Adam Scarratt
Candidate number-4346
Centre number-51319
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Final evaluation question!
How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
Throughout the creation of this blog a wide range of technologies have been used in order to create a successful blog. In the construction stages the use of video camera's were crucial in the making of the video and also helped with making a pilot recording where we pre-ran the shooting scheduling in order to maxamise the real shoot. With the video camera you had to make sure it was fully charged so that the battery wouldn't run out, the tape was empty to record all the necessary shots. Additionally, with the tape you had to make sure that you did not record over previous imagery. The camera was used to shoot a wide range of camera angles to achieve the desired image. A steady image was created through the use of a tri-pod and an unsteady, shaky image created from hand held camera work.
The videos recorded were then uploaded to the apple macs via a USB cable and onto the software 'Imovie'. On Imovie editing was able to commence, clipping and cropping the video to manipulate the video into the desired look. On this program, things like lighting was able to be changed if needed be creating the right image on the image. The sound track to the video was also uploaded the video by USB stick and then put on top of the finished product.
Moreover, USB is not the only way in which we communicated information to the mac or computer, we also used scanners to upload work. This was quick and easy and additionally saved allot of time.
Other editing such as blood spurt effects and gun shot sound effect was added through the 'picture in picture' option available in the advanced options. The sound effect was layered under the track and changed the songs volume in the specific place as to not disrupt the whole song. We also chose to fade the song out at the end using the softwares sounds adjustments.
On shooting the video we actually used a strobe light to create the flash of light amongst the dark in the escape scene of the video. This use of technology was very useful.
Another way in which we distorted the original image was through another software, PhotoShop, mainly used for the ancillary task projects. On this program we changed the lighting, cut images, duplicated, used effects, use the clone stamp tool to make the desired final image, Without this program manipulation is not possible.
The internet offered a variety of technological advances, through websites like Youtube, we were able to watch video tutorials which taught us how to use short cuts on the macs and developed our skills on the software, for example who to do picture in picture in Imovie and how to duplicate selected items on PhotoShop. These short cuts made work much more quicker and improved effiecency. The skill development meant that our projects advanced significantly. Moreover, without the internet, our unique barcode would not be able to be created so therefore this technology enforced our uniqueness in our project.
Television was heavily influential in our research as it has a large library of current and old music videos to be investigated. By watching music channels you get an idea of what is popular and what has already been created and where there are gaps in the market for orginal progress within videos. Not only music channels are now available on TV, for example, with Virgin On Demand you are able to select music freely and watch uninterupting by commercials, pause, rewind, fast forward as you wish. This was most useful went analysing videos because you have complete control over what your watching.
Through the internet again it allows you to research into music instituation, distribution and gain information on band history not otherwise available. Additionally, the accessabilty of the internet is of great use. You can also look at other media projects, current or past to gain an idea of what you can do and how you may be able to develop their ideas further.
Again, through the use of software like excel and word, allowed a great diversity in how to create/display research and planning. With word we created a questionnaire so that we could gain audience feedback and with technology was able to print of a number of copies, we were also able to send them across the interent to gain a wider geographical response. Once the data was collected the information was entered into an Excel sheet where the date could be graphed and displayed in an aethitically pleasing manner to make the information more appealing and easier to read through the functions and options of things like font size, colours. Blogger does not check spelling and grammer when writing a post so by copying and pasting between the text in the post and Word it allows you to make the changes in Word and past it back into Blogger to create a better sense of proffesionalism.
Other ways in which data could be displayed is by videos, the webcam on my laptop at home allowed me to speak into the mic while the camera recorded me. This is more appealing to watch then reading a post posted on the blog. It also creates a better connection between the audience and speaker and therefore puts more focus on the engagement.
You could however, use PowerPoint to create a slideshow of information as demonstrated throughout my blog and then upload it to http://www.slideshare.com/ to then upload into a post. The nature of technology allows the option to change the size of the video, the volume and you can add text around to further the information displayed.
Embedding links is yet another way in which we portrayed information to our audience. By copying a link from another page and creating a hyperlink allows another tab to open from the current page to display further information create more depth and detail into the discussion at hand.
