21 November 2013
20 November 2013
14 November 2013
12 November 2013
The Pixies Fan Culture and Secondary Research
The Pixies Fan Culture and Secondary Research
Upon researching into the Pixies fanbase, I discovered a plathora of websites, forums and blogs dedictated to the The Pixies and the fans love of them, dedicating numerous hours of the day to discuss and share their love. This demonstrates that the fanbase of the Pixies feel they have made a personal connection to the band, displaying their emotions on these websites.
This screenshot is taken from the Pixies official facebook page, currently with 1,663,518 likes. From this page, one can access almost any information on the band as well as an insight into the behind the scenes of the band.
The screenshot to the right shows a fan made website about the Pixies. You can access anything from inside scoops to guitar tabs to a discography from this website, created by a suprisingly small group of diehard Pixies fans.
On the other hand, this screenshot is taken from a website made by a group of Pixies fans from France, displaying how the band have managed to send their name throughout the world, reaching these French fans enough to influence a website on the band.
NME have created a frequent blog on 'The Roots Of'...' many different bands, one of which was dedicated to the Pixies and their roots. The blog, professionally presented, follows the beginnings of the Pixies right through to present day.
NME also conducted a similar blog on Nirvana, who were very close and definitely influenced by the Pixies. This blog was suggested in relation to the Pixies blog, therefore suggesting a connection that fans may wish to make.
Finally, this is a screenshot from another fan made website in which they are also attempting to sell a book based on the Pixies, written by fans of the Pixies. They also created a visual history of the band that can be found on YouTube.
Above is a small selection of fan based videos from YouTube.
Upon researching into the Pixies fanbase, I discovered a plathora of websites, forums and blogs dedictated to the The Pixies and the fans love of them, dedicating numerous hours of the day to discuss and share their love. This demonstrates that the fanbase of the Pixies feel they have made a personal connection to the band, displaying their emotions on these websites.
This screenshot is taken from the Pixies official facebook page, currently with 1,663,518 likes. From this page, one can access almost any information on the band as well as an insight into the behind the scenes of the band.
The screenshot to the right shows a fan made website about the Pixies. You can access anything from inside scoops to guitar tabs to a discography from this website, created by a suprisingly small group of diehard Pixies fans.
On the other hand, this screenshot is taken from a website made by a group of Pixies fans from France, displaying how the band have managed to send their name throughout the world, reaching these French fans enough to influence a website on the band.
NME have created a frequent blog on 'The Roots Of'...' many different bands, one of which was dedicated to the Pixies and their roots. The blog, professionally presented, follows the beginnings of the Pixies right through to present day.
NME also conducted a similar blog on Nirvana, who were very close and definitely influenced by the Pixies. This blog was suggested in relation to the Pixies blog, therefore suggesting a connection that fans may wish to make.
Finally, this is a screenshot from another fan made website in which they are also attempting to sell a book based on the Pixies, written by fans of the Pixies. They also created a visual history of the band that can be found on YouTube.
Above is a small selection of fan based videos from YouTube.
11 November 2013
Record Label Research
This is the record label research I conducted into which record labels would be suitable to support
our music video production.
our music video production.
10 November 2013
Analysing Music Videos - Brianstorm
Arctic Monkeys – Brianstorm, 2007
The music video starts off with a wide shot of the band in a low lit basement space, they are backlit so we can only see their silhouettes as they play their instruments, in fact backing us the audience. They dark lighting and silhouetted figures have a mysterious effect on the audience, creating an enigma as we wonder what will happen next. The fast drumming and guitar strumming builds up, also adding to the mood as the music elevates. There are quick shots of the band’s instruments letting us know that this is a performance music video. Though this is a live performance video, it does not follow the exact conventions of one, where the band would be performing to a live crowd. As the band is hidden in darkness and not facing us the audience, it makes this video more impersonal and the audience are disconnected from what could be a more intimate performance. I think the Arctic Monkeys have chosen to obscure themselves and not use direct mode of address because the song is about this man Brian, and the song is about him rather than having any personal reference to any of the band members.
So the song has a narrative structure too which is not represented in a conventional way. The band’s performance cuts to a pixelated, patterned background, fast cuts switch from the band to a group of female dancers against the colourful flashing backdrop. The fast cuts are typical of the Hip Hop and Rock genres in music video not really Indie Rock, and flashing lights are more commonly seen in Pop/Hip Hop. The female dancers’ provocative dance moves and outfits are similar to those in again the Hip Hop genre and the sexuality of the choreography, emphasised by the fast cuts and close ups of sexy parts attribute to male gaze. The visuals illustrate the lyrics of the song, for example the first line "Brian, top marks for tryin’… there is an image of a man who must be the Brian character. As well as ordinary photographs that have been put in the video, there is black and white archive footage and animations adding to the narrative. The contrast of the musical genre and the conventions they have used make the video original and artistic in developing and challenging the conventions.
Jasmine.
The music video starts off with a wide shot of the band in a low lit basement space, they are backlit so we can only see their silhouettes as they play their instruments, in fact backing us the audience. They dark lighting and silhouetted figures have a mysterious effect on the audience, creating an enigma as we wonder what will happen next. The fast drumming and guitar strumming builds up, also adding to the mood as the music elevates. There are quick shots of the band’s instruments letting us know that this is a performance music video. Though this is a live performance video, it does not follow the exact conventions of one, where the band would be performing to a live crowd. As the band is hidden in darkness and not facing us the audience, it makes this video more impersonal and the audience are disconnected from what could be a more intimate performance. I think the Arctic Monkeys have chosen to obscure themselves and not use direct mode of address because the song is about this man Brian, and the song is about him rather than having any personal reference to any of the band members.
