TEXTUAL ANAYLSIS
GREEN DAY- WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS
RELEASE DATE: 2006
DIRECTOR: Samuel Bayer
NARRATIVE AND PERFORMANCE BASED

• The music video is about the effects of war on civilians. This is portrayed through two characters- male and female who are a couple. The male character decides to go and fight the war in Iraq and it shows the effect that it has on the female character.
• The opening of the music video is in the style of a film/movie. In the opening shot (Extreme Long Shot (XLS) of a couple on a daffodil field) there is the title of the song positioned left of frame. Also, the first beginning 1 minute and 45 seconds is a dialogue of a couple expressing their emotion for each other. They are positioned centre of the frame signifying their importance. Shot Reverse Shots are used on Close-up of the couples' face to help audiences keep track of the storyline as well as seeing their facial expression. At the end of the dialogue the music fades in and becomes non-diegetic sound.
• Rock Genre Codes and Conventions evident in the video-XLS of the lead singer's eye showing his heavy eyeliner. Black hair and black costume of the band members also correspond to the song as it is about pain and sorrow related to war. This is reinforced by the colours used in the music video (red and black).
• A varied audience are pleased when watching this music video.
• Surveillance Theory= This music video reflects what it going on in the real world (war in Iraq). This allows us to learn about that society through the bad news (the guy going off to war) and makes us feel more secure and happy about our own lives which is grafitying.
• Personal Identity Theory= This music video embodies this theory as people who are in that situation in real life (going off to war or knowing of people who went to war) can identify with the feelings portrayed by the characters especially the female character which will help them understand their own feelings and help express their own feelings as they come to realise that it is effecting mass amounts of people rather than just themselves.
• Diversion= This music video provides some audiences with escapism from their own life problems by seeing someone who is worst off (the characters in the music video) therefore making them re-evaluate their own lives and maybe cherishing their lives more.

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS -COLDPLAY-THE SCIENTIST
DIRECTOR-Jamie Thraves
RELEASE DATE-2002
CONCEPT BASED and NARRATIVE BASED MUSIC VIDEO