Throughout the creation of this blog a wide range of technologies have been used in order to create a successful blog. In the construction stages the use of video camera's were crucial in the making of the video and also helped with making a pilot recording where we pre-ran the shooting scheduling in order to maxamise the real shoot. With the video camera you had to make sure it was fully charged so that the battery wouldn't run out, the tape was empty to record all the necessary shots. Additionally, with the tape you had to make sure that you did not record over previous imagery. The camera was used to shoot a wide range of camera angles to achieve the desired image. A steady image was created through the use of a tri-pod and an unsteady, shaky image created from hand held camera work.
The videos recorded were then uploaded to the apple macs via a USB cable and onto the software 'Imovie'. On Imovie editing was able to commence, clipping and cropping the video to manipulate the video into the desired look. On this program, things like lighting was able to be changed if needed be creating the right image on the image. The sound track to the video was also uploaded the video by USB stick and then put on top of the finished product.
Moreover, USB is not the only way in which we communicated information to the mac or computer, we also used scanners to upload work. This was quick and easy and additionally saved allot of time.
Other editing such as blood spurt effects and gun shot sound effect was added through the 'picture in picture' option available in the advanced options. The sound effect was layered under the track and changed the songs volume in the specific place as to not disrupt the whole song. We also chose to fade the song out at the end using the softwares sounds adjustments.
On shooting the video we actually used a strobe light to create the flash of light amongst the dark in the escape scene of the video. This use of technology was very useful.
Another way in which we distorted the original image was through another software, PhotoShop, mainly used for the ancillary task projects. On this program we changed the lighting, cut images, duplicated, used effects, use the clone stamp tool to make the desired final image, Without this program manipulation is not possible.
The internet offered a variety of technological advances, through websites like Youtube, we were able to watch video tutorials which taught us how to use short cuts on the macs and developed our skills on the software, for example who to do picture in picture in Imovie and how to duplicate selected items on PhotoShop. These short cuts made work much more quicker and improved effiecency. The skill development meant that our projects advanced significantly. Moreover, without the internet, our unique barcode would not be able to be created so therefore this technology enforced our uniqueness in our project.
Television was heavily influential in our research as it has a large library of current and old music videos to be investigated. By watching music channels you get an idea of what is popular and what has already been created and where there are gaps in the market for orginal progress within videos. Not only music channels are now available on TV, for example, with Virgin On Demand you are able to select music freely and watch uninterupting by commercials, pause, rewind, fast forward as you wish. This was most useful went analysing videos because you have complete control over what your watching.
Through the internet again it allows you to research into music instituation, distribution and gain information on band history not otherwise available. Additionally, the accessabilty of the internet is of great use. You can also look at other media projects, current or past to gain an idea of what you can do and how you may be able to develop their ideas further.
Again, through the use of software like excel and word, allowed a great diversity in how to create/display research and planning. With word we created a questionnaire so that we could gain audience feedback and with technology was able to print of a number of copies, we were also able to send them across the interent to gain a wider geographical response. Once the data was collected the information was entered into an Excel sheet where the date could be graphed and displayed in an aethitically pleasing manner to make the information more appealing and easier to read through the functions and options of things like font size, colours. Blogger does not check spelling and grammer when writing a post so by copying and pasting between the text in the post and Word it allows you to make the changes in Word and past it back into Blogger to create a better sense of proffesionalism.
Other ways in which data could be displayed is by videos, the webcam on my laptop at home allowed me to speak into the mic while the camera recorded me. This is more appealing to watch then reading a post posted on the blog. It also creates a better connection between the audience and speaker and therefore puts more focus on the engagement.
You could however, use PowerPoint to create a slideshow of information as demonstrated throughout my blog and then upload it to http://www.slideshare.com/ to then upload into a post. The nature of technology allows the option to change the size of the video, the volume and you can add text around to further the information displayed.
Embedding links is yet another way in which we portrayed information to our audience. By copying a link from another page and creating a hyperlink allows another tab to open from the current page to display further information create more depth and detail into the discussion at hand.
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Monday, 14 March 2011
EVALUATION!
In what ways does your media product use, develop, or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Within our A2 products quite allot of conventions have been followed in relation to real media products of music videos, posters and CD albums.
