My Genre Research:

After constructiing general research material, I have now decided to focus on my genre audience, Indie.
1.

From looking at this particular music video, it is clear to see that it took an extremely long amount of effort to time, plan and conduct. This unusual, yet entropic video takes place all within one take, which is slightly strange in today's music society, particularly the fact that it is an indie video. The steriotypical 'indie' music video i feel, expresses fast paced and almost amateur filming, for example: A handheld camera. If i was asked to describe the representation of the audience watching this music video about their social class, how they dress and what sort of activites they take part in, i would find it very difficult. This is due to the fact that the band give off no representation of how they dress, for example they are dressed fully in different coloured morph outfits, and this suggests that any genre based clothing or accessories cannot be revealed. The fact that all of the band members are following a symmetrical dance routine also suggests that social levels and behaviour of their fans cannot be made clear. As Goodwin's theory is subjective of a framework that "A relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illlustrating, amplifying or contradicting the music. but also to be genre related." This is shown very clearly in the way that every band member is lip synching in tune and have entropic/ abnormal dance movements that go with the bright, fun and happy indie culture.I also believe that as each individual of the band are following a structured dance routine, Goodwin's idea of individualism is not represented in this scene, as each movement one member does, the next follows, and so forth. The idea of individualism is represented throughout the video as all four members are fully clothed in different morph outfits. Not only is this unique and entropic, it also gives off quite a quicky and comedic appeal to its non mainstream audience.
Concluding this video on the whole, I believe me and my group will take in various peices of information and include this into our own music video. When i first viewed this video i thought it would be extremely difficult to replicate this video, espeically the natural lighting as it is nice and sunny. Other factors about why it would be made difficult for us, would be the location and asking people's permission to film them as a background/ extra peice. With all this put aside, i feel we can achieve a simular video where we can use the same disjunctive, and unique outlook upon it but also with added on features such as fast paced entroipic camera movements. I believe that suprising the audience with a variety of actions shown in our music video is key to the success and hopefuly this will be achieved.

2.

As I am i great supporter in this up and coming indie band and enjoy most of their music, I believe this particular video covers many aspects of what we will be trying to achieve in our own music video peice. I believe that it first starts off in a very disjunctive manner, for example the range of close up shots of a person dressed as a giant panda on an ordinary council estate appears to be very odd and uncommon. I believe that if we use this same technique in our own music video but for example have all of our cast wearing morph outfits, this will also come across as unusual but at the same time entropic and hopefully slightly comedic. I believe that combinding this disjunctive and slightly strange idea into our own personal music video whilst keeping the narrative and hopefully a performance structured layout, I believe this should be straight forward and easily achieved. I believe that because the main character then steels a young childs pink bike, this also comes across as quite comedic and immature and this is exactly what we are trying to acheive in our own music video.

The use of unusual camera work (for the steriotypical indie music video) such as Wide and long shots to fit all of the band cast in, and fashion patterns are evident during this video once the panda man finally joins with the other band members. Andrew Goodwin's theory that 'genre related style & iconography is present' is also subjective when the camera work also regularly focuses onto each band member. This suggests to me that if these camera shots were not used throughout the making of the music video, all of the band members would have been forgotten about because the main focus would be on the central vocalist (Panda)

One of Goodwin's theories suggested that if a range of close up's occur around the main cast member/object, this is extremely important in the success of the video. This appears to be the case in the particular video as the main character (The panda & bike rider) is the main target throughout the first minute and a half of the video and is the protaginist being chased and hunted down.

General Music Video Research:

1. Babyshambles- F*ck Forever

After studying this certain type of music video, I feel that this nu-punk/indie genre of sound is aimed at a specific audience, and has quite an illistrative and traditional feel to it. As the video is largely focused on a 'classical' British element, such as a huge, hand sewn British draper/flag and the band's dress code, this connotes a redundant atmosphere to its audience. One of the ways how I feel it is redundant, is because in today's modern society, the people of Britain are now familiarised to other bands showing their pride for our country. I also feel that the importance of the flag being the main focus in almost every camera shot, could suggest the message that the band are giving is that after all of Britain's efforts- 2 World Wars, 1 World cup and many others, our country will not back down to anyone else and will (as the title says) F*ck Forever. This could also link in to the fact that in this current climate with immigrants arriving into our country every five minutes, the music video could connote a message telling them 'This is Britain and it will never be changed'
This is the case in many other British band videos (particularly indie/rock) in the modern world. Examples of other redundant British music videos are like 'Dirty Pretty Things-Wondering' where it shows a day in the life of a group of lads that have just woken up in London after a party the night before. It then goes on to show its audience what they get upto in the day's events e.g. getting on the tube. This is redundant to the British audience, as many indie music videos are filmed in a city or countryside location. It may also suggest to me that other audience's such as the USA may find these individualistic videos quite entropic. This is because in America, indie music hasn't really broke through to the mainstream sector, and many video's over there are filmed on a beach destination or an area that is 'well known' to its audience. The mise en scene layout of this video also comes to the conclusion of a very 'British' location. For example there are animals such as goats and chickens running around freely on set. This could connote quite an illustrative (Goodwin's Theory) motion, because I feel this process is unique and not very mainstream as far as video's are filmed. I feel the video is also quite amplifying. For example the dance movements that the lead singer is giving out is quite abnormal and strange, particularly as he isn't under any drink/drug influence. This may connote quite a home grown British attitude, as abnormal dance moves/actions are quite unique and uncommon in this day and age. I also feel that the lighting structure of the video affects the general view to its audience, for example- the lighting on the band members appear to be dark and gloomy when comparing the lighting to the British flag. I feel that this video's narrative structue, lighting effects and camera angles are all very useful in the guidence and help for our own music video. As we don't want to copy this video, we are going to use other various lighting effects such as natural, infa red and sepia imagery, along with various camera angles showing our character's facial expression's, body language, and nartratives they portray to the song choice and video structure.