So the song has a narrative structure too which is not represented in a conventional way. The band’s performance cuts to a pixelated, patterned background, fast cuts switch from the band to a group of female dancers against the colourful flashing backdrop. The fast cuts are typical of the Hip Hop and Rock genres in music video not really Indie Rock, and flashing lights are more commonly seen in Pop/Hip Hop. The female dancers’ provocative dance moves and outfits are similar to those in again the Hip Hop genre and the sexuality of the choreography, emphasised by the fast cuts and close ups of sexy parts attribute to male gaze. The visuals illustrate the lyrics of the song, for example the first line "Brian, top marks for tryin’… there is an image of a man who must be the Brian character. As well as ordinary photographs that have been put in the video, there is black and white archive footage and animations adding to the narrative. The contrast of the musical genre and the conventions they have used make the video original and artistic in developing and challenging the conventions.
Jasmine.
What Is A Music Video For?
"A music video is not primarily
a commodity form, but a promotional one" - Andrew Goodwin (Dancing
In The Distraction Factory).
A music video is a short moving image product, shot to accompany a music track, usually to encourage sales of the music in download or disc form. It can also be part of the construction of a star/performer/band, a marketing tool for other media products like a film or simply an artistic artefact in itself to entertain the audience.
Goodwin's key features of a music video as a media text include,
A music video is a short moving image product, shot to accompany a music track, usually to encourage sales of the music in download or disc form. It can also be part of the construction of a star/performer/band, a marketing tool for other media products like a film or simply an artistic artefact in itself to entertain the audience.
Goodwin's key features of a music video as a media text include,
- Relationship - between the lyrics and the
visuals, either illustrating or contradicting each other - between the
music and the visuals.
- Different music genres have a particular style
and iconography e.g. Rock music videos usually have live stage
performances.
- A close up of the main artist/vocalist and
they may develop a star iconography.
- Voyeurism, particularly in the treatment of
women e.g. the sexualisation of women in the use of fragmented body shots.
- Music videos may also include intertextuality,
references like film and TV texts or even other music videos.
John Stewart describes The Music Video as "Incorporating,
raiding and reconstructing", which is the essence of intertextuality
which involves using something the audience is familiar with to create
nostalgic associations. Stewart says a music video can also emphasise an
aspirational lifestyle to the audience.
The genres of music videos are Performance, Narrative and Conceptual.
Performance music videos include the artist as part of the video, some bands play their own music and the performance element will demonstrate their musical skill and help develop star persona.
Conventions of performance music videos include,
The genres of music videos are Performance, Narrative and Conceptual.
Performance music videos include the artist as part of the video, some bands play their own music and the performance element will demonstrate their musical skill and help develop star persona.
Conventions of performance music videos include,
- Clips from live stage performances, shots of
the artists, shots of the audience, giving a sense of atmosphere and
involvement.
- Shots of the artists in 'real-life'
situations, giving the audience access to a more personal view of the
performers, even if it still is constructed.
- Lots of close-ups of the main artist, maybe
with a direct mode of address in order to engage the audience, a spectacle
with direct interaction with the audience.
- Close-ups of the iconography suggesting the
musical genre or theme of the song, sometimes to reinforce a recognisable
motif.
- Artists may perform in unusual places which
will be lip-synched e.g. on rooftops or fields.
In a narrative music video the artist
aims to take the audience through a story of their music.
- The filming and editing will tell a story
featured or suggested in the lyrics though the narrative may give a
different interpretation from the one most obviously suggested by the
lyrics.
- The performer may play themselves or a
character they have created or the artist may not appear and the
characters in the story may all be actors.
- 'A mini film' the production values may be
high depending on the success of the band/artist
- It may have a linear structure or fragmented
with a series of seemingly unrelated narrative events.
- It may contain enigmas to maintain the
attention of the audience.
- The characters may be stereotypical
representations to communicate the story effectively.
- Elements of intertextuality e.g. the
Cinderella story in Taylor Swift's music video, 'You Belong to Me'.
Goodwin says narrative in songs is fragmented like in
poetry - non-linear, enigmatic.
Steve Archer says there can be cuts between the narrative and performance, choreography may be included creating repetition but fundamentality lip-synching and miming are the heart of music videos. The combination of narrative edited together with performance shots enhances the audience's experience and reminds them of the various facets of the performer.
Simon Frith's Typologies are,
Steve Archer says there can be cuts between the narrative and performance, choreography may be included creating repetition but fundamentality lip-synching and miming are the heart of music videos. The combination of narrative edited together with performance shots enhances the audience's experience and reminds them of the various facets of the performer.
Simon Frith's Typologies are,
- Performance - Conveys the 'concert experience'
and 'authenticity' in the Mise-en-scene.
- Narrative - Linear stories, love stories are
most popular.
- Conceptual - metaphor to create a mood or
offer multiple meaning.
The
editing techniques of music videos are usually visually stylish and at
times artistic. The editing is faster paced than film or television texts, so
there is only a short time to build up meaning. Young people have a short
attention span and need to have it grabbed and held with
producers making the videos exciting with fast editing. Music videos aimed
at older markets will be slower paced. The cutting and editing can often
link to the music, they can often break the rules of continuity editing to be
innovative and grab the attention of the audience.
Jasmine.
Jasmine.
7 November 2013
Content Research
Research we conducted into the condition of insomnia, which plays a vital role in our music video production.
Location Research
This is the location research that we conducted. It includes photographs we have taken of the flat we wish to use, as well as images we downloaded that we wish to emulate in the dream world of our music video.
6 November 2013
4 November 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)