Friday, 23 October 2015
Thursday, 22 October 2015
Stuart Hall - Audience
Stuart Hall (1973) suggested texts were encoded by the producers of texts to contain certain meanings related to social and cultural background of the creator of the text. However, once the viewer of the text 'decoded' that text then the meanings intended by the producer may change.
He went on to suggest three main perspectives involved in the way in which an audience responds to a particular text. This involves how the audience is positioned by the text and its subsequent response.
Preferred or Dominant Readings - this is where the audience interprets the text as closely to the way in which the producer of the text intended. If the social and cultural experience of the reader of the text is close to that of the producer then there is little for the audience to challenge.
In the video for Rihanna Where Have You Been there is a clear message that the audience can interpret which is; she is looking for a man in various places as you can see in the video. At one point she is in a desert, then a jungle etc. this reinforces that she is looking for someone. Many of the audience will be able to relate to this in everyday life for example relationships which makes it relevant to society. The mass audience of the music video will be Rihanna's fans which already idolise her and consider her a role model, meaning that they will not challenge or disagree with the video in any way.
He went on to suggest three main perspectives involved in the way in which an audience responds to a particular text. This involves how the audience is positioned by the text and its subsequent response.
Preferred or Dominant Readings - this is where the audience interprets the text as closely to the way in which the producer of the text intended. If the social and cultural experience of the reader of the text is close to that of the producer then there is little for the audience to challenge.
In the video for Rihanna Where Have You Been there is a clear message that the audience can interpret which is; she is looking for a man in various places as you can see in the video. At one point she is in a desert, then a jungle etc. this reinforces that she is looking for someone. Many of the audience will be able to relate to this in everyday life for example relationships which makes it relevant to society. The mass audience of the music video will be Rihanna's fans which already idolise her and consider her a role model, meaning that they will not challenge or disagree with the video in any way.
Negotiated Readings - This is where the audience goes through some sort of negotiation with themselves to allow them to accept the way in which the text is presented. You may agree with some elements of the text and disagree with others. You may need to adjust your viewpoint to get the most out of the product you are viewing.
For this video the audience may agree with the dominant reading slightly. However they may disagree with some aspects and therefore make a negotiated reading. In this video the audience may not fully agree with some elements, like Rihanna looking in deserts and jungles because in everyday society that would not happen making it unrealistic and people would not be able to relate to this. Although people may watch the music video to escape everyday life they may feel that the way Rihanna presents herself is sexualised and that normal everyday people would not be able to present themselves in that way. This means that they disagree with the video but they may consider that it is just a music video and have a negotiated reading, and Rihanna is just a product of the music industry trying to sell her own products.
Oppositional or Resistant Readings - This is where the user of the text finds themselves in conflict with the text itself due to their beliefs or experiences. E.g.: a narrative is a soap opera that views a woman who is having an affair sympathetically will encourage a resistant reading in a person whose culture is against adultery.
The viewers may have an oppositional reading of the video if they cannot relate to it at all, and they don't think that this is a real representation of people of a similar age in society. They may not understand the dominant reading and the message that the producer intended making them confused. Showing Rihanna in a desert and a jungle location may make the video unrealistic to the oppositional viewers, as having a desert and jungle location cannot relate to viewers who live somewhere where there is not a desert or jungle nearby. However, the viewer may just dislike the genre that Rihanna produces and have no interest in trying to understand the music video. People may assume that the video is aimed at one culture and that is does not take into account other cultural beliefs such as, Muslims. Viewers who have cultural values may disagree with the way she is dressed and how she is dancing on her own and with other dancers surrounding her, as well as presenting herself in general.
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Bordwell and Thompson - Narrative
Bordwell and Thompson (1997)
Bordwell and Thompson offer two distinctions between story and plot which relate to the diegetic world of the narrative that the audience are positioned to accept and that which the audience actually see. They base this on a Russian film theory:
Fabula (story) is all the events in the narrative that we see and infer. The fabula is defined as the chronological series of events that are represented or implied.
Syuzhet (plot) everything visible and audibly present before us, Syuzhet is considered to be the order, manner and techniques of their presentation in the narrative.