The scientist by Coldplay is a concept based music video as it is played backwards. By going back in time we find out that the narrative of the story is about a character (lead singer in Coldplay, Chris Martin) in the music video was in a car accident that killed the girl in the passenger seat (possibly girlfriend or friend) who ends up dead on the floor of a forest.
The music video begins with an Extreme Close Up of a face (Chris Martin) and becomes a pulling out shot. From this it dissolves into a High Angle, Medium Shot of him on a matress on the street to a Long Shot of that. Whilst this technique is happening he says 'Tell you I'm Sorry, You don't know how are lovely you are' which creates the mood of being upset and him thinking about something which informs the audience that he has done something bad to someone which we might find out as the music video progresses. The use of a High Angle shot connotes his vunerability and weakness; possibly his lack of control over the situation he is in.
The mise-en-scene within the beginning gives us different messages. It is obvious that Chris Martin is an ordinary guy. This is evident through his costume as he wears a simple long sleeve white top and black trousers. There is natural lighting used outside aswell which creates realism. The use of the matress (prop) informs us abit more about Chris Martin. The fact that he is lying on a matress in the street connotes that he is not thinking properly or he is depressed. This is further reinforced when there is a Long Shot of him on the matress which dissolves to a Medium Close Up tracking shot that pulls out allowing us to see the location more clearly. There is graffiti on the brownish cream buildings and they 'run down' which in itself looks depressing and reflects Chris Martin's state of mind.
From this it cuts to an Extreme Close up of Chris Martin. There is a guy in the background riding a BMX bike that goes backwards. This conforms that the video is played on rewind and also informs us about the location; as it may be near or a skate park. During this shot Chris Martin is position to the left of the frame with is arm crossed over on the other. This connotes his lack of significance (maybe he feels he isn't important) through his position in the frame and his posture signifies him being troubled and sorrowful. From this it cuts to a Low Angle, Medium 360 degree Pan (panorama) shot; starting from behind Chris Martin. The use of the 360 Pan Shot shows his mindstate; probably confusion about the situation that he was pondering about earlier. There is a cut to a Medium Shot of A boy on a BMX bike which connotes the area he is in; either near or in a skate park.
From this there are more scenes that conforms to the audience that the music video is played backwards. For instance when there is a Long Shot of him jumping over a brick wall to a dissolve of him walking down the street.
As he walks down the street it dissolves to an Extreme Long Shot of him jumping over a little wall and going in a tunnel. As he does this he says 'Take me back to the start' which tells the audeince that we will soon find out what happened.
From this it cuts to a Medium Shot of men playing basketball which he walks through. This scene shows other people having fun which contrasts Chris Martin's mood and advises us that the situation that happened mainly effects him rather than effecting many therefore elimating possible incidents that the we (audience) could have thought had happened. For example, a fire or robbery.
Chris Martin continues to walk down the street and then it cuts to a Medium Close of him in front of train tracks then he walks across them. In the background, there is lots of trees and there are grey clouds in the sky reflecting his mood. The fact that he is by himself shows he is lonely and walking on the track tracks shows that the situation has effected his thinking and he is withdrawn as it is a dangerous thing to do. Later there is an Extreme Close-Up of his feet walking on the train tracks confirming he is actually walking on it.
It fades out from a Medium Close Up of Chris Martin walking through the train tracks to a fade in of an Extreme Long Shot of forestry. This is used to show a new location and new part of the story. Within the forest he puts on a jacket and he continues walking. It eventually goes to a Medium Close Up of Chris Martin walking backwards and we can make out a body lying on the floor in the background. At this point different suggestions come to mind which gratifies the audience as they start to guess what had happened. Then it cuts to a Medium Shot of the girl on the floor which confirms that she is dead. It then cuts and he gradually gets into the car saying that he is 'going back to the start' which tells us that we are about to find out what happened which satisifies audiences. There is a Extreme Long Shot of the car tumbling up the hill and then a Medium Shot of the front of the cae reversing into the road with the wood fence mending which shows that they had skidded of the road which caused the girl to die. As it continues to reverse down the road there is a Close Up Point of View Shot Chris Martin driving. This allows audeinces to be in his perspective while he was driving. During the car ride, he has conversations with the girl and he smiles which signifies that he was happy before and the incident altered his mood; until then he was happy.
The music video ends with a fade out.
This video uses different techniques to gratify audiences. The fact that it uses different editing techniques like dissolves and fades besides just using the usual straight cuts retains the audiences interest. The music still subtly conforms to conventions of the rock as there is abit of performance when Chris Martin is walking down the street singing which gratify audiences through familarity. I feel that audiences who watch this music video are gratified through the diversion theory. This is where audiences are provided with a form of escapism from their own lives whilst thinking about others through what is portrayed in the media text. The fact that this music video has such a tragic storyline it makes audiences put their own problems into perspective and maybe feel that at least their life isn't as bad as the character in the music video.
In conclusion, after analysing this music video I feel it is successful in promoting emotion and the diversion theory. The combination of both concept and narrative work well in this music video and make it that more interesting especially as it isn't common.

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF POST MODERNIST MUSIC VIDEO
Lady Gaga-Paparazzi
Director: Jonas Akerlund
Release Date:2008