The Libertines- Don't look back into the sun

I feel that this modern day music video has a variety of elements ranging from mainly a redundant peice, but with parts of high entropy levels. The setting/ mise en scene of the video is highly redundant, due to the fact that it is shot around the streets of London, But the garments of the band is entropic to its audience as each band member appear to be wearing brightly coloured 'vintage' military jackets in public. Although this may seem quite an entropic dress code for today's music video's, I feel that as other bands in the past such as The Beatles have been trademarked for their dresscode, I feel that fans of this type of illistrative form of music, may find elements of redundancy in their clothing. I also feel that the way the video is presented is quite entropic due to the camera appearing to be handheld and unsteady through most of the video. Music Video theorists such as Spike Jonez may have put his opinion and skill into this type of music video, due to the fact that it is quite unusual/unique but also as it is low budget


Oasis- Shakermaker

With Oasis's lashing British 1994 sound, Many people thought the new generation of britpop would rise once again. I feel that this particular video (Directed and filmed by Mark Szaszy) is very redundant due to the mise en scene setting and general outlook of the bands attitude and upbringing. From a working class background, raised on the deprived streets of Manchester, the four young men have crafted a piece of music which arrtacts a diverse mainstream of music connected to the britpop genre of the early 90's. The video is a redundant, traditional English video, for example the natural 'cloudy' and gloomy natural light that is exposed throughout the song also suggest quite an amateur and uncostly video. Mise en scene props include thrown out armchairs, overgrown grass and weeds in the garden, old, tatty terraced houses and graffiti ridden alleyways, which could also suggest that the video itself is based on previous memories from the band.

Oasis- Falling Down

In this recent music video, I feel that Levis-Strauss's binary opposed theory comes into action, due to the fact that the main characters (the royal family)are poccessed to be well behaved and loyal to their country. Here we see that the princess of the royal family is opposing this reputation and ends up waking up in a crack den. This is created through lighting effects, mise en scene props and atmosphere, and also a wide range of close up imagery, expressing the body language of the princesse's face as she realises that (Liam & Noel) know her secret and treat her as if she is just a regular 'drug addict'. This is also shown through their body language and entropic facial expressions.

I feel that this unique video shows the real inside of the royal family and how they are seen across the world as 'perfect'. The fact that this video is very entropic on some levels (the beautiful princess waking up in a crack den) but also very redundant- many of the British public see the royal family as not that special and have something to hide.I believe this video supports the dominant idea that if you do something extremely wrong or make mistakes in life, it will eventually return to haunt you. I also believe that the music video compared to its lyrics are very disjunctive in the way they do not relate under any circumstances.

Redundant & Entropic Music Video Research:

Music videos represent a crucial part of the music industry. Artists such as Oasis and the Libertines can show their true charisma and attitude towards their fans through music television. This means that artists are given more than one option to impress their fans, and not just with their voices. In the 60's and 70's music video's/MTV was usually quite uncommon and not overly important to music fans. This suggests to me that representation on e.g. genre and true narrative structure, was not that necessary 30 or so years ago.
In today's society, music videos are among the most important item in a musicians career they get to experience. Example's of this are that artists needs to learn different dance rhythms/ styles before the making of the video, suitable garments (for the type of sub culture your music is aimed at)and many others, depending on the ype of genre.

After rummaging through a variety of different music videos on the Internet, I feel i have found quite a large range of redundant and entropic video's which I would like to comment on.

Kanye West, Pharrell Williams & Lupe Fiasco- 'Us Placers'


In this global 'hip-hop' video, It shows three young males prentending to be Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Lupe Fiasco. I feel that this video is mainly entropic but also illistrative due to the fact that it is uncommon to have such a comedic, but at the same time unique style of video, with such a mainstream sound. We appear to see the comedic side of the video when the first young male appears with a mid close up shot, whilst he is lip syncing the verse and dressed in an unusual manner, for a child his age. Carrying on with the garments that the boys are wearing, I feel because the fact that they are all of the 'exoctic' brand logo's - Billianaire Boys Club (Pharrell's brand)this makes it gives it a unique side.This suggest's to me that a lot of time, effort and money was put into this video as many things could go wrong, for example lip snyching.
The mise en scene of the video also expresses the importance of the boys, and how they are the main focus. The fact that there is just a bright white background, makes the clothing and overall attitude of the actors stand out even further. Sometimes the mise en scene and lighting changes for a seccond. this carries on throughout the video, where it is almost seen as a flashback. With heavy graffiti and dark lighting expressed with a low mid close up, this suggest's to me that if a neutralist's would have been watching at that particular point, they would suggest immediately that the classic 'gangs, guns and violence' hip-hop side of music would be still the main focus.