We imply that Rihanna's music video follows a story that we see in the narrative and infer. The fabula is defined as the chronological series of events that are represented or implied, in the music video a series of events happen after Rihanna rises from the water in the initial shot, after she appears in several other locations on her own and with dancers surrounding her. Everything is visible and audibly present before us in the video (Syuzhet plot). Syuzhet is considered to be the order, manner and techniques of Rihanna's presentation in the narrative. The plot followers and order, as from the first location then to the second location and so-one, appearing in different locations refers to the song lyrics "I've been everywhere" therefore we she her in different locations which is typical for a music video's narrative plot to be linked with the song lyrics. The manner in which Rihanna presents herself gets more destructive as the music speeds up, so the manner is constantly changing to keep up with the pace of the music. Through techniques Rihanna is presenting herself as a strong female by being dominant in every shot by having centre frame and the camera focusing on her, from this the audience can see that Rihanna is presenting herself as the main protagonist.
Bordwell and Thompson offer two distinctions between story and plot which relate to the diegetic world of the narrative that the audience are positioned to accept and that which the audience actually see. They base this on a Russian film theory:
Fabula (story) is all the events in the narrative that we see and infer. The fabula is defined as the chronological series of events that are represented or implied.
Syuzhet (plot) everything visible and audibly present before us, Syuzhet is considered to be the order, manner and techniques of their presentation in the narrative.
We imply that Rihanna's music video follows a story that we see in the narrative and infer. The fabula is defined as the chronological series of events that are represented or implied, in the music video a series of events happen after Rihanna rises from the water in the initial shot, after she appears in several other locations on her own and with dancers surrounding her. Everything is visible and audibly present before us in the video (Syuzhet plot). Syuzhet is considered to be the order, manner and techniques of Rihanna's presentation in the narrative. The plot followers and order, as from the first location then to the second location and so-one, appearing in different locations refers to the song lyrics "I've been everywhere" therefore we she her in different locations which is typical for a music video's narrative plot to be linked with the song lyrics. The manner in which Rihanna presents herself gets more destructive as the music speeds up, so the manner is constantly changing to keep up with the pace of the music. Through techniques Rihanna is presenting herself as a strong female by being dominant in every shot by having centre frame and the camera focusing on her, from this the audience can see that Rihanna is presenting herself as the main protagonist.
Pam Cook - Narrative
The Structure of the Classic Narrative System
According to Pam Cook (1985), the standard Hollywood narrative structure should have:
There is a linearity of cause and effect within the overall trajectory of enigma resolution, as in this video there is a beginning, middle and end which sets out a story that the audience can follows relating it to the song lyrics. The linear narrative follows a straight line, starting at the beginning where Rihanna is rising out of the water, moving to the middle of the narrative seeing her in different locations looking for a man as implied by the song lyrics, and then proceeding to the end of the story where she returns to the water as seen in her initial location with males surrounding her ending the song therefore the narrative.
There is a high degree of narrative closure in this video as Rihanna returns to her original location ending her story which is been told as part of the narrative. Immediately when we see Rihanna returning to the water we know the narrative is ending and from the way it is ending we understand how it has ended. Therefore, this implicates that there is a high degree of narrative closure if the audience can understand what has happened.
In this video, it is clear that there is a fictional world but from the settings it creates verisimilitude. The setting of a lake within a jungle type location creates reality as we would expect it to look the way it does also the lighting helps to create the setting by it being dark. There is a contrast between the first setting and the second, as the first setting is dark and the second setting is light as it is a desert once again creating reality of what we would expect. The costumes that Rihanna where's within the mise-en-scene make the video look more appealing to the audience whilst creating even more verisimilitude from that of the location and the lighting.
In the desert Rihanna is wearing clothes that can reflect people who may live/work in the desert, from her costume the audience can understand what she is trying to portray as she is 'looking everywhere' in order to fulfill her lyrics in the song.
According to Pam Cook (1985), the standard Hollywood narrative structure should have:
- Linearity of cause and effect within an over all trajectory of enigma resolution.
- A high degree of narrative closure.
- A fictional world that contains verisimilitude especially by spatial and temporal coherence.
There is a linearity of cause and effect within the overall trajectory of enigma resolution, as in this video there is a beginning, middle and end which sets out a story that the audience can follows relating it to the song lyrics. The linear narrative follows a straight line, starting at the beginning where Rihanna is rising out of the water, moving to the middle of the narrative seeing her in different locations looking for a man as implied by the song lyrics, and then proceeding to the end of the story where she returns to the water as seen in her initial location with males surrounding her ending the song therefore the narrative.
There is a high degree of narrative closure in this video as Rihanna returns to her original location ending her story which is been told as part of the narrative. Immediately when we see Rihanna returning to the water we know the narrative is ending and from the way it is ending we understand how it has ended. Therefore, this implicates that there is a high degree of narrative closure if the audience can understand what has happened.