The music video opens of Paparazzi opens with an iris-in of a Medium Shot of palm trees. The use of the iris-in is pastiche and homage (convential techniques of a postmodernism music videos) as this editing technique was conventional of American Sitcoms and Soap Operas in the 1950's such as It's a Great Life and I love Lucy. The Medium Shot of the palm trees have connotations of Hollywood specifically Beverly Hills which is especially known for movie stars and studios. From this there is a cut to a Close Up of a flower head and a cut to an Extreme Long Shot of a grand, magnolia manison with a green yard and palm trees. This mansion relates to what audiences would consider as a typical house in Hollywood therefore meeting audiences expectations which gratifies them. The mansion also connotes wealth. The use of these cuts at the beginning allows audiences to identify the location of the music video.
The mise-en-scene at the beginning of the video further connotes wealth and glamour. From the exterior shots outside it fades to an Extreme Close Up of chandelier diamonds than fades to a Medium Shots of it which also allows us to see the decorative roof and the size of the chandelier. This represents the lady who owns this house (Lady Gaga) as a rich madam. After this there are cuts to different parts of the house such as the staircase and out on the balcony. The balcony has a view of the sea and mountains; whilst there is a champagne bottle on the fence and a marble figure which futher promotes luxury and the indivdual being rich.
Throughout the beginning of the video it is mellow with birds chirrping during exterior shots which makes the text authentic and creates realism therefore presenting fiction as reality.
The typography inserted within the beginning of the video such as 'A Serial Pictures Production' and 'Starring Lady Gaga' is a typical way to introduce a program in the 1950's.
When there is a cut to a Medium Shot of money splashed on the florr with broken glass and mess it looks as if something is wrong and it is the beginning of a problem arising which relates to sitcoms and soap operas as there is also a situations that happens that mainly goes wrong.
Within the video the pictures and the lyrics relate. There is a scene where Lady Gaga and her lover are on the balcony. A Point of View Shot of a camera man(paparazzi) is used where we are looking down the lense of a camera and they are taking her picture with permission which is what she is singing about. This blurrs fiction and the truth as it presents the mediated text as reality.
When she gets pushed off the balcony by her lover it fades into a Close Up of Lady Gaga's face behind a swirly black and white background. This is a Hitchcock Homage as this scene makes reference to the 1958 film 'Vertigo' which sticks with the theme of the music video of re-presenting the 1950's. The use of icy, remote blonde 'femme fatale' character is also a hallmark of a Hitchcock film.
From this a movement match is used to a high angle, Long Shot of Lady Gaga on the floor with paparazi surrounding her taking photos. The use of the high angle camera shots connotes Lady Gaga as helpless and powerless especially as she is injured. During this scene, newspapers are shown with Lady Gaga on the front page with titles like 'No More Gaga'. These newspapers, the narrative of the music video and style of the music video has intertextual reference to Sunset Boulevard (1950).
At this point, the music begins to fade in and it cuts to a Medium Shot of a black limo infront of a long purple carpet with a man about to open the door and one getting ready to push the wheelchair. When it cuts to Lady Gaga being lifted out of the limo we see her diamonte neck brace which has connotations of glamour,money and being faboulous.
Lady Gaga's costume in this scene relates to what people who consider as fashion in the 1950's such as her sunglasses with flaps that transformes them into reading glasses was stylish eyewear in the 1950's. Also, later on in the music video there is an Extreme Close Up of red lipstick lips which was very popular with young women in the 50's.
When Lady Gaga is being pushed down the purple carpet, there is a Close-Up of Lady Gaga's face then cuts to a Long Shot of Lady Gaga as a humanoid that gets up and tries to walk. The humanoid breaks down distinction between binary divides and the difference between humans and robots. This humanoid also has intertextual reference to the Fembot in Fritiz Lang's 1927 film Metropolis.
Near the end of the music video there is a reference to popular culture through Lady Gaga wearing sunglasses which resembles mickey and minnie mouses' ears. This is reinforced by her wearing a yellow jumpsuit with mickey and/or minnie mouse's silhouette printed on it. This will gratify audiences as they are familar with those characters and are interested on the different take on it.
The video ends with an Iris-Out to a black background with 'The End' on it then cuts to different lists which state the Casts, Production and the Production company. This relates to the 50's as it was the conventional way to end a program.
Within the video different camera sizes are used. Close-Ups are used to show something that the director intended us to see. This is evident in the video where there is a Close-Up of different Lady Gaga merchandise such as her face on money notes and bottle caps with a g on it. This reminds audiences that it is a Lady Gaga music video. Long Shots are also used in the music to show performances like the dance scene which relates to pop music and is typical of music videos of that genre.
Lastly, different editing techniques are used for different reasons. The Iris in/out are used as it is conventional of 1950's tv. Straight cuts are also used as they are conventional of music videos. The fading techniques are used to retain interest as they are different because this technique isn't normally used in music videos.
In conclusion, I feel that this music video is a successful postmodernist text as it uses many of conventions such as Blurring reality and fiction, Homage, Pastiche and Intertextuality. Also it represents the 1950's and is obvious to audiences that it is the 1950's but adds contemporary aspects such as the updated humanoid to keep up with this decade. Generally I feel this music video would appeal to young audience and would gratify them as it provides them with a new/different perspective of music videos.

