2. Our product used and developed the
conventions of our genre, which is
alternative rock. When creating our
product we had the choice to either use or
challenge codes and conventions.
3. The key theorist found for music videos were Andrew
Goodwin and Laura Mulvey but since Laura Mulvey’s
theory did not apply to my group’s theme so we then used
TzetanTodorov’s equilibrium theory.Todorov’s views were
that everything had a beginning, a twist in the middle
and then a alternative end. Goodwin claims that music
videos exhibits genre characteristics, there should be a
relationship between lyrics and visuals and there is a
frequent notion of looking.
Whilst researching I found generic codes and conventions
across a wide range of genre including different camera
shots, props and editing matching the speed of the music.
ResearchingTheorists
4. Todorov had the theory of equilibrium which consist of:
The fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything as it
should be)
Some disruption occurs
New equilibrium is produced at the end of the narrative.
This is shown within my video as :
Equilibrium – the main character being bullied
Disequilibrium – the character fights back against the bullies
New equilibrium – his suicide was him finding new mean/release.
Media theorist:Todorov
5. So for our music video we used several specific conventions from the rock
genre. For instance a common theme is the location being warehouse,
deserted buildings and tunnels. We pin pointed these features and corporate
it into our video. By using an alleyway we were able to highlight his isolation
and a sense of being trapped. This was taken from Linkin Park One Step
Closer video. In the video the band is performing in a dark tunnel and also at
the beginning of the video we see people in a dark alleyway pointing and
laughing.
USE
This is a picture from Linkin Park’s
video we see people pointing and
laughing in dark alleyway
This is the alleyway scene of
Emmanuel walking
6. By using a narrative related to being a victim of bullying or being isolated, we
showed codes and conventions of the rock genre. My narrative included
Emmanuel being bullied by his peers and breaking the norm by acting out against
their taunting and then committing suicide. We portrayed him as a outcast of
society which is also the same narrative seen in Linkin Park’s Numb video. This can
be seen in other genres such as Hip hop , Pop and R ‘n’ B.
M
USE
These music videos
show narratives
leading to suicide
7. Extras/ other characters in the music video were show to be much different as it makes a
distinction between the two. This was done to make the audience understand that the
extras/other characters are normal whilst he is an outcast. This separation can also be
seen in other rock videos. The paper bag idea came from this music video ‘Somewhere I
belong’ by Linkin Park’ (below picture on the left) , I saw this whilst researching them &
thought we could incorporate into our video. It made a clear distinction between Mike
and the other people as he did not fit in, I thought this would be a good thing to add in.
USE
All 3 videos mis-en-
scene is similar as they
are all masked/cover the
same way.
8. We used the idea of suicide into our video to show that bullying has serious after
effect on people’s lives. We looked at this video below and came up with using
suicide in our closing scene. In the Ed Sheeran video they use a bird’s eye view
allowing a clear view of her body whilst we have a black silhouette in a mid shot.
USE
Emmanuel committing suicide Ed Sheeran give me love suicide scene
9. A convention that’s widely used in music videos is lip syncing. It’s a good
element to add to a video as it helps to emerge the song with the narrative,
only if don’t correctly otherwise a video may not work so well. My music
video had lip syncing as we thought it was a key element that we needed to
bring everything together. As we reviewed our previous video without the lip
syncing which did not come out so well, I’m glad we decided to add this
method. It’s very effective in carrying the emotions of the lyrics into the
song.
Lip Syncing
10. To develop our music video we used the conventions of unique lighting and
effects, dark rooms and flashbacks which are usually seen in the rock genre.
We enhanced this by developing the transition more between shots, as we
didn’t use the traditional pan shot but fading images and white screens.
DEVELOPED
11. Our group also challenged the codes and
convents of real media products as well as
using them. A often used code and
convention used in rock music videos are
the band with their instruments.
We did this by not using any sort of
performance and audience i. e fans which
was done in Linkin Park’s ‘Faint’ video
CHALLENGE
12. We avoided using the traditional Mis en scene of
a rock video such as :
• Black clothing
• Heavy make up
• Piercings
• Tattoos
• Smoking
• Leather jackets
• Sunglasses
CHALLENGE – Mis en scene
13. CAMERA SHOTS AND ANGLES
We used the effect of zooming in to
show what was on the paper.Whilst
they used a cut in shot so in by doing
this we developed their convention.
We used wide shots
within these edits to
show intertextuality of
our school and also
what the protagonist
was running away from.
Low angle shot
from backwards
used by Linkin
Park, we
challenged this by
not using this shot
within our video.
The shot we used
is over the
shoulder from
further back.
14. We used
the faded
transition in
our video as
in the ‘ one
step closer
video
Both lip syncing use a mid
close-up of the person. Ours-
Hayden, Link Park’s-Chester
This is an over the shoulder shot which we used to show
Emmanuel writing his thoughts, these are also the lyrics
that were playing that moment. Giving a visual and
diegetic view to the audience.
