media studies

1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media
products?

2. Ways in which we challenged
conventions:
‘Laura Mulvey and other media theorists developed the idea that whilst female characters are usually
the object of the narrative, male characters are the subject. This theory is supported by Oasis’ video, as
the subjects are clearly the men and the only woman in the video is wearing very little and is holding
her breasts, so is the object. She is presented for the pleasure of the male viewer as she is separate
from the narrative and is alone on screen’. -Oasis, Wonderwall analysis
We defied this convention by making the female character the subject of the narrative rather than the
object. This was easy to do because the lyrics told the story of the girl rather than the boy. Because she
is the focus of the narrative there are a small number of shots with only her in the frame. We made sure
not to focus on the male gaze idea by making her costume regular clothes rather than sexualising her.
However the lyrics occasionally do sexualise her ‘you want to sleep with common people like me’. We
did this to make the video more relatable for any gender.
Demonstrates
costume
Demonstrates
equality
Demonstrates
subject not object

3. Ways in which we followed
conventions:
‘This music video is entirely footage of the band in concert. This format may have been chosen so that
this video can be watched rather than having to make the band play live all the time, for example on
promotional television appearances’. - Stone Roses
‘Throughout the video is a simulated live performance of the band. This may have been used to
promote the atmosphere of a live performance, therefore encouraging people to go and see them live.
Live performances are also a convention of indie pop music as they usually use real musical
instruments, rather than synthesisers and other computerised sounds’. - Pulp
Simulated live performances or ‘as live’ footage was essential to us when planning out our music video
as we all agreed that an audience wants to see the band. This was supported by our audience research.
In retrospect we should have had clips of the band running occasionally throughout the video.

4. Ways in which we followed
conventions:
‘This video follows some of Andrew Goodwin’s rules for music videos, for example it follows genre
characteristics by using working class mise-en-scene such as costumes and settings, and having the
band playing real instruments’. - Wonderwall analysis
‘Social realism is shown in this video by being partly set in a bar with working/ lower-middle class
people drinking and chatting. This complements the conventions of Britpop and in particular Pulp’s
brand, as they are portrayed to be down-to-earth and relatable people’. – Pulp analysis
We have followed the Britpop convention of social realism by showing real people (not actors) on the
streets and we borrowed the idea of the bar/pub scene from Pulp’s Mis-shapes video. We did this
because Pulp are perceived to be a working class band who are relatable so our pub scene compliments
this image.

5. Ways in which we followed
conventions:
‘Trevor Millum’s theories on how men are presented in the media are also supported in this video. Men
are […] represented as practical throughout the video as they are seen playing a variety of musical
instruments’.
We have followed this idea by showing the all-male band playing instruments such as drums , the guitar
and the violin.
‘The men in the video break the 4th wall as they repeatedly look into the camera. Whilst this creates a
sense of intimacy between the band and the audience, Jonathan Schroeder’s theory suggests that the
men are extending their power onto the audience. A large number of close ups are used throughout
this video crating a sense of intimacy between the artists and the audience. Close ups will have been
advised by the production company as the audience want to see their favourite singers, guitarists etc
close up rather than from a distance’. - Stone Roses
The characters of the boy and girl never look into the camera as that section is supposed to look like a
true story not something made for the camera. However in the band section both Jarvis and the
guitarist break the fourth wall. I do not think that it shows them extending their power over the
audience, however it certainly creates a sense of intimacy.