POST MODERNISM

HOW MODERNISM IS DEFINED
-Art / social political movement that aimed to reinvent culture that had become outdated.
-Ocurred roughly between 1890s and 1960s
-A rejection against realism
-Divisions of modernism include avant-garde and surrealism
-Films/Novels/Art were self-reflexive of society.

HOW POSTMODERNISM IS DEFINED
-From 1970s onwards
-The breakdown of barriers between genres and style
-The breakdown of distinction between binary divides (E.G Human and Machine)
-Mixing up time, space and narrative
-Emphasis of style over content
-Blurring of fiction and reality/representation and the real world.
-Becoming more use to a mediated version of reality, than reality itself (hyperreality)

CONVENTIONS OF POST-MODERNISM
INTERTEXTUALITY- One media text referring to another.
PARODY- mocking something in an original way.

1970/1980's cop series

Beastie Boys-Sabotage Music Video

The Simpsons also use parodies both in high and low cultures to a wide range of audiences. The idea of parody mainly promotes that there is no difference between high art and mass culture.

PASTICHE- An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist or period. This is a self-conscious imitation. For instance Madonna imitation of Marilyn Monore's Gentleman prefer blondes in her Material Girl music video.
BRICOLAGE- Mixing up and using different genres and styles. This is most common in films and movies such as Blade Runner comprising of Film Noir and Sci-Fi and Shaun of the Dead which is zombie mixed with romantic comedy but also happens in music. For example, DJ Shadow's Entroducing which is the first album to be completely made up of sampled music.
HOMAGE- Imitation from a respectful standpoint. For instance the orginal psycho movie made in 1960 and the remake made in 1998.

Your blog is looking great so far. Well done Anita.

MARXIST APPROACH

Marxism was founded by Karl Marx and it belived that the media and its messages could be used for good if in the right hands. However, with dominant ideology (dominant belief held by a society) the message could be dangerously influential and controlling the effect of the masses(general population/Hoi Poloi).

THE DOMINANT IDEOLOGY
The ideological forces that determine how society functions. Marxists believe that all powerful insitutions subtly control how we, the masses, conduct our lives within society. These insitutions (media) comprise of The press, Tv, Internet and the music industry, to name a few.

THE MEDIA'S MESSAGE
Marxists believe that the media plays a significant part in controlling the masses and some would say as an insitution it is greater influence on society than religion, politics and the family (nature over nuture). The supposed subtle dominance with which the media control the masses is known as hegemonic control.

HEGEMONY
This was an ideological concept first introduced by Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci. He believed that the media message would perform a subtle indoctrination, influencing the manner in which society viewed the world until the message becomes 'common sense', unchallenged by the masses. Hegemonic control is an acceptance of the 'status quo'.