In this video, it is clear that there is a fictional world but from the settings it creates verisimilitude. The setting of a lake within a jungle type location creates reality as we would expect it to look the way it does also the lighting helps to create the setting by it being dark. There is a contrast between the first setting and the second, as the first setting is dark and the second setting is light as it is a desert once again creating reality of what we would expect. The costumes that Rihanna where's within the mise-en-scene make the video look more appealing to the audience whilst creating even more verisimilitude from that of the location and the lighting.
In the desert Rihanna is wearing clothes that can reflect people who may live/work in the desert, from her costume the audience can understand what she is trying to portray as she is 'looking everywhere' in order to fulfill her lyrics in the song.
Friday, 16 October 2015
Todorov - Narrative
Todorov
Todorov's narrative theory basically states that most story's or plot lines follow the same pattern or path.
There are 5 steps in this pattern:
The second part of the story will feature a problem or something will disrupt the happiness. After, we see Rihanna coming out of the swamp it cuts between different settings where she is dancing with backing dancers, first of all she is dancing with all male dancers in a light environment where the mood setting is still happy and content, then the video cuts to a different setting where the lighting is dark, but she is dancing with all female dancers. As Rihanna is looking for a man as the lyrics point out as well as the song title, the cutting and editing from this video could imply that she is not been very successful, and that's why she has swapped between male dancers surrounding her to female dancers surrounding her, as well as been shown on her own showing that she is independent.
When the song speeds up, the dancing speeds up and the cutting between shots speed up, this could relate to there been a problem and chaos breaking out.
Rihanna is the main protagonist so when chaos breaks in the video and the dancing speeds up as well as the editing, she is seen on her own in many shots unlike at the start of the video where she was seen with backing dancers of both sexes. In the scenes where she is seen on her own she is being multiplied almost to look like a god figure person, this could imply that with the control she has in the video as the main protagonist she is attempting to repair the damage and restore the problem.
The final part of the plot is where the problem is resolved and normality can resume again. In this video the problem is resolved and Rihanna has returned to her original setting/location where we first saw her, but this time she is returning with males.
Todorov's narrative theory basically states that most story's or plot lines follow the same pattern or path.
There are 5 steps in this pattern:
- Equilibrium: The first part of the story will display a happy start, where the majority of characters are content and everything is as it should be.
- Disruption: The second part of the story will feature a problem or something will disrupt the happiness.
- Realisation: This part of the plot is when everyone realises the problem and it is chaos.
- Restored Order: This part of the plot is when the characters attempt to repair the damage and restore the problem.
- Re-equilibrium: This is the final part of the plot where the problem is resolved and normality can resume again.
The second part of the story will feature a problem or something will disrupt the happiness. After, we see Rihanna coming out of the swamp it cuts between different settings where she is dancing with backing dancers, first of all she is dancing with all male dancers in a light environment where the mood setting is still happy and content, then the video cuts to a different setting where the lighting is dark, but she is dancing with all female dancers. As Rihanna is looking for a man as the lyrics point out as well as the song title, the cutting and editing from this video could imply that she is not been very successful, and that's why she has swapped between male dancers surrounding her to female dancers surrounding her, as well as been shown on her own showing that she is independent.
When the song speeds up, the dancing speeds up and the cutting between shots speed up, this could relate to there been a problem and chaos breaking out.
Rihanna is the main protagonist so when chaos breaks in the video and the dancing speeds up as well as the editing, she is seen on her own in many shots unlike at the start of the video where she was seen with backing dancers of both sexes. In the scenes where she is seen on her own she is being multiplied almost to look like a god figure person, this could imply that with the control she has in the video as the main protagonist she is attempting to repair the damage and restore the problem.
The final part of the plot is where the problem is resolved and normality can resume again. In this video the problem is resolved and Rihanna has returned to her original setting/location where we first saw her, but this time she is returning with males.
Sven Carlsson - Narrative
Sven Carlsson
Carlsson (1999) developed a mythical method of analysis of music video - centred on a "modern mythic embodiment".
Viewed from this perspective the music video artist is seen as embodying one, or a combination of "modern mythic characters or forces" of which there are three general. The music video artist is representing different aspects of the free floating disparate universe of music video.
In one type of performance, the performer is not a performer anymore; he or she is a materialization of the commercial exhibitionist.
Another type of performance in the music video universe is that of the televised bard. He or she is a modern bard singing banal lyrics using television as a medium. The televised bard is a singing storyteller who uses actual on-screen images instead of inner, personal images. The greatest televised bards create audio-visual poetry.
The third type of performer is the electronic shaman.
Sometimes the shaman is invisible and it is only her or his voice and rhythm that anchor the visuals. He or she often shifts between multiple shapes.