Time wise our video length is similar to those in the contempory distribution. Today’s video's usually last around 3-4mintues in length as this is suitable for television and radio and their scheduling. Music shows aim to show around 3 music video's before airing an advert every 15minutes on shows like 'Kiss' and 'Kerrang!'. Therefore due to this convention rather than picking a long duration song such as, I'd Do Anything for Love - Meat Loaf (11:59) and Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John (11:08) we decided on Pendulum-Witcraft (4:12) released 18th July 2010.
By doing this we stick to the audiences expectations of what their expecting to hear on the radio and see on the T.V. Current music video's such as Lady Gaga's Telephone video which lasted 8mintues in length and was actually aired on TV and broke the conventions but got less air time due to the duration. We wanted our video to get a regular air time on the mediums as possible.
One way in which our video did however subvert the audience’s expectations was through the choice of video. We chose to have a narrative based music video and with these types of video's usually involves an appearance of the band and some shots of them performing. Our narrative instead stuck completely to the story and showed no performance footage within it. We decided to do this because we felt as if there was a gap in the market for this kind of video and weren’t very common and therefore make our video more appealing to people to watch. It also creates a closer relationship to the audience with the story rather than breaking the story up with clips of performance the reader can follow the story line from beginning to end.
Additionally, within music video's they don't usually involve sound effects and diegetic sound over the music. Our video on the other hand does this. Therefore challenging the products conventions. Through the gun shot sound effect used however intensifies the viewing of the video and in turn creates a stronger emphasis of the song and its lyrics as it enforces the lyrics to the audience and makes them listen closer to the song. Through this it makes a tighter bond between the video and the audience.
Moreover, the lyrics were interpreted in a way that reflects the video through our understanding. We took the lyrics of the song and analysed them. We then created our own impression through the use of our video of our perception of what these lyrics meant. Click the link to see analysis.
So from this lyrical analysis we developed a story which involved the meanings of the text that we had developed and incorporated them into the story line. This follows normal conventions of a music video where the story line is intertwined with the song which in turn echoes the feelings and emotions felt through the lyrics.
Additionally, because the song chosen was a Drum and Bass song it meant that with this genre it would naturally have a gentle build up and then have a 'drop' followed by a fast tempo. A drop is where the music takes a sudden turn in pace. We integrated the story to the song so that with the pace and tempo would work together and compliment one and another and create further emphasis to what is being heard and what is being seen. Most video's use this technique in order to have the best effect upon the audience. So when the build-up is occurring we use establishing shots to let the audience know where the story is taken place with steady camera shots taken with a tripod. When the drop happens a transition between human being to zombie is formed, so not only is there a transition within the story but also within the song. After this the fast tempo is made apparent and with this more fast pace action is shot within the video and less tripod shots were used to echo the rapidness of not only the story line but also the song.
The genre we took for the video was horror and with this chose to challenge the conventions of this genre because normally the scenes within genre's are dark and poorly lit, our video however was quite well lit and bright. Only one scene depicted the signifier of darkness as a code for horror and even then there were bursts of flashing lights in the form of a strobe. This enhanced the build-up of the chase and intensified the scene. We didn't shoot the scenes in very dark lighting because due to the poor quality of the camera's it would have been hard to get a clear image that people could watch and therefore needed good lighting to create a decent image. We could have used the night-vision mode on the camera but felt that this would disrupt the verisimilitude in which we were trying to create and impact the audiences experience.
Our poster follows most of the conventions of real media texts in the way that its main attention for audiences is drawn to the image displayed. The text is then laid upon the image displaying conventional text such as; release date, band name, song name and sometimes age restrictions, band label, distribution details. We chose to display the release date, band name and song title. The colour used was grey for the band and release date. White was used for the song title- "Witchcraft". By separating the song on its own with a colour not yet used in the composition means that the focus of attention after the image is immediately the song title. Deliberately doing this makes the audience question, well what is this witchcraft? Therefore, giving them motivation to continue reading. If the band name was what gained attention first may lose interest in the poster if they don't perhaps like the band. Consequently, this is also why the font is bigger for the song title, its the song your supposed to be selling, not the band.
Although it follows the form of music posters in the prior discussed point, in contrast, it challenges some conventions in another. Most posters will either be in colour, black or white or perhaps sepia, our poster however uses a combination of colour and black and white. In this sense it subverts the conventions of a poster but i believe reflects the nature of the video. Our video is a horror involving the disruption of reality through the form of a zombie. So with our poster we tried to take elements of phenomenon by defying the laws of life. Changing the colours of the reflection to a grey colour rather than normal colour as shown before the reflection alerts the audience that reality has become perverted.