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS- GOLDIE-INNERCITY LIFE

RELEASE DATE: 1995

Innercity life by Goldie revolves around the pressure of living in the city which is illustrated through a single mother and her two kids who live in a council estate in a small flat with different daily pressures such as paying the bills which is highlighted through a Extreme Close Up of BT bills.
The video opens with an establishing, high angle shot of the city then fades into a bird's eye shot of an estate than the camera pulls in. The use of this techique is to acknowledge the setting of the music video.
With in this music video there are different settings and locations that connote different things. One location is a club. The party scene in the club is used to represent escaping pressure of the city by having a good time. Another location is the estate. When showing the estate and people within it; high angle shots are predominantly used to show their vunerablity, their class in society (working class) and their lack of control they have especially over their lives as the pressure from living in city are controlling them. eg bills need to be paid therefore people may need to work harder.
There are many message and represenations embedded throughout the music video that the Marxists would argue that it either positive, realistic or negative. One is where we see a black man in a BMW Convertible which is an expensive car and through stereotyping we assume that he is a drug dealer producing a negative representation of black man. Within the music video there is a long shot of a trolley being pushed off the top of an estate roof. This has a negative reference to youths as it presents them as trouble-makers and careless. The message is about youths are reinforced a car being lit on fire with a Long shot used to highlight this. This could be considered by the marxists as an realistic message, although it is exaggerated as youth in society and through the media are seen as violent, trouble-makers who do not care or consider others. This conforms with hegemony and hegemonic control. Hegemonic control is maintained in the video through different aspects like the single mother. The single mother with kids, struggling living in an council estate is considered as a realistic representation that is unchallenged by the masses. Especially where we see that mother in the last scene sleeping by herself then a man appearing who sleeps with her then fades away representing abandoning fathers. Although hegemonic control is maintained within the video, it is also challenged through positive messages especially of the youth. Within the video there is a Medium Close Up used to show a boy in a hooded top with the hood up and the council estate in the background. At first stereotypical representations are first thought such as being bad and most probably doing something wrong but then it eventually fades to a high angled Long Shot of that boy and his friends playing basketball which is harmless and he is not doing something bad therefore subverting dominant ideology. The club scene futher challenges hegemony control. Outside the club there is a close up, tracking shot of something being passed from hand to hand. We later discover that it is a CD. This subverts dominant ideology as normally it would be thought that it was drugs that was being passed from hand-to-hand especially in a club scene but it was not.
The video has a niche young audience which are gratified through scenes in the video that are familar to them like the scene.
There are different editing techiques used in the music video. Fades in/out are predominately used in the music video to retain interest of the audience but also because it is different from other music videos and many do not use this technique. Straight cuts are also used which is conventional of a music video. This was especially used in the club scenes alongside Close-Ups to reflect the fast pace of the environment and the music.
Lastly, there are different camera angles and shots used within the music video. Close-Ups are used to highlight significant things in the video that the director wants used to take notice of such as the Close-Up of the Phone Bills. Long Shots are used to show what is happening in the video such as when the children were playing basketball. High angle shots are used to promote vunerability and Low angle shots are used to show that some characters in the video are gaining control and are not trouble by the pressure of the innercity. E.g in the video there is a Medium Close Up of two men laughing which shows that they are having a good time and are care free.
In Conclusion, both conforms and challenges hegemonic control and the marxist explanation is cleary evident in this video making it successful.

MISSY ELLIOT

Missy Elliot rejects conventional representations of women and doesn't conform to stereotypical gender representations therefore is free from objectification.

ANALYSIS OF MISSY ELLIOT-SHE'S A BITCH

This is a performance based music video. I feel that Missy Elliot subverts stereotypical female characteristics in this video in my ways mainly through the mise-en-scene. Her costume is very androgynous*: Bald, leather, spiked costume, jewel encrusted which shows her body image as refusing to conform to idealised female stereotypes. This is reinforced by Missy driving fast cars and the fact that towards the end of the video she sticks out her tongue showing she doesn't take her video/music/lyrics seriously. This gives audiences an alternative ideology about women. The video uses codes and conventions from a traditionally male geared futuristic sci-fi films. Missy herself inhabits the persona's of iconic male American Heroes such as The Cowboy. The camerawork in this video contributes to giving an alternative view of women. The use of low angle and crane shots highlight the spectacle of Missy's power. Aspects of the video conforms to stereotypes. The video uses female dancers in minimal clothing. This conforms to the idea that in music women are seen as decorative objects dance/pose and don't play instruments. I feel that this is done to grafity audiences of the Hip Hop genre as it is a typical code used within it and audiences are familar with it. The use of male dancers in the video subverts the idea that men in music are more active and instrumental as there is a role-reversal of the men in the video seen as objects that pose and dance whilst Missy takes on the active male instrumentalist role.