At one moment the electronic shaman animates dead objects or have a two-dimensional alter egos (as in cartoon comics), seconds later he or she is shifting through time and so on.
Carlsson believes the performer is often made into a materialisation 'commercial exhibitionist' this is where the performer is made into almost a selling item; someone that fans often aspire to be and these scenes will be extremely high in quality and have a gloss to them.
Another type is the televised bard, which is a signing storyteller who uses on screen images instead of inner, personal images.
The third and final type is the electronic shaman, sometimes the shaman is invisible and only his/her voice that anchor the visuals.
Binary opposites drives the
narration of the video forward e.g. Black and White theme.
There are two category music
videos fall into according to Carlsson: Performance and Conceptual. Performance
clips are where the video mainly shows an artist (or artists) singing and/or
dancing. Conceptual clips are where something else is shown during the song's
duration which may have symbolism or an artistic meaning.
Performance
The audience can see the artist
singing and dancing in the video.
Performance Clip
If a music video clip contains
mostly filmed performance then it is a performance clip. A performance clip is
a video that shows the vocalist(s) in one or more settings.
Common places to perform are the recording studio and the rehearsal room. But the performance can take place anywhere, from the bath tub to outer space. Walking down the street is another performance cliché, which is common in rap videos.
Common places to perform are the recording studio and the rehearsal room. But the performance can take place anywhere, from the bath tub to outer space. Walking down the street is another performance cliché, which is common in rap videos.
The performance can be of three
types:
- Song performance,
- Dance performance,
- Instrumental performance.
Narrative Clip
If a music video clip is most appropriately understood as a short silent movie to a musical background, it is a narrative clip. A narrative clip contains a visual story that is easy to follow. A pure narrative clip contains no lip-synchronized singing.
If a music video clip is most appropriately understood as a short silent movie to a musical background, it is a narrative clip. A narrative clip contains a visual story that is easy to follow. A pure narrative clip contains no lip-synchronized singing.
Art Clip
If a music video clip contains no perceptible visual narrative and contains no lip synchronized singing then it is a pure art clip. The main difference between a music video art clip and a contemporary artistic video is the music. While the music video uses popular music the artistic video uses more modern, experimental music, such as electro-acoustic music.
If a music video clip contains no perceptible visual narrative and contains no lip synchronized singing then it is a pure art clip. The main difference between a music video art clip and a contemporary artistic video is the music. While the music video uses popular music the artistic video uses more modern, experimental music, such as electro-acoustic music.
Carlsson (1999) developed a mythical method of analysis of music video - centred on a "modern mythic embodiment".
Viewed from this perspective the music video artist is seen as embodying one, or a combination of "modern mythic characters or forces" of which there are three general. The music video artist is representing different aspects of the free floating disparate universe of music video.
In one type of performance, the performer is not a performer anymore; he or she is a materialization of the commercial exhibitionist.
Another type of performance in the music video universe is that of the televised bard. He or she is a modern bard singing banal lyrics using television as a medium. The televised bard is a singing storyteller who uses actual on-screen images instead of inner, personal images. The greatest televised bards create audio-visual poetry.
The third type of performer is the electronic shaman.
Sometimes the shaman is invisible and it is only her or his voice and rhythm that anchor the visuals. He or she often shifts between multiple shapes.
At one moment the electronic shaman animates dead objects or have a two-dimensional alter egos (as in cartoon comics), seconds later he or she is shifting through time and so on.
Carlsson believes the performer is often made into a materialisation 'commercial exhibitionist' this is where the performer is made into almost a selling item; someone that fans often aspire to be and these scenes will be extremely high in quality and have a gloss to them.
Another type is the televised bard, which is a signing storyteller who uses on screen images instead of inner, personal images.
The third and final type is the electronic shaman, sometimes the shaman is invisible and only his/her voice that anchor the visuals.
The
Rihanna Where have you been video consists of shots of her dancing and signing
only. There is no narration beyond her performance. She is made to seem as a
sexual object to the audience: this is evident through her sexual dancing and
tight clothing. Rihanna's dancing is very confident and the camera often shoots
close ups which suggests that she understands her role in the video is to make
the audience desire her. Those who aspire to be like Rihanna in the video enjoy
the video as they can narcissistically identify with the power she possesses
over the male actor/dancer.
Conceptual
The audience watch something beyond the artist that aims to have artistic ambitions.
Conceptual
The audience watch something beyond the artist that aims to have artistic ambitions.
In this
video, Rihanna aims to have artistic ambitions by cloning herself multiple of
times to appear to have god like power.
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