acts as a if it possesses over them and they turn into another character. Similarly, his other video, "Weapon of choice" a man dressed in a suit (typically thought to have been working) automatically starts dancing in beat to the music; contrasting the location and set of the music video which conveys a formal and posh atmosphere. Since the actors are only dancing when the music of Cook's plays - it presents the ideology that people can only enjoy themselves when listening to his music, else they just live a boring, ordinary life where little happiness.
Furthermore, there is a mid shot of a character wearing a jacket with a peace symbol in the centre. His hair is long for a steretoypical 'man'. We see the peace symbol when he is about to put the tape in the stereo for the first time to listen to the song. The mise-en-scene and the dress of all the actors are purposely created in order to portray a specific meaning. Those who wear these type of clothing are commonly referred to as hippies (or a personality of one) and to use drugs. His hair and beard creates the impression that he is lazy and not taking care of himself - further accentuated by the music when he cannot control his actions.
With reference to the mise-en-scene, a complete town market was built and destroyed; filmed in Carriacou, Grenadines. Thus, the actions in the music video are chaotic, certainly as it is located in a mainstream area where an audience member would not expect an event like that to occur which heightens the dramatic tension, excitement yet suprise of the actors. It is clear that Cook's targeted audience is one of different, daring, anarchy and those of whom break rules against everyone else.
The long shot of the deprived house displays the setting of Carriacou Island and represents the characters as poor. The conventions suggest the artists ideology upon how anyone despite their class can listen to his music and there is no discrimination upon his lyrics. The main message clearly conveys how there is no restrictions in society portraying how despite his character being stereotypically a hippy - the music is unrestricted and he is free to react however he wants.
Tuesday 20 November 2018
Monday 12 November 2018
Media Terminology
Social Realism
Social realism is a term used by media producers from different institutions in which they focus on giving the audience a true indication of the socio-political conditions of the working class, essentially critcising the power structure behind these conditions.
Common themes:
Post Modernism
Rejects the traditional concept that one media product or text is of any greater value than the other. Everything should be deserved to reach a targeted audience with the correct meaning.
The distinction between the 'media' and 'reality' has deteriorated and in this period of time, we live in a 'reality' characterised by images and representations - which a lot of the time have been photoshopped. It is the idea that anything can be art and culture 'eats itself' as there is no longer anything new to produce or distribute.
Furthermore, postmodernism could reflect modern society's thoughts of alienation, insecurity and uncertainties concerning identity, history, progress and truth. Celebrity icons such as Madonna and Michael Jackson are clear examples of postmodernism because they have created / re-created different identities for themselves.
A variety of Films and Television Programmes exhibit postmodernism traits, for instance; the theme of 'Spectacle' - where the TV displays spectacle to attract the audience and hook them on a storyline. The Jeremy Kyle Show is a illustration of this as it sets up hapless and uneducated guests to appear on the show in an embarrassing way, wanting to fight each other.
Intertextuality
The shaping of a text's meaning by another text. It is the process by which the producer/director will create references to any kind of media text via another media text.
The media definition for telling a story. The way different elements in a story are organised to create a meaningful story, parts of these elements can be facts used in a documentary or character and action in a drama.
Different media's tell stories in a varied of ways. Narrative is informed by character, action and location.
A collective view from a system of values, attitudes and beliefs which someone holds to be true or important to them or a group; these are shared by a culture or society about how that society should perform. These ideas held by media producers differentiate depending on the media text.
In a newspaper, the ideology of the editors could influence the way certain stories are represented and most newspapers are politically swayed in terms of right or left wing and can persuade their readers to vote for a certain wing.
In a documentary about asylum seeker, the representation of their story could be edited and influence how the filmmaker wants it to.
Oppositional reading
1 of 3 main responses an audience member may have to a media text, where they understand the preferred reading but choses to oppose it. For example, the campaign to stop the winner of The X Factor getting to Christmas number one charts.
Other 2:
Preferred reading - When the audience responds to the ideas in the way the media producer wants them to. Seasonal programmes such as The Voice UK / The X Factor - potentially a large scale view member voting and the purchase of the winning singer's single.
Negotiated reading - When the audience responds by accepting and rejecting specific elements. For instance, voting for the underdog in a talent competition or questioning the programme through social media platforms.
Naturalistic Mise-en-scene
A realistic style of mine-en-scene that appears natural and recognisable to viewers. The world and objects follow the law of nature and society and the elements have a logical relation. Mise-en-scene and the characters mutually define each other.
Linear Narrative
A story that is presented in a logical manner by telling what happens from one point in time to the next, without using flashbacks/forwards and the retuning to the present. The narrative includes a plot, characters, climax, setting and resolution. e.g., YA MAMA
Narrative Disruption
Where events are disrupted for example out of chronological order and does not follow the casual pattern of a story line. Where something within the narrative changes the course of the action.
