Props list

props where                     what for                    how much

Alarm clock x2                    morning shots        £0
cereal and sugar                   morning shots       £0
briefcase                              all day                  £0
rucksack                            all day                    £0
newspaper                          morning shots        £1
microphone                        studio                    £0
keyboard                            studio                    £0
guitar                                 studio                     £0
taxi                                   afternoon                £0
4 cokes                             café                        £5
4 coffee                            café                        £10
notepads                           café                         £4


This is a draft of our prop list, because we have a clear idea in our heads of what we want in our music video. Although we know that in time our prop list will expand, or reduce in size once our story board is completed.

Supergrass- Alright

I am going to analyse a Pop Rock music video for the song Alright by the band Supergrass. The first shot identifies the age of the song, clearly by it being them typical old records, this record is the official Supergrass. The following shot is of a man on a typical English beach as in no white sands but yellow and grey sea instead of clear blue with a piano, the man wears a rather odd costume which consists of all black woolly suit and matching hat, printed with white patterns, the piano is a rusty golden colour, as the man turns to smile at us (the audience) three young men run past, the shot stayed the same through out this period of time, the man with the piano were to the side of the screen.


The next 2 second shot is of the three boys that ran across the beach knocking on the camera screen, idealizing the idea of boys messing about causing trouble. The next shot is a mid shot of the boys running along the beach wearing different coloured tops, each top states their name, this could mean that they are a new band out. The shot then jumps back to the three of them looking into the camera, as if they are hand holding it, the shot then jumps back to the Pop Rock band running on the beach whilst singing, keeping the music video up to beat. The next shot is of the man that played the piano at the beginning, he then smiles again, when he smiles he tooth sparkles. Going back to the band singing and running on the beach, this clip includes different shots, for example side shots long shots and so on. Also the way they run is like a little boy, this video so far feels like this boy band wants to show that being young is fun.


The beginning of the next shot is of the three of them in a double bed, still on the bed, the bed moves along the beach, and the camera stays at the end of the bed as they sing the next part of the verse, this bed covers are all bright and happy, examplifying the idea of fun still. The following shot of the music video includes a shot of their shadows upsidedown as if the shadows are them, the camera then follows the shadows down to them in the distance, to me the shadow can connotate the idea of the shadow being the different side to them.


The next scene still located on the beach; is a set up front room, which includes props such as telephone, lamp, and a radio, watching the video now it looks so dated but back then it was probably advertising the props. I like how in each shot the three boys are always in it together, even on this shot the man sits on the sofa, and the other two are hiding behind the sofa, making puppets on the sides of the singing boy of the band, keeping to the idea of being little boys. The location changes but the props and so on are still kept the same. The next shot goes on for 2 seconds if that, and it is of one boy members, the boys are all 'chilling' on the sofa, when one of them gets up and twirls over to the camera, and stares; a very fast shot.  After one more location change for the living room scene the shot goes back to the boys on the bed, but this time it looks as if they are going down a forest pathway, surrounded by trees.


They are laying on their front facing directly to the camera kneeling on their elbows singing to the camera again. When the word 'mad' is said in the lyrics a close of a a band member is rolling his eyes around, and going boss-eyed. Then a shot of this wearing different glasses. When the words 'sleep around' come up; lips pout on the screen, and then 'sleep around if we like' would be said and a extreme close up to the eye appears in the music video. The following shot is of just two of the band members facnig the camera yet again, one is holding the lyrics being sung 'we're alright'.


Then a man unidentified wears a silky purple suit and black hat, then when the word 'cash' comes up the man opens up his brief case full of cash. Then the following clip is of the three boy band members on old fashioned bikes because the word in the verse is 'wheels' i like how they conect key words to objects and shots for the music video, but it is too original, back then it may have been a interesting outcome.


The next shot is really good, the shot changes to it being from a veiw point so it is like they are giving us as the audience a chance to be fun and be apart of the music video too. The camera swirls away from a circus freak and moves left to right creating a motion that we are about to crash, creating a form of excitment.