On the white board behind the
teacher, there is an image of
the Linkin park band name.This
is intertextuality that we added
into the video showing a
representation of the band
within our video.
15. These two examples from our
video uses long shots similar
to the one step closer music
video
We used a tilt shot and angled the camera upwards as
Emmanuel was standing on a hill. By zooming in we were able
to capture him in this position which is a key scene/shot within
the video. We developed this as the band uses a low angle shot
His reflection on
his life is at this
moment.The
withered branches
and grey cloudy
sky help to portray
this. For us this was
an excellent shot.
Here we uses a high
angle/point of view shot as
its meant to show
Emmanuel looking over the
balcony after his burst out
through the corridor.
16. Here was see the
band using a low
angle shot
They use a rotating
shot here which we
challenged by not
using it.We did see
the need as it would
of looked out of place.
We used a mid shot
to capture the
bullying of
Emmanuel within the
class rooms. It
allowed us to get a
view of everyone and
the surroundings
showing its a class
room. And again with
the suicide scene of
Emmanuel running
towards the hill.
They uses a high mid shot
which we didn't use but
challenged by using a high
angle shot and titling it
downwards.
17. How did we use, develop and challenge
the codes and conventions with our
album cover?
18. •Artist name
•Album title
•Main image
•Age restrictions
•Barcode
•Colour scheme
•Logo
•Track list
•Recording information
Codes and conventions of an album
cover
19. Compared minutes to midnight with
our from cover
Our album cover
The cover of both album covers consist of the bands name being in the same bold font and is placed central of the page,
ours is dead set in the middle whilst there’s is top centred. The album title is in grey above the band name whilst ours is
below the band name in black.
Linkin Park’s front cover uses an illusion effect of darkness when you can see clear light.This is due to the grey water at the
bottom of the cover that goes off into a foggy type mist.The 6 silhouette’s add to give the album a sense of edgy darkness
even though the majority of the album is white.This therefore makes a contrast between the two and allows the audience
to be curious and look more into getting the album.
Our album cover developed more by using the idea of a crumpled paper bag head and merging it into our album cover
background this gives it a different dimension whilst adding continuity throughout our digipak. We also used still shots from
our music video and faded it white gave it a grey/white background. We also placed the parental advisory logo in the
bottom right corner of the cover whilst none sis shown on the other album.
The Linkin Park album cover
20. Both back covers have the track list centred but again like the band name ours is set
in the meddle whilst Linkin parks is above centred in the sky between clouds.This
both also use the Warner Brothers logo on the back covers, representing the music
company they are signed to.
Linkin Park’s back cover shows a image which is similar to their front by having 6
silhouettes but all you see is there backs whilst they face the water ahead of them.
There bar code is place at the bottom left side of the cover with the recording all the
main codes and conventions including the important information, special features
and thanks are all small printed on the back at the bottom also.
We challenged this by not including these small prints but just by adding the Warner
bros logo, barcode, track list and band name on the back.
21. Artist name - tends to always be on the from cover, essential to creating an image for
the star and allows the target audience to see the artist product easily.
We use the artist name on our front cover and also the font used in our album cover is
consistent with the bands as they used it within three of their albums - minutes to
midnight, road to revolution, songs from underground.
Artist name
All 3 album covers consist of the same font which we
have also used on our cover
We challenge the background of the cover
however by using multiple still shots from our
music video, then faded the images and added
the crumpled effect of the paper bag to give it
consistency but also a new feel to a Linkin Park
inspired cover.
22. Album title - having a title for an album cover allows the audience to get an idea of what
the artist was thinking whilst creating the album and gives it a feel for what direction (new
or old) they have decision to take with music. Our album title is underneath the band name
in the same font style. We used hybrid theory as our album name but only focus on the and
name as we wanted it people to be able to recognise it.
Album title
Jlove which is meant for two
words combined as one. Jlo- is
her nickname often used instead
of her full name and love? Is the
album title.This was cleverly
done as its asking is love still in
the cards for JLo?
The abbey road titled
album is a very famous
album know across the
world for this icon image
and street.The Beatles
used the title due to the
street the members of the
band are walking across.
Abbey road is where
the Beatles recorded
their last album. So
using the title as
Abbey Road has
great significance.
23. Age restriction - this will appear at times as parental advisory telling you
that there will be offensive or inappropriate language within the album. As
music nowadays is more expressive with language and sexualisation a
restriction is put in place so that it would offend anyone without them
knowing. Having this label usually depends on the genre of music and artist.
Challenge- link park’s album because we put it on our own album cover and
used the code and conventions of the music genre by adding the parental
advisory.
