This document discusses various aesthetic elements used in visual media, including aspect ratio, framing, vectors, lighting, color, sound, and time/motion. It provides definitions and examples of how these elements are used, particularly in the music video "Once More With Feeling" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Key points covered include how different aspect ratios impact framing of shots, the use of lighting and specific colors to set mood, and how music and sound effects enhance the story and draw attention.

1. AESTHETICS IN VISUAL MEDIA
Renald Sanrelus
Matt Couto
Wayne Clark
Tatyara Shead
Char-Asia Johnson

2. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER:
ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
Once More With Feeling

3. Mathew Couto
SIGHT SOUND AND MOTION
SPACE

4. ASPECT RATIO
 Aspect ratio is an image projection attribute that describes the proportional relationship between
the width of an image and its height.
 2 types: Standard 4x3 and High definition 16x9.
 Standard 4x3 ratio most used. (screen of video)
 Advantage of 4x3: width and height are balanced.
 Appropriate for CU and ECU. Does not leave screen space on the sides.
 Relates to the video as it is displayed in a 4x3 screen.

5. PILLAR-BOXING
 The pillar box effect occurs in widescreen video displays when black bars are placed on the sides of
the image.
 Becomes necessary when film or video not originally designed for widescreen is shown on a
widescreen display.
 Fitting a full-sized 4x3 image in center of a wider screen (16x9), covering the top and bottom portions
of the frame within the picture space.
 The Leftover empty sides are shown, known as side bars or dead zones, resembling pillars, hence the
name.

6. FRAMING USED: CLOSE UP AND
DIALOGUE PARTNERS:
 Close Up: A photograph or a film or television shot in which the subject is tightly framed and shown at a relatively
large scale.
 Close Up: in a 4x3 ratio, a person can be framed without crowding the frame or leaving unused screen space,
whereas in a 16x9 ratio, there is a lot of unused space on the sides.
 Extreme Close Up: the 4x3 ratio can also manage an ECU without leaving unused space at the sides, as opposed to
the HDTV frame(i.e. close up of character’s face.)
 Framing Two Dialogue Partners: Filming two characters facing each other is rather simple in a HD screen. It gives
the appearance of comfortable distance between the two individuals. On a standard screen, however, the two subjects
appear to be closer to each other, leaving minimal breathing room.

7. VECTORS
 Definition: In media aesthetics, a vector is an element with magnitude and a direction. Think of it like a
line. The length would be the magnitude and the direction would be its orientation, or which way it’s
pointing, similar to a compass needle.
 2 types used in the video: Continuous and Converging vectors.
 Continuous vectors are when two or more vectors point in the same direction. In this case, when you
see two or more people facing a specific direction, their gaze constitutes a continuous vector.
 Converging vectors, on the other hand, point or move towards each other. For example, a conversation
between two individuals on screen.

8. SIGHTS, SOUND AND MOTION:
TIME/MOTION
Wayne Clark

9. TIME AND MOTION
 “Systematic observation, analysis, and measurement of the separate steps in the
performance of a specific job for the purpose of establishing a standard time for each
performance, improving procedures, and increasing productivity” – Webster Dictionary
 Frequently assumed to be interchangeable
 Frederick Winslow Taylor

10. CONNECTION TO VIDEO
 Each step was perfectly correlated
 Seems to take place in the night time
 Smooth
 Steps
 Certain points of the song required a certain move
 Special effects make it more entertaining
 Not a lot of time passes

11. SIGHTS, SOUND AND MOTION:
LIGHTING AND COLOR
Tatyana Snead

12.  Color is measured in hue, value (or brightness), and intensity.
 In the first 25 seconds of the clip, the demon is wearing an all red suit, and the background is all
black.
 The black gives the audience a dark, dramatic feel. Black is associated with power, death, evil, and
mystery.
 The bright red creates a distinct contrast.
COLOR

13.  Red also represents the devil. It is the color of fire and blood,
so it is associated with energy, rage, anger, danger, and
strength.
 (side note* it also represents love, passion, power, and war,
but these are not relevant to this particular clip in my
opinion.)
 At 26 seconds, the demon's suit changes color.
 Color change is another effect used to capture the audiences'
attention

14. LIGHTING
 As you may notice, there is little lighting in the clip.
 You can see the characters, but only because there is a spotlight being used.
 Darkness is "black", therefore it represents many of the same things as the color itself,
including mystery and danger. The darkness gives the clip an eerie vibe, the audience is aware
that this demon is in no way, shape, or form a positive thing.

15. SIGHTS, SOUND AND MOTION:
SOUND
Char-Asia Johnson
Sound: "The element of sound is of high importance as it adds emotion and rhythm to a film, commercial, video etc… It a

16.  Sound: "The element of sound is of high importance as it
adds emotion and rhythm to a film, commercial, video etc…
It also provides a tone towards the story/characters. The
most effective use of sound can be described as its ability to
foreshadow any change in moods, or events."

17.  From the very beginning of the video we see how the music is used as an exclamaiton
point. As the girl (Dawn) slides in there is a huge crescendo that stops abruptluy signifying the
something big is about to happen.
 Also during the call and response section, we notice how the dominant section (sweet’s
portion) is darker but has a direct tone, while the less dominant (Dawn’s portion) is signified
by a soft spoken section.

18. CLOSING REMARKS
 When it comes to aesthetics we notice:
• Sights are set up so everything can be seen
• Everything is even toned as to prevent visual distress
• And colors have a purpose
• Things move in a way together to emphasize certain points
• Sound and lighting have the ability to set a tone or mood
• There is emphasis in everything
• It all ties in together to make things worth watching