Katy Perry- I kissed a girl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLt5n0auPwM&ob=av2e

In this mainstream 'pop' video, the entropy levels involved throughout the song, appear to be quite high, uncommon, illustrative and strange for such a mainstream artist. The video starts off with a variety of different 'sexually processed' women, lay about on the floor after a drink fuelled party, who are dressed in various sexual garments. This suggest's to me that the video is aimed at a male or lesbian perspective, due to the song name 'I kissed a girl and I liked it'. I feel that the director of this video is very clever, as he/she uses the unique process of portraying both male and female perspective's in order to sell the record. The camera then switches to a mid close up, whilst low rising up Katy Perry's body. This could also suggest the perspective view of a male or a lesbian when seeing a pretty girl. I feel that this is a common and redundant process in today's mainstream music, for example Ne-yo- 5.0 where this technique is similar. Both of these video's are produced by Dr. Luke which could suggest that this camera shot is used regularly by him in his videos.

Katy B- On a mission


After watching this particular tradtional semi grime/club genre style of music, I feel it is mainly a redundant format of video, although there are some stages where I feel it has high level of entropy. The video is first opened with a dark and almost frightening long shot of the millenium dome and then quickly approaches and glances over a dj set. After viewing many different 'British style' video's, it has come to my attention particulary around the grime scene genre, that it is common for using natural light sources and in this case, the video has been filmed at dusk. One of the ways how I feel that the video uses a high level of entropy, is the way that the woman (Katy B) is portrayed. For example when you think of images of street life, gangs, violence and grime you tend to think of a male generated/ perspective. I also feel it is slightly entropic because of the fact that it is uncommon for a woman to be so 'respected' in the grime scene and find it is quite unique that she has somewhat 'more power' than the rest of the male persona in the crammed nightclub. I also feel it is quite unique the way the camera is hand-held through the majority of the video. I believe it gives the video an overall feel of a busy and frantic atmosphere, particularly as the lighting inside the club portrays a exiting and adrenaline fuelled feel to it. In the video there are also many cases of hand-held over the shoulder shots, which suggest's to me that the director of the video wants to give the audience a point of view shot of the club and what it would feel like to be there at that specific time.

Digipak Research:

What is a digipak? Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums. A digital device package is a unique style of CD casing that is manufactured out of card stock and other heavier materials, that give digipaks there own artistic style. One of the things that I find most relevant and useful about a CD digipak, is that it can be flipped open like a book and it can also include unseen writings and imagery of the band. For example Oasis- Dig out your soul has an entropic outlook upon it, due to its unusual but 'creative' imagery. As Oasis are known for being quite a tough and hardcore British rock band, the colourful imagery shown would suggest to a neutralist that they are producing quite unique and binary opposed recordings.- The outlook of the album cover(s) look as if its a classical album rather than a lashing britpop sound.

1. 'Dig out your soul' album cover.

The history of a Digipak:

In many cases, a CD digipak does not only just consist of a single CD format, it can also include (and regularly does) a DVD of the bands tour or music video that has recently taken place.

Digipak is a patented, style of compact disc or DVD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI Media, a MeadWestvaco, Inc. resource, which acquired the original trademark holder, IMPAC Group, Inc., in 2000. MeadWestvaco licensed the name and designs to manufacturers around the world.

[edit]History
Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Since Digipaks were among the first alternatives to jewel cases to be used by major record companies, and because there is no other common name for Digipak-style packaging made by other companies, the term digipak or Digi-Pak is often used generically, even when the media holder is a hub or "Soft Spot" rather than a full plastic tray.

Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak (DVDigipak) is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets. Because such packaging is less resistant to abrasion than jewel cases, it tends to show signs of wear relatively quickly. Licensed digipak manufacturers such as domestic U.S. printer and disc replicator Oasis Disc Manufacturing recommend coating the raw printed paper with a protective UV coating, thus ensuring greater longevity.

Although less vulnerable to cracking than a jewel case, the disc tray inside the package (particularly the "teeth" of the hub which secure the disc in place) remains rather brittle and is prone to cracking if the package is crushed. Digipak-style cases grew in popularity among record labels and recording artists in the early 2000s.

Manufacturers have sought to reduce environmental impact and improve functionality by introducing recycled components into its trays; one has announced a 100% post-consumer PET tray made from recycled bottles, which also eliminates the need for the brittle "teeth". Many printers use recycled or sustainable material for the board stock.

Historically, Digipak was only available in large quantities. However, AGI has recently introduced a new product called digipak i-create for the consumer market. Digipak i-create is a web-supported concept that is aimed at the download, music, photo and creative markets.