With the CD album covers, back and front, conventions have been followed. On such products you'll find; barcodes, images, band name, title, track listings, labels and sometimes warning signs. Our Album follows all of these conventions and is evident here. The bar code, similar to other real products is located in the bottom right hand corner on the back cover. This is used by shops to scan the product in order to make a sale. It can also be used to locate the product by searching the barcode.
The track listings like other products are located on the back along with the bar code, production company logo. The title for the product is found on the front to attract the potential buyer to the cd. Also, the warning certificate is also on the front to warn parents and listeners of the content found within the product. This is conventional by law and avoids offending people and perhaps avoiding an abhorrent audience.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Shooting Schedule
Wednesday 15th December
Buying props and costumes for film shoot.
1) planks of wood-Wicks, £2.00x2=£4
2) Black vests- Primark, £3.00x4= £12
3) Fake moustaches- Poundland= £1.00
4) Fake blood-Carnival stores= £3.00
Other props and products already possessed
1) Aviator Glasses- Counter Zombie Unit police
2) Granny glasses- For mother
3) Bananna- Fight scene
4) other camera's- for 'Punk'd crew'
5) BB gun- For police unit
6)Microphone- Punk'd crew
7) Make up- For zombie
8) Clapper board- For Punk'd crew
Sunday 19th December
Make up at James Newmans house for 2:30pm.
Filming commences at Edward Browns house for 3:30pm.
Approx. end for filming- 6:30pm.
Buying props and costumes for film shoot.
1) planks of wood-Wicks, £2.00x2=£4
2) Black vests- Primark, £3.00x4= £12
3) Fake moustaches- Poundland= £1.00
4) Fake blood-Carnival stores= £3.00
Other props and products already possessed
1) Aviator Glasses- Counter Zombie Unit police
2) Granny glasses- For mother
3) Bananna- Fight scene
4) other camera's- for 'Punk'd crew'
5) BB gun- For police unit
6)Microphone- Punk'd crew
7) Make up- For zombie
8) Clapper board- For Punk'd crew
Sunday 19th December
Make up at James Newmans house for 2:30pm.
Filming commences at Edward Browns house for 3:30pm.
Approx. end for filming- 6:30pm.
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Questioanire Results
The favourtie music genre outlined by participants was Rock. With Drum and Bass being the second most popular. Therfore the story line will be have to be based on either one of these genre's.
Monday, 22 November 2010
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Music Video Idea's
After watching some music video's on the television and online, as a team, we decided that music video's lately after comical or satirical anymore. They lack humour.
We then came up with the idea of a comical zombie music video as we believed there was a gap in the industry for this as to our knowledge and research it had not been done before. You have other zombie and monster music video's like the famous Thriller by Michael Jackson but not any with any comic value.
This inspired a narrative which involved two boys, one of which, turns into a zombie and starts attacking his friend and mother. Eventually the police turn up and kill the zombie where it actually turns out to be a t.v show in the style of the American show "Punk'd" presented by Ashton Kutcher. The comical nature of the video happens at the end and other scenes in the video.
To go to this video we narrowed down a select amount of songs.
These include:
Build me up Buttercup- The Foundations
Witchcraft- Pendulum
Invaders must die- The Prodigy
Contact- Foreign Beggars
We should bang my noze- Zombie disco squad
We then came up with the idea of a comical zombie music video as we believed there was a gap in the industry for this as to our knowledge and research it had not been done before. You have other zombie and monster music video's like the famous Thriller by Michael Jackson but not any with any comic value.
This inspired a narrative which involved two boys, one of which, turns into a zombie and starts attacking his friend and mother. Eventually the police turn up and kill the zombie where it actually turns out to be a t.v show in the style of the American show "Punk'd" presented by Ashton Kutcher. The comical nature of the video happens at the end and other scenes in the video.
To go to this video we narrowed down a select amount of songs.