Sitting back on the sofa again two band members make usage of the props whilst the main singer sings, the boy to our left is on the telephone, the camera then jumps to the boy on the right hand side who picks up an extra large microphone and puts it to his eye to make it bigger. Then after a second it looks as if we are holding the microphone and looking at the three band members sitting on the sofa. For the rest of the verse the location and placement stays the same, as they do their usual messing around, I dont know of this band, but I am getting the idea that they like to show a biased point that we should keep enjoying ourselves.

When the song goes back to the lyrics the the band are back to being on their double bed again, swaying their arms side to side. Then the lyrics go back to connecting with the music video for example 'teeth.. nice and clean' shows a set of clean teeth when a smile appears. 'See the sites' is directing a shot of the three of the boy bands on the bikes expressing the sights with their hands.

When the music solo comes on, the photage we see is of the Pop Rock boy band on their old stylish bikes riding fast, and doing tricks, maybe riding bikes was the 'thing' back in the day I am not sure, I personally think that it links to the idea of being young and free. The bed then comes back on the scene where they sit up swaying their hands side to side, and have outragiously bright socks on.

Analysis of a CD cover

In this essay I will analyse a CD cover to Dirty dancing, I will identify the connotations of images, texts and use of colours on the CD cover, that can relate to the audience of this genre of music.

To begin with the front cover of the Dirty Dancing CD has just one image, of the two main stars in the movie, this relates to the famous film itself, identifying the passion and love shared between the two characters, the shadow that is casted on the white background is a lilac colour, lilac represents femanism, inwhich reflects the female character growing into a lady. The white background connotates innocence. The lady and man are holding eachover in a thearetic way, the male in this image is wearing all black and has dark hair, which is the oppisite the to the female he is holding from behind, who is wearing a white loose dress that just finishes bellow her knees, and has wavy mouse blonde hair, the idea of the man standing behind her with his hand on her side and looking down to the ground, gives a theme of protection and obsession for the woman that he is holding, i also feel a vibe of sensitivity coming form the couple, because the lady is facing the man behind her and looks as if she is looking at him. At the top of the CD it identifies the name of both characters, in which are both well known, this also attracts the audiences eyes. The title of the CD cover is 'Dirty Dancing' this name is written in pink and purple, both clearly girly colours, the title looks as if it is hand written, this can connotate the idea of the film itself being about the girl/man's life, and they are the ones showing us their point of view. In the films case it is 'Jenifer Greys' point of view. The name itslef represents two completely different things, just like the characters in the film itself. 'Dirty' can have many different definitition, one of which is clearly a sexual context, 'dirty' could also mean, unhealthy, messy or unhappy. 'Dancing' on the other hand is a word of action, that expresses different emotions to different genres of songs, for example passion and love, or passion and letting yourself go. Both words together can imply a sexual dance.

The little logo just beneath the title quotes 'the time of your life' this is a cheesy relfection to the song 'time of my life' because the quote is now directed to the audience, this is also a good advertisement scheme, because it implies that if you buy this CD you will have the time of your life, directing towards the consumers.

Secondly the CD case that holds the musical videos, has a background behind the plastic that is very ogirnal, the colour purple is consistant through out the CD case, the image hidden behind the CD is of the two main characters doing a well-known move from the classic film 'Dirty Dancing' in which he is lifting her up in the air by just holding the sides of her hips, she is strectched out as if flying. The image has a rather effective look about itself, is consists of grey, white and purple, and the photography makes the image look classical, reminding the veiwers of the amazing part of the film. The CD is not just full of music tracks, it also inlcudes a bonus CD whihc features the clips of the dancing that goes on in the film, that is so known by the viewers. The CD also contains a photo gallerry, that presents the veiwers with the photo shots from the film, not only this but it also has a Kareoke verson of 'time of my life' which allows the veiwers to interact and feel like they are in the film. The CD itself, has a print on it, which is of another image of the couple together, the CD album feels like it is telling the audience a story, because the girl is wearing white, it can mean that she is a virgin, but maybe towards dancing (because i have seen the film i know) so the man in the oppisite colour black represents proffessional. The CD itself also has the same title in the same font as on the CD cover, keeping the CD simple and repetative for its target audience.