Age restriction
All albums carry the logo
24. Main image – a main image is consistent on covers sometimes even the
back cover. There’s usually connotation of a significant message about the
artist interest/feelings/experiences at that time in their life. Different genres
normally have different images e.g. Pop artist have pictures of themselves-
The Saturdays and rock genre would have a logo or image putting across a
message
We this developed by using pictures of scenes from our music video
Main image
The album
has come
to be
regarded as
U2's first
overtly
political
album,
This
album
shows 5
girls
having
fun with
the radio
i.e. music
25. Challenge the colour scheme of all album covers. As we didn't have one but
we did use a consistent theme of imagery e.g. Kanye tear bear albums.
Which we did by having still shot pictures from different scene of the music
video.
Colour scheme
Late registration
Graduation
College dropout
26. Codes and conventions of the back
cover
We placed the
track list
central as we
wanted it to
be the most
important
thing people
saw.This is a
code and
convention we
used (track
list).
Band name is
also centred
but at the top.
Barcode and
music company
logo are
another code
and
conventions of
album covers
that we usedWe challenged it by not using the small print
information or website address you would
usually get on an back cover
We developed it by
again using the
crumpled effect and
still shots from scenes
within our video
27. Bands usually have an iconic logo that is constant throughout their careers,
this logo will mostly be seen on their album covers. It can also be seen in
music videos, posters, adverts and concerts.
Challenge this because we didn't use the band logo on our album.
logo
Link Park’s logo
28. Barcode - is an optical machine-readable representation of data relating to
the object to which it is attached. All products consist of a barcode including
a music album. This helps track items and also reduces instances of
shoplifting involving price tag swapping. Music labels use this to keep a track
of all the records sold and where they are sold.This is a convention we used
as it is an important thing to have on a CD back cover.
barcode
Barcode on the
bottom right side of
the album
barcode
29. The track listing is place centred on the page in the middle, on the back
cover.The font is black simple and clear. We didn't use the same font as the
band name because it would have not looked appropriate and may have
been hard to read. We used four songs fromThe Hybrid theory album – One
step closer, In the end, Paper cut and Crawling which all contributed to
putting Linkin Park on the map, making them a well known mainstream
Rock band.
Track list
The bands
track list
Our track
list
30. Linkin Parks is signed to the record label Warner bros.They released their
breakthrough album ‘HybridTheory’ the year after signing to the label.The
label also distributes the bands music as well as producing it. Machines shop
recordings is also a recorded label used by the band. It was founded by Mike
Shinoda and Brad Delson. It was originally known as ‘The Mike Shinoda
Imprint’ but was renamed in 2002 when more members of the band started
to get involve. Mike and Brad run the band as producer and A&R
respectively.The label is currently on hiatus. Due to disagreement with the
label and parent company Warner Bros. Both labels logos are always
featured on the bands albums.
Record information
31. Digipak Advert
A picture of the album is
used also to show what
it looks like to the
audience , making
recognisable
The band name
with the same
theme font as the
album cover.
Beneath it is the
album title
The background is
also the same
imagery we used
for the album
cover, which are
still shots from
scenes within our
music video
The black rectangular box
across the middle/bottom of
the advert is used to make
the information within it
that's written in white stand
out more.
We also placed the track
listing underneath the
black box which is written
in black font.This gives the
audience more visual on
what will be within the
album and what kinds of
issues the band have
written about.
The band’s official website, music
record labelWarner Bros. And
Machine are also places at the
bottom of the digipak advert.
32. Consistent theme has been used throughout our digipak with both the
album and advert looking similar as you can see below.The faded still shots
from the scenes within the video has been used for the background, along
with the album title and band name being used.
Visual image
33. Date of release
We used the codes and
conventions of a digipak
advert as the release date is
usually shown along with the
artist name/ album title. For
our release date we used ‘
Out Now’ instead of a set
date.We felt it was better to
do this as we could add the
website and more
advertisement by quotes
that are promoting songs
from the album that are
circulating the music industry
at the moment. E.g. includes
the number 1 single ‘On Step
Closer’.We also added the
track list at the bottom of the
advert to show what other
songs were listed on the
album.
34. Magazine adverts are usually the front covers of the digipak in a poster form
with messages underneath giving information on the release dates, ratings
from reviews of the album by the artist and sometimes track list from the
album it self.These are codes and conventions of a digipak magazine advert
you’ll see.
Review of album advert
Here we see there
magazine advert i.e.
poster which looks
similar to ours with the
use of black and white
colour scheme. At the
bottom they have also
add a picture of the
album and message that
says ‘available now’
instead of a stead date.
Something we have also
on with our poster.
This poster resembles our idea
as it’s a larger example of the
album imagery with a few
changes. Its colour scheme has
gone from white to red, the
band name is now merged
behind the 6 silhouette figures
of the band members and the
information is all bellow the
silhouettes. In the bottom right
corner there is also a picture of
the album further promoting
the audience to purchase it.