These include:
Build me up Buttercup- The Foundations
Witchcraft- Pendulum
Invaders must die- The Prodigy
Contact- Foreign Beggars
We should bang my noze- Zombie disco squad
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Monday, 1 November 2010
Bashy-When the sky falls. Music Video Analysis
This song is the theme tune for a film called "shank" in which the artist is actually an actor in the film. The film is about a future London that has been set into decay and is ran by gangs and the youth, it has become completely corrupted by illegally activity and has lost and sense of legal authority. The idea's put across in the film are repeatedly referenced to in the music video showing many film clips throughout. The clips are shown in conjunction with the music video swapping very quickly between the two constantly.This fast swapping between clips creates an almost nostaligic feel to the video making it seem like a biography and "Bashy" is reflecting on past memories. The clips from the film shown are very fast paced action packed ones showing scenes of violence and theft which runs smoothly with the fast nature of the song which is of a grime, rap nature. However, in one particular bit of the song it breaks down into slow singing where the shot shown is still of a rapid nature creating a juxtaposition between what is being watched and what is being heard. Perhaps showing that what is happening in the clips shouldn't be happening and everything should be done in order to stop this from happening in the future.
The music video itself is, shown in a establishing shot, a dirty derelict building where the glass is smashed in and the ceiling broken. This sort of building depicts perfectly the scenery shown in wider London in the films representation. So even though fate seems dim for many of the youth caught up in this aggressive London the glimmer of sun rays shining through the roof could show that there is a chance to break out of this cycle and aspire to greater things. This is further enforced because the artists in the video are wearing clearly expensive, clean, nice clothing. Showing that there are ways to break the mould and change things for the better.This returns us to the biographical nature of the video because during the song "Bashy" looks straight into the camera in an extreme close up after a continued tracking shot from behind the artist so that you cannot see the front of him and takes of his black tinted sun glasses. The black tints in the glasses makes it feel inpersonal and makes it seem as if he's hiding something. But as soon as he takes them off and looks (as it feels) straight at you completely changes the sensation created and creates a personal message, like he's talkin straight to you. This connection between the audience and music artist makes his messages of escapism and aspiration even more powerful. After this revealing of glasses a clip from the film is quickly shown of the same artist throwing a punch straight at the camera through a point of view shot. This imagery really 'hits home' with the audience because not only is it creating a connection again it also shows the physical challanges that may be needed to break free from the terror some of the youth may find themselves in.
Towards the end of the video a blue negative colour is put over the video and shows the artist screaming. This i believe shows reality in an unbelievable way, which in turn is almost like the morals of "Shank" that this could be the future for children but surely its so unreal, so unbelievable that we, as a society can't let it happen?
The last imagery shown is of the artist, "Bashy" walking out of the bulding from an aerial shot leaving behind the building, leaving behind the memories, leaving behind the past. This shows that he's been through the rough, he's struggled to get to where he is but he doesn't look back on it now and through aspirations and effort you can succedd and don't have to rely on an illegal lifestyle of theft and crime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApUigTNNU3I
The music video itself is, shown in a establishing shot, a dirty derelict building where the glass is smashed in and the ceiling broken. This sort of building depicts perfectly the scenery shown in wider London in the films representation. So even though fate seems dim for many of the youth caught up in this aggressive London the glimmer of sun rays shining through the roof could show that there is a chance to break out of this cycle and aspire to greater things. This is further enforced because the artists in the video are wearing clearly expensive, clean, nice clothing. Showing that there are ways to break the mould and change things for the better.This returns us to the biographical nature of the video because during the song "Bashy" looks straight into the camera in an extreme close up after a continued tracking shot from behind the artist so that you cannot see the front of him and takes of his black tinted sun glasses. The black tints in the glasses makes it feel inpersonal and makes it seem as if he's hiding something. But as soon as he takes them off and looks (as it feels) straight at you completely changes the sensation created and creates a personal message, like he's talkin straight to you. This connection between the audience and music artist makes his messages of escapism and aspiration even more powerful. After this revealing of glasses a clip from the film is quickly shown of the same artist throwing a punch straight at the camera through a point of view shot. This imagery really 'hits home' with the audience because not only is it creating a connection again it also shows the physical challanges that may be needed to break free from the terror some of the youth may find themselves in.
Towards the end of the video a blue negative colour is put over the video and shows the artist screaming. This i believe shows reality in an unbelievable way, which in turn is almost like the morals of "Shank" that this could be the future for children but surely its so unreal, so unbelievable that we, as a society can't let it happen?