The image to the left of the photocopy above is of the man and the girl together, the photographic use of this is kept the same as the background to the CD case, its grey, white and purple is repeating through out the CD case, making the album look memerable and unqiue, these three colours make the photoes look faded and old. The photo itself reflects on how the girl has grown, as the colour purple could either reflect or him, maybe even both; for example if the colour reflects on him it would have to relate to how much she has changed him throughout the film, or maybe her being a little girl who loves her family very much and is rather wealthy, mixing with a complete oppisite who originally keeps to himself changes both of them to the better, purple simbolises richness, love, maturity and growth. Grey can simbolize dull, and loneliness, to relate it to the two characters I feel that it can mean that the lady wearing white and the man wearing black, them two mixed together is grey. And white, meaning innosense, and purity. The idea that there four shots of the film gliding across this side of the CD cover, makes them shots stand out clear and builds up to the background image, these images are presented as if they are a film tape, making the film age more. This part of the CD cover is the slot for a little booklet that has images and shots of the film in it, like a little memory book for the long lost fans.

The binder of the CD still consists of purple black and white, i still feel that the black and white is the reflection of each character, I also feel that there is a sense of protection even on the binder because the white title is in the middle is gaurded by two black words on either side of the white title.

The back of the CD cover is the contents for the CD album, with a faded image behind of the couple yet again, the writing is written in black and white in capital letter, fixating the two different characters together, the back of the CD cover has the names of the tracks it also has six special features that the disc two have for the audeince. And clearly states that there is a photo gallery so that you buy it for yourself, or someone else, as this is 'unreleased'. At the top of the back of the CD cover, there is a paragraph selling the album to the viewers. I would also like to add that the headline of this paragraph is 'have the time of your life' making use of its original logo.

The CD to your left of this image is a CD for the musical videos, gallery and kareoke and the CD to your right is the CD that include the music tracks. Keeping the images for the background consistant to the rest of the CD album. I feel the images in the background of each CD part is telling us as the audience a story of the film and the characters, as if they are facing the world. The shots are of the couple expressing their love for eachother through dancing, this is a unique veiw for the film veiwers because the film is about the coiple falling in love through dancing, now this is not like the days we have these days, everyone just goes out clubbing and forgets who they danced with the morning after.  The film is like a Fairytale, love at first sight, and so on are reflecting on this CD because this is how the film was followed.

The use of this image is so effective, it is the exact image of the one at the front but is a close up shot of the image we can see at the front of the CD, it shows the passion, I also think that it reflects on how much they connect through out the film, for example at the begginning we cant feel the passion, but we can see it, but at the end we as the veiwers feel the passion as much as we see it, just like the CD. Its a nice beggining and ending, just like in the film. The image is connotates a heavenly image, and forshadows expresions of love, it fullfills the meaning of love in one image. The shadows casted on the couple can be a sign of the bad times that the couple have gone through, and the shadow on the wall can connotate the past, or the effect they have or had on the people around them.

This album was released for the aniversary of the film.

Music Video

Seen as i studied Chritstina Aguilera, and seen as her Dirty video was well known for it critism and unpopularity in the USA i am curiously going to study the video itself, finding it denotions and conotations, and how it represents different aspects, also i will be discussing why the USA didnt take to it that much.


Start to Finish

At the beginning of the music video, Christina Aguilera is dressed and displayed differently from her original music videos where she would be girly and full of beauty, but in this video she is in a drak green room, which is mainly shadowed, she is outlined where hardly anything, walking towards her scruffy motorbike, wearnig nothing but a pair of flimsy nickers a black leaver belt matching her knee high leather boots, you cant make out what top she is wearing because her new long dreadlocks are covering it. The music video is now flashing to two characters extreme close ups, one man and a woman, the woman is Christina Aguilera, who is wearing nateral make up, cler lip gloss which is then funked up be her thick eye make up and nose peircing. The shots of these two characters are different and very effective, both dark backgrounds, shadows casted on their faces, showing the dark side of them.