Bravura
An impressive technical skill that is shown in an artistic performance or work.
Social realism is a term used by media producers from different institutions in which they focus on giving the audience a true indication of the socio-political conditions of the working class, essentially critcising the power structure behind these conditions.
In reference to the history nature of this term, at the beginning of the 1960s British cinema brought down the old system of class/hierarchy pride, privilege and period dramas.
Social Realist films are usually a depiction of a true-to-life characters and locations and explores the political and social issues within the world. The lighting is normally 'naturalistic', meaning it does not use lenses or soft lighting.
Social Injustice
Racial Injustice
Economic hardship
Working class as heroes.
Work produced from artists to writers to filmmakers all have the same aim and try to portray life at the time. Raymond Williams defines 'Social Realism' as an extension by which previously under-represented groups in society become represented. These creative, fictional pieces of work are secular - they revolve around logic and reasons instead of mystical or religious matters.
Post Modernism
Rejects the traditional concept that one media product or text is of any greater value than the other. Everything should be deserved to reach a targeted audience with the correct meaning.
The distinction between the 'media' and 'reality' has deteriorated and in this period of time, we live in a 'reality' characterised by images and representations - which a lot of the time have been photoshopped. It is the idea that anything can be art and culture 'eats itself' as there is no longer anything new to produce or distribute.
Furthermore, postmodernism could reflect modern society's thoughts of alienation, insecurity and uncertainties concerning identity, history, progress and truth. Celebrity icons such as Madonna and Michael Jackson are clear examples of postmodernism because they have created / re-created different identities for themselves.
A variety of Films and Television Programmes exhibit postmodernism traits, for instance; the theme of 'Spectacle' - where the TV displays spectacle to attract the audience and hook them on a storyline. The Jeremy Kyle Show is a illustration of this as it sets up hapless and uneducated guests to appear on the show in an embarrassing way, wanting to fight each other.
Intertextuality
The shaping of a text's meaning by another text. It is the process by which the producer/director will create references to any kind of media text via another media text.
Intertextual figures include:
allusion, quotation, translation, parody, pastiche etc.
An example in TV is in 'Family Guy' when they edited a version of Star Wars. The whole episode is based solely around intertextuality where an audience member of Family Guy who has never watched an Film of Star Wars will be clueless in reference to the associations of the sci-fi. That episode is classed as a parody of the Star Wars films.
Another, is the celebrity Eminem's Vevo music video, 'Without me' in which his costume is the same as Robins' dress sense in the film of Batman. However, instead of the large lettered 'R' there is an 'E' for Eminem; conveying the idea that the artist believes he is as superhero like Robin off Batman as well as this being a parody.
Narrative
The media definition for telling a story. The way different elements in a story are organised to create a meaningful story, parts of these elements can be facts used in a documentary or character and action in a drama.
Different media's tell stories in a varied of ways. Narrative is informed by character, action and location.
Diegesis
The telling of a story by a narrator who summarises events in the plot and comments on the conversations and thoughts of the characters, events and things within the main or primary narrative.
In filmmaking this is used where the story is depicted on screen, as opposed to the story in real time that the screen narrative is about.
A collective view from a system of values, attitudes and beliefs which someone holds to be true or important to them or a group; these are shared by a culture or society about how that society should perform. These ideas held by media producers differentiate depending on the media text.
In a newspaper, the ideology of the editors could influence the way certain stories are represented and most newspapers are politically swayed in terms of right or left wing and can persuade their readers to vote for a certain wing.
In a documentary about asylum seeker, the representation of their story could be edited and influence how the filmmaker wants it to.
Oppositional reading
1 of 3 main responses an audience member may have to a media text, where they understand the preferred reading but choses to oppose it. For example, the campaign to stop the winner of The X Factor getting to Christmas number one charts.
Other 2:
Preferred reading - When the audience responds to the ideas in the way the media producer wants them to. Seasonal programmes such as The Voice UK / The X Factor - potentially a large scale view member voting and the purchase of the winning singer's single.
Negotiated reading - When the audience responds by accepting and rejecting specific elements. For instance, voting for the underdog in a talent competition or questioning the programme through social media platforms.
Naturalistic Mise-en-scene
A realistic style of mine-en-scene that appears natural and recognisable to viewers. The world and objects follow the law of nature and society and the elements have a logical relation. Mise-en-scene and the characters mutually define each other.
Linear Narrative
A story that is presented in a logical manner by telling what happens from one point in time to the next, without using flashbacks/forwards and the retuning to the present. The narrative includes a plot, characters, climax, setting and resolution. e.g., YA MAMA
Narrative Disruption
Where events are disrupted for example out of chronological order and does not follow the casual pattern of a story line. Where something within the narrative changes the course of the action.
Bravura
An impressive technical skill that is shown in an artistic performance or work.
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