The last imagery shown is of the artist, "Bashy" walking out of the bulding from an aerial shot leaving behind the building, leaving behind the memories, leaving behind the past. This shows that he's been through the rough, he's struggled to get to where he is but he doesn't look back on it now and through aspirations and effort you can succedd and don't have to rely on an illegal lifestyle of theft and crime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApUigTNNU3I
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Slipknot- Duality. Video analysis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVE8kSM43I&ob=av3e
The first image shown in the video for Slipknot's song Duality starts with a slow motion picture of a young man breathing heavily topless, at first due to the slow nature of it it doesn't seem conventional for a rock video, the audience expects fast heavy movements to go with the rock nature of the music. However, after this it breaks into normal speed with a mass of males charging as one with the majority of the group being topless. This scene represents how music can offer people a source of identity and create social solidarity from all different types of ethnicities and religions. On the other hand, later in the video scenes of violence and anger are produced, one such image being a man smashing a window with a chair. This particular male is topless and reinforces the brutality of the video as it produces a sense of animalistic behaviour, almost caveman like where men act purely on insticts and irrationally. This idea is carried on through the video as the masses are seen breaking things, climbing on buildings and pushing one another.
Additionally, its almost as if these characters are acting like an infection. Entering all area's of the house and destroying everything with a single touch acting with great speed and with no remorse.
The band Slipknot are famous for always wearing masks, its rumoured that not even there families know what they look like anymore because they always wear masks. This video doesn't break Slipknot conventions as they are seen with there masks on. This mysterious nature of the band creates a sense of individuality. By covering there faces and wearing different masks makes them unique to every person in the room. It also helps to identify them, if someone see's these group of people they immediately know who it is. Creating good publicity.
Two minutes into the video the lead singer breaks down the violence and controls the huge group of people in an almost religious format. He acts as the key speaker and holds his palm out to the audience where they stop and look as if there in a trance hanging on every word he says. This could represent how easily influenced some people in wider society are, showing that with the right people and the right words people can be manipulated to do all sorts of things because after the lyrics which slows them and puts them motionless are then made too act aggresively once more in a destructive way. The build up is done by extreme close ups on the faces of the audience very quickly swapping between the shots and eventually ends of a birds eye view of the entire crowd where they burst into motion acting physically against each other in a fighting manor.
Throughout the video the camera angles show how close the proximity is between the band and the audience with no barrier between them showing that the band, Slipknot are the same as the rest of them. It doesn't make them seem superior like most other video's. Where the band are shot from a low angle so its looking up at them making it look like there the more dominant figures but in this video everyone is shot at as a mid shot or close up showing the equality between people. The only difference is that the majority of the close ups are on Slipknot which enforces the importance of them and is easily seen through the imagery.
The first image shown in the video for Slipknot's song Duality starts with a slow motion picture of a young man breathing heavily topless, at first due to the slow nature of it it doesn't seem conventional for a rock video, the audience expects fast heavy movements to go with the rock nature of the music. However, after this it breaks into normal speed with a mass of males charging as one with the majority of the group being topless. This scene represents how music can offer people a source of identity and create social solidarity from all different types of ethnicities and religions. On the other hand, later in the video scenes of violence and anger are produced, one such image being a man smashing a window with a chair. This particular male is topless and reinforces the brutality of the video as it produces a sense of animalistic behaviour, almost caveman like where men act purely on insticts and irrationally. This idea is carried on through the video as the masses are seen breaking things, climbing on buildings and pushing one another.
Additionally, its almost as if these characters are acting like an infection. Entering all area's of the house and destroying everything with a single touch acting with great speed and with no remorse.
The band Slipknot are famous for always wearing masks, its rumoured that not even there families know what they look like anymore because they always wear masks. This video doesn't break Slipknot conventions as they are seen with there masks on. This mysterious nature of the band creates a sense of individuality. By covering there faces and wearing different masks makes them unique to every person in the room. It also helps to identify them, if someone see's these group of people they immediately know who it is. Creating good publicity.
Two minutes into the video the lead singer breaks down the violence and controls the huge group of people in an almost religious format. He acts as the key speaker and holds his palm out to the audience where they stop and look as if there in a trance hanging on every word he says. This could represent how easily influenced some people in wider society are, showing that with the right people and the right words people can be manipulated to do all sorts of things because after the lyrics which slows them and puts them motionless are then made too act aggresively once more in a destructive way. The build up is done by extreme close ups on the faces of the audience very quickly swapping between the shots and eventually ends of a birds eye view of the entire crowd where they burst into motion acting physically against each other in a fighting manor.