The American singer Christina then kips up her red, black and white lever jacket, but it is not just a simple shot of this, the shot is a complete close up, showing her clear bare skin being closed in, to me this is either hiding the innocence, or hiding her true self. As she is zipping up her jacket, i notice she is wearing black leaver gloves with little gold studs, the gloves are cut of were her fingers are i feel this is a grungy look, and cretes a feel of excitement. She then places on her motorbike helmet, this has completely transformed her look from her original videos.

The video is then woken up and now livens up, when the singer Aguilera revs up her motorbike and zooms off, a shot of her motorbikes wheels. She then paces through her green room, and into another world, where a crowd of people have formed a path and are chanting for the singer on the motorbike, i also notice that most of the crowd chanting are all men, this shows the power that the singer has over men and herself in the video.

The next clip is of Christina Aguilera still dressed in her motorbike outfit, in a cage, the cage represents danger and control. The cage is then lowered into a wrestling ring, where she is surrounded by half naked men outside the ring, she is now center of attention, it feels like she is the mens dream, and they are dreaming.

The next shot is of Christina Aguilera sitting in the corner of the ring, dancing as her legs are at a 90 degree angle, she is surrounded by half naked oiled men. The following shot is now of Christina and a few other girls on the wrestling ring dancing, i like how the wrestling ring has been transformed, they group of girls in the wrestling ring are dancing irroticly, to me i  feel this is new type of seduction because usually it would be classed as red lipstick and blonde hair and a black dress, but this is new seduction, all the girls are dancing on the floor and giving it their all moves.

The change of scene, means that Christina Aguilera is wearing a mini grey skirt, knee high black boots, and cutted top just bellow the chest. She is now in a dark set room with a group of other dancers, all dancing the same moves, i noticed that they are all oiled up looking sweaty, giving of more signs of sexual tones. Back to the wrestling ring, where Christina Aguilera aka the girl with the blode locks wearing barely anythink, just leaver, leaver and more leaver, and the other girl in the wrestling ring brown hair, blue and white mask, and matching costume; this suggests competition, between two different types of girls, the blonde one wins, but originally i think if it was any other video then the brunette would win, because it is stereotypical that all brunettes are better than blondes. Whilst they are fighting they are refferied by two half naked oiled men, no more to be said about it, as this suggests only but sexism.

The next bit to the music video is were the man at the begginning returns to the shots were he is walking down a long corridor, in a club, where lots of girls surround him and try for his attention but he walks on rapping to the screen, whilst women are around the rapping man, men are round the singer Christina, the rapping man is wearing all black; including black sun glasses, black hat, black shirt, and so on. He then walks past a room were there is a group of people having a mud fight. Christina Aguilera is now in a big showers room, the room is dirty, and water is spraying out making her and the other dancers wet, they are all dancing together holding eachover seductivly, break dancing and all sorts. And inside another room is a group of men break dancing, this room is set differently, they are wearing just bottoms and the walls are filled with graffiti this is like a comparision/competition. The end of the song is were all the men and women dancers are together.

USA-

I can understand why maybe the Americans dont like this video, but i love it, the Americans may feel that she has changed completly, and i feel that maybe she is wrong when she says that this music video reflect on her personality. But i like the new look and how she experimented with different ideas, her msuic video certainly does stand out.

My First Journal

GCSE

I started studying Media in the year 10, GCSE Course, where I was with the wrong croud and would settle to do anything, i would just sit at the back of the class with my friends and moan about working, but then i realised over the first year that i was interested in media and it was developing around me. I grow my interest in Media and in year 11 i knew it was my time to prove to myself that i had an inspiration, and i infact have, Media has inspired me and has effected me possitively.

AS Level

The following year i took on media in A-level and knew that it had so much more to offer, me and as a B student i would be silly to drop the oppertunity to grow even more, the year of 12, has made me more aware of the big media world that i can tell whether a film is going to be good via its cover, and advertisement. As a class we were all pu into teams of fours, and i feel i became the leader of the team, and had mos control, inputted more than the others and was ahead of my work, the task for our portfolio of the year was to produce a Opening Title Sequence inwhich i decided would be set n y house with three members of my family as the main characters, our video was successful because we all got on as a team, and motivated eachover and i felt confortable, as well as the other members to speak my mind and say what needed to be added, half way through the making of the video we lost some footage and had to reshoot it, this was no longer a problem because it looked much better than before becuase we wanted to do so much more with it. Although i felt like a control freak i was happy because it went to plan and although one member didnt pertisipate as much as the rest of us, i was rewarded with a B again! but when it came to studying for my exam, i didnt do well at all, exams are not my best spot, infact exams are my weakness and because of this i got a E for my exam totally my year grade to a C.