*androgynous= Masculine codes of movement, stance & dress e.g. tailored suits/shirt & tie, dungarees/army wear

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS-PUSSYCAT DOLLS- BUTTONS
DIRECTOR: Francis Lawrence
RELEASE DATE: 2005
PERFORMANCE BASED MUSIC VIDEO



The video opens with a Medium-Close Up of Snoop Dogg then cuts to a Long Shot of him. The mise-en-scene at this point contributes to creating a stereotypical perception of Snoop Dogg. His costume which consists of a Hoody, Cap and trainers are generic codes that conforms to the Hip Hop and Rap genre.This is reinforced later in the music video where there is a Close-Up of Snoop Dogg wearing jewellery (necklace) with his hood up and sunglasses on. From this it cuts to a Point of View, Long Shot of one of the members (Nicole Scherzinger) from the Pussycat Dolls. Point of View shot is from Snoop Dogg's point of view and is used to invite male viewers to join in with the voyeuristic male gaze (Feminist Reading). Nicole's costume and acting creates representations. At the beginning of the video she conforms to the feminist reading of females being seen as objects who dances as she dances on Snoop Dogg who is rapping and at this point isn't realised that she is also a musician. This theory is also highlighted near the end of the video where there is an aerial shot of The Pussycat Dolls who are used literally as objects to create patterns.
This music video futher promotes feminist and post-feminist readings. The use of suggestive body language used by the Pussycat Dolls whilist dancing gives off the impression that they are promiscuous which is one of the categories that females are categorised in according to feminism. (Females are either classified as Mothers, Virgins or promiscous). Futhermore, that their sexual power is dervied from physical attractiveness to men. On the other hand, the Post-Feminist approach offers a different explanation. The costume of the group ( revealing clothes- black short dresses and heels) offers the message of sexual empowerment as they are assertive, provacative and in control of the 'Male Gaze'; therefore having a right to be sexually attractive if they want to as long as they are in control. This control is subtly shown in the music video when Nicole dances with Snoop Dogg and walks away from him in the beginning of the video and the fact that the group use provocative male address in their lyrics which challenges Snoop Dogg as they tell him to 'loosen up [their] buttons babe' which shows them giving him orders which subverts stereotype of males being more dominant than females. Lastly, this is further connoted through long, tracking shots of the group walking towards Snoop Dogg than walking away promoting that the Pussycat Dolls are 'too hot to handle' for Snoop Dogg. The post-feminist reading also views the group as being confident, sassy, sexy icons challenging traditional assumptions about passive sexuality. This is connoted through their lyrics where 'I'm a sexy mama' is said.
The lighting and effects used in the video promotes sexuality and being provocative. The dark lighting used of brown and gold promotes luxury and intimacy. The use of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) of the fire can be seen to connote the Pussycat Dolls as they are 'hot'.
The camerawork and editing of this music video conforms to a performance based music video through the used of tracking shots,Long shots and Close Ups used during performances and the straight cuts used.
In conclusion, I personally agree with the post-feminist reading of this music video, through the amount of control that the females in the group had, however I still see how some aspects of the music video can conform to a feminist reading.

BRITNEY SPEARS- TOXIC
DIRECTOR: Joseph Kahn
RELEASE DATE:2004



Britney Spears - Toxic [Keltix Xvid]

Britney adheres to traditonal gender stereotypes by taking on roles of : Secretary, Air Hostess and Waitress. Each occupation emphasises highly sexualised costume and behaviour.

FEMINIST READING

• Capitalises on her sexuality to cash in
• Proactive showing kids might be influenced
• Seen as a sexual object and goes into the caterogy of promiscous through her costume of the clear, swarovisk diamond catsuit and mini-skirt. This is reinforced by her touching her lips.
• Cameleon effect- Uses her image rather than talent
• May reveal low self-esteem
• For women to be useful/successful they have to sell themselves
• Representing female gaze using men
  
  POST-FEMINIST READING
• Identifies the male gaze showing women assert their right to dress provocatively and be sexually active
• Subverting the stereoype as Britney is seen to be in control when she pushes the man on the bed and through a Close-Up of a male character looking gullible. This is rather subverting through the low angle shot of her representing her superiority.
• Uses her sexuality to identify the female gaze
• Uses different characters to show she doesn't strive for equality and she wishes to surpass the male achievements showing she is in control rather than aggressive
• Euphemism for female orgasm