Throughout the video the camera angles show how close the proximity is between the band and the audience with no barrier between them showing that the band, Slipknot are the same as the rest of them. It doesn't make them seem superior like most other video's. Where the band are shot from a low angle so its looking up at them making it look like there the more dominant figures but in this video everyone is shot at as a mid shot or close up showing the equality between people. The only difference is that the majority of the close ups are on Slipknot which enforces the importance of them and is easily seen through the imagery.
Monday, 18 October 2010
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Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Pendulum-Witchcraft
Black=Lyrics
Red=analysis
it’s in your eyes, a color fade out
Looks like a new transition
The starting up and shaking your ground
Turning your head to see a new day calling
A change in the colour of eyes creates an image of dehumanisation, somewhat inhuman. The words "fade out" also brings together idea's of something loosing grip with reality.
When it says shaking your ground with the images of a new transition enforces to the audience a sense of commons values being stirred and rattled displacing people from a nature of comfortability.
Overall, this verse creates a sense of things changing, a nature of uncertainty for people.
Does it feel like a head to lean on?
A snapshot from where you were born
I’m looking for your hand in the rough
You’re caught in the wire
Well I’ll lift you out
The rhetorical question at the beginning i feel is asking whether or not the change in the first verse is a good change or not and then is also combined with something that creates a warm feeling, " snapshot from where you were born'. where you were born in mostly identified to be where your childhood is spent and where you first discovered things. Childhood is a fun and interesting time to be alive and looking back on it from a busy hard adult lifestyle further emphasises the idea of innocence and fun. However, it then starts talking about thing that create harmful imagery, 'rough,wire' and then when it says 'lift you out' it enforces the idea of a deep hole that you can't get out of. The contrast between the good and bad in this verse portrays to the audience confusion and despair.
Leading on the action
Caught in a cell phones rays
Bleeding on a sofa
Staring at the wayside
He’s coming and she knows it
Even though she knows why
Footsteps in the hallway
Girl you haven’t got time
There seems a real nature of fast pace in this verse as theres no longer any punctuation or questions its just quick listed sentences, one after the other. The verses continuance makes the speed seem really rapid which in turn reflects the sense of the lysics there self, it suggests a real sense of urgency, "You haven't got time" without time there is no chance for change as it has already happended but the desperation put across makes it seem as if something can still be done. The lyric "footsteps in the hallway" creates an eerie image as the footsteps seem as if they are bodyless and almost on auto pilot, as if possessed by something. Something dangerous. You can tell its something dangerous because it earlier says "bleeding on the sofa". A sofa is usually a place of comfort, for relaxation. By puttin bleeding before this creates an utter juxtaposition, you would not expect these two things to go together. Bleeding connotates all sorts of dangerous things such as; violence, death and pain.
Also it almost seems to plays on the 'damsel in distress' cliche. A female in peril at the hands of a male. Which additionally reinforces the idea of patriarchalism, that men are the dominant figure in society as theres nothing this woman can do against this man who's "coming and she knows it".
You gotta get out
Go far away
[x2]These lines further enforce the idea of danger but produces the possibility of escape. If she can get far enough then she can get out of the situation that she finds herself stuck in. The repition acts as a ploy to exaggerate more on the importance of escape due to the levels of danger.
Darkness in the bedroom
Maybe she is resting up
Maybe she was out late
Just come back from the club
I can’t hear her breathing
Something doesn’t seem right
Killer in the hallway
We’re living on a set time
This verse puts across to the audience that perhaps there is still help for this female yet as he has already become aware that something is wrong because the bedroom is in darkness. Darkness straight away creates affiliation between bad things because in darkness it disables the use of our sight which initially affects our sense of stability and without stability we are prone to be shaken by things.