Where I have progressed

I have been rewarded with the 'most improved' award, becuase of my progress through out the years, and have been nomitated for best blogspot, and best opening title sequence.


What i aim to do in the future of my media world

Media is my inspiration and i have full control of it, and i am determined to be part of what makes the Media what it is today, and what it will be in the future, i aim to push myself to the limit in year 13, where we will be studying Music Videos, this is what i was studying for my GCSE course when i recieved an B grade, so i am determined to get a better grade this year!

Chirstina Aguilera- case study

Introduction

The 29 year old recording artist, well known for her mixed music and writing songs. The American singer has so far made four successful albums. In this case study i will identify the genres of music she produces, the case study will also include of how she devleoped and made it as a successful singer. I will discuss the way in which her image effected the selling of her music. And what other media contects she has carried out during her life.


Growing with the music industry

The American arist was first seen in an American reality televison program called 'Star Search' set in Hollywood. This then bring her the oppertunity to star in the 'The Micky Mouse club' on the Disney channel, she then took this on for a year. Then when the new film Mulan was produced in 1998 Christina Aguilera had writen and recorded the song 'Reflection' for that film.

Then from 1999 till 2010 the well known recording artist had developed into a huge singer, inwhich everyone knew, and listened to her songs, her three number one songs, were 'Genie In A Bottle', 'What A Girl Wants' and Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)' which were then followed by several collaborations which made Christina Aguilera worldwide! Although she was not making herself stand out from all the other singers, she had no theme or style which effected her wanted dream. So she departed from her magangement and faced a solo carrier which led her to experiment and gamble with what she had. She then created her latest three albums, which were much more successfull, although her last one Bionic was weakly produced and selled cheap.

The American artist Christina Aguilera is now known for her amazing vocal skills, music videos, not forgetting image. She has had a huge exchange of life, from her bad childhood, she is now knowledge for her power over music. She originally is helping charities raise money, and being a part of big issues for example human rights and the world at need.

From entering a television show called 'Star search' she has gained many rewards such as

• Grammy Awards
• Latin Grammy Awards
• Fifteen and three nominations
• Ranked by Rolling Stones, 58th out of 100 of the most Greatest singers of all time
• 20th artist of the decade by Billard

She has overall sold 42 million albums worldwide. And has a fortune worth $60 million!!


Her image

The Beauty of Chirstina Aguilera has never changed but her style and attitude has, through the years of becoming and progressing as an well-known artist, she has gone from teen to glamerous, from rock'n'roll to doll, her unique taste in style through her career has widened the audience of her music, her music has also changed through the years too. Pop, R&B, soul, blues, adult contemporary.

She begun the career by looking as usual as possible, blode hair blue eyes, young skin, her look was defined as innocence, she was an inspiration to the older generation and the younger generation, because she had no sign of attitude and rudeness, this was what the generation was like back in the 90's.  In the year of 2002, Christina Aguilera released her new Album 'Stripped' showing of her new look, the look that attrated all types of audience, the dark hair the shocking new way of seduction was introduced, if Christina Aguilera could pull it off and exchange her look completely then so could her fans. she even reffered herself to 'Xtina!'
A percentage of the songs in her album 'Stripped' was produced by Scott Storch; a Candian record producer, and was also produced by a singer-songwriter, Linda Perry.
Although she was a successful singer, when she trnaformed her look, the United States of America didnt take too well to it, although this may be so, Christina was happy with her transformation and said that it reflected her personality much more. Even though the U.S.A didnt fancy the video of Dirty' Irelend and the UK, placed the single as a number one on the chart hits. Her second single, hit the number one in SEVEN countries, and number 2 in USA.

Originally Aguilera joined Justin Timberlake for a world tour, but decided to go solo internationaly, due to a stage accident.

Christina has gone from good to bad, brunnette to blonde, but never powefull to weak, she has a strong voice and she knows it, her confidence through out the years have become stronger rather than weaker, her ability to the singing world, leads other artists to a competition, i even feel Lady Gaga was in competition, Christina was the first one to change her look the first one who hit the big wide world, but now that Lady Gaga has come along, i think Christina Aguilera has backed down, although she would win the powerful competition hands down. Christina Aguilera is now a mother, but her look is still attractive and her music is still brand new to me as a fan, although i say that i do tink she is coming back out to the singing world. Her looks are now being compared to Marylin Monroe.

Vocal Aguilera

Its said that the American singer is compared to huge vocal artists such as Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. Although she has an amazing singing career, it has been quoted that she has 'oversung' too much at concerts. There have been producers with conrerns because they feel Christina screams in her singing. The theme in her music is 'LOVE'. She has also produced two songs reflecting her childhood (child abuse that is) and most if not all of her songs are showing of her vocal cords. The artist that influences Aguilera is the blues singer Etta James, and has been for the past serveral years. She is also inspired by the musical 'The Sound of Music'.

Overall record career

Christina Aguilera is a well known record artist, and doesnt stop even when she does drop, she has made products such as perfumes and gift sets, let alone her albums. Her voice is so strong, her strength to go further than she already is, and her ability to go that extra mile, for example charity and world issues has uplifted her fans.

Music video studies

For our taks we had to chose a favourite music video to share with the group and explain why we had chosen it, each video was completely different and represented different things, i am going to identify one i feel was the best, and the worst chosen video. the reason i am only chosing thee to discuss is becuase there were alot of videos shown and i feel the best way to discuss is to identify the ones that stood out best to me.

My chosen video

Pink: Please dont leave me

This video was persifically chosen by me because it has agood music video, that is rather humerous and unique at the same time, i overall like the song because it is well known and catchy, the music video for it also has the same aspects. The music video is briefly about a couple arguing and breaking up, but the man in the relationship keeps having trouble escapping the house, for example he fell down the stairs, a dog attacks him, and other 'ACCIDENTS' happen, when the man wakes up after each attack/accident his ex girlfriend (Pink) is there in different costumes. What i also like about this video is that Pink represents herself differently from other artists, she is not like Lady gaga, or Rihanna she has a different characteristic, and i feel this artist has humurous actions in her music videos all together, the songs may mean one thing, but she makes the videos unexpected, which i like all her music videos are different form eachover, where as wiuth Lady gaga you know they are going to be set the same.

representations- the artist pink is a tom boy, yet comes across in the seductive way, for example in one scene of the music video she is wearing a nurses outfit. What was known in the music video she was a loving girlfriend but then she turned when the man dumped her, she basically tortures him which is a weird way to react. In the following action the actress/artist is a circus freak, wearing a clown but seductive outfit, i think it is very clever how the music video has been made. Then things get worse and pink is carrying an axe! This then turns into a Shinning scene were she cuts through a door and peeps in like the actor form Shinning.

effects- for example at the beginning of the music video the man falls over and pink comes down the stairs casually to see him, this is a point of view shot, it is disfocussed and very effective because it could imply that she is an angel but really doesnt.

Worst chosen video

Miley Cyrus

i didnt like this video at all as it seems as if she is trying to be another lady gaga, having a unique video, a scary video, but i have to say it is rather clever how she was a bird and the wings spread, this is the only possiticve is can say about the video, also the darkness of the video, other than that not a great deal i can say about the video, it is very basic and i like a story or a morral to the music videos.

Favourite chosen video

paparazi- Lady Gaga

Lady gaga has inspired us as well as many artist, she has many unique videos, although i have to agree that they can be very predictable, but hte reason why this was my favourite music video is because this was one of her first songs which made her famous and were she is today, this is a story music video which makes music videos more enjoyable for me to watch, her representations in each video are rather simailar, which is the fact that she is seductive, and the queen in each music video.