The repitition of the word "maybe" also enhances the idea of uncertainty and the nature of danger becoming ever more evident. Immediately from " I can't hear her breathing" the character is aware that something has to be done to solve the enigma produces another sense of swiftness. Also although prior to thought we know that the character is still alive although there seems to be a "Killer" somewhere because he says "were Living on a set time". The word living lets the audience know theres still hope for salvation. But the set time justifies the idea of urgency and danger because when time runs out for them, there dead.We gotta get out
Go far away
[x2]
The audience doesn't get given the knowledge what the conclusion is to the story but perhaps makes it a good song because it lets the listeners make up there own mind for the fate of the characters and will appeal to even more people if they get to choose the ending. It makes it more personal and open for adaptation.
Red=analysis
it’s in your eyes, a color fade out
Looks like a new transition
The starting up and shaking your ground
Turning your head to see a new day calling
A change in the colour of eyes creates an image of dehumanisation, somewhat inhuman. The words "fade out" also brings together idea's of something loosing grip with reality.
When it says shaking your ground with the images of a new transition enforces to the audience a sense of commons values being stirred and rattled displacing people from a nature of comfortability.
Overall, this verse creates a sense of things changing, a nature of uncertainty for people.
Does it feel like a head to lean on?
A snapshot from where you were born
I’m looking for your hand in the rough
You’re caught in the wire
Well I’ll lift you out
The rhetorical question at the beginning i feel is asking whether or not the change in the first verse is a good change or not and then is also combined with something that creates a warm feeling, " snapshot from where you were born'. where you were born in mostly identified to be where your childhood is spent and where you first discovered things. Childhood is a fun and interesting time to be alive and looking back on it from a busy hard adult lifestyle further emphasises the idea of innocence and fun. However, it then starts talking about thing that create harmful imagery, 'rough,wire' and then when it says 'lift you out' it enforces the idea of a deep hole that you can't get out of. The contrast between the good and bad in this verse portrays to the audience confusion and despair.
Leading on the action
Caught in a cell phones rays
Bleeding on a sofa
Staring at the wayside
He’s coming and she knows it
Even though she knows why
Footsteps in the hallway
Girl you haven’t got time
There seems a real nature of fast pace in this verse as theres no longer any punctuation or questions its just quick listed sentences, one after the other. The verses continuance makes the speed seem really rapid which in turn reflects the sense of the lysics there self, it suggests a real sense of urgency, "You haven't got time" without time there is no chance for change as it has already happended but the desperation put across makes it seem as if something can still be done. The lyric "footsteps in the hallway" creates an eerie image as the footsteps seem as if they are bodyless and almost on auto pilot, as if possessed by something. Something dangerous. You can tell its something dangerous because it earlier says "bleeding on the sofa". A sofa is usually a place of comfort, for relaxation. By puttin bleeding before this creates an utter juxtaposition, you would not expect these two things to go together. Bleeding connotates all sorts of dangerous things such as; violence, death and pain.
Also it almost seems to plays on the 'damsel in distress' cliche. A female in peril at the hands of a male. Which additionally reinforces the idea of patriarchalism, that men are the dominant figure in society as theres nothing this woman can do against this man who's "coming and she knows it".
You gotta get out
Go far away
[x2]These lines further enforce the idea of danger but produces the possibility of escape. If she can get far enough then she can get out of the situation that she finds herself stuck in. The repition acts as a ploy to exaggerate more on the importance of escape due to the levels of danger.
Darkness in the bedroom
Maybe she is resting up
Maybe she was out late
Just come back from the club
I can’t hear her breathing
Something doesn’t seem right
Killer in the hallway
We’re living on a set time
This verse puts across to the audience that perhaps there is still help for this female yet as he has already become aware that something is wrong because the bedroom is in darkness. Darkness straight away creates affiliation between bad things because in darkness it disables the use of our sight which initially affects our sense of stability and without stability we are prone to be shaken by things.
The repitition of the word "maybe" also enhances the idea of uncertainty and the nature of danger becoming ever more evident. Immediately from " I can't hear her breathing" the character is aware that something has to be done to solve the enigma produces another sense of swiftness. Also although prior to thought we know that the character is still alive although there seems to be a "Killer" somewhere because he says "were Living on a set time". The word living lets the audience know theres still hope for salvation. But the set time justifies the idea of urgency and danger because when time runs out for them, there dead.We gotta get out
Go far away
[x2]
The audience doesn't get given the knowledge what the conclusion is to the story but perhaps makes it a good song because it lets the listeners make up there own mind for the fate of the characters and will appeal to even more people if they get to choose the ending. It makes it more personal and open for adaptation.
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