Research: Intertextuality

Intertextuality

Intertextuality is when a piece of media refers to another piece of media.

An example of this would be Red Hot Chilli Peppers' 'Californication'. This Music Video represents the Music Video through a Video Game.

Another exapmle of intertextuality is 'I'm ready' by AJR. This Music Video shows the link between social networking and the Music Video.

Research: Research into Industry

Research: Types of Music Video

There are 3 types of Music Video, these types are: performance, narrative and conceptual.

Performance videos are the most common Music Videos. This type of video shows the artist/band singing in a concert with their fans. This is to give the feeling that you are actually at the concert.

Narrative videos present a sequence of events which tell a story. The most common narrative music videos are love stories where the boy meets the girl, boy loses the girl and then he gets her back.

Conceptual videos do not tell a story, but create a moood, a feeling to be evoked in the experience of viewing. Conceptual videos contain the possibility for multiple meanings as the metaphor is interpreted by the viewer.

Research: Goodwin and Mulvey Theories

Research: Survey Results

Research: Survey for research

A survey I have created to get resaerch for my music video

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Research: Target Audience

Target Audience
 

Research: Conventions of Music Videos

What are conventions in music videos?
The conventions of a music video vary depending on genre of music. However, some general
conventions are: the artist is shown performing, the lyrics of the song influence what is shown in the video, the pace of editing fits the pace of the music, and the codes of dress reflect the mood of the song.

What are the conventions of a typical rap video?
The rap genre of music has its varieties in music video, but all videos typically follow the convention of creating that “Star Image”, focusing on the artist primarily, and creating an image of the artist which the audience can in a sense be inspired to be like them. One typical common convention of rap music videos is that the video will show the artist illustrious and exotic life styles, illustrating the star’s daily life style in the videos. However, with the song which I have chosen, Kanye West's New Slaves, this can be shown to be completely different. We can see this in one of the projections that he had on show around the world, shown in the image below. 

We can see that Kanye has gone against all conventions of a rap music video. He has done this by having a simple yet effective music video of just showing his face on the camera and not his illustrations or exotic life styles. It can be seen to be a serious music video as the song 'New Slaves' is a serious political message about black culture and how there is still racism in the world. This is completely different in the music video to 'Ni**as in Paris' by JayZ and Kanye West. The music video to this song shows a live performance by the pair and we can see the artist illustrations by them throwing their arms and jumping around, and also their lifestyles with what they are wearing and the venue which they are at.

This music video shows the other side to Kanye West, as he is seen to be dancing around, throwing his arms around and showing expression on his face, which is very different from his music video for 'New Slaves'. The conventions of a typical rap video can be seen in The Notorious B.I.G.’s song 'Warning'. We can see him in his natural lifestyle at home sitting around, showing his lifestyle and what he does in his time. A picture from the video is shown below.

Research: New Slaves Lyrics

[Verse 1]
My momma was raised in an era when,
Clean water was only served to the fairer skin
Doing clothes you would have thought I had help
But they wasn't satisfied unless I picked the cotton myself.
You see it's broke n*@*a racism
That's that "Don't touch anything in the store"
And there's rich n*@*a racism
That's that "Come here, please buy more"
What you want a Bentley, fur coat and diamond chain?
All you blacks want all the same things
Used to only be n*@*as now everybody play me
Spending everything on Alexander Wang
New Slaves

[Hook]
You see it's leaders and there's followers
But I'd rather be a d*@k than a swallower
You see it's leaders and there's followers
But I'd rather be a d*@k than a swallower]

[Verse 2]
I throw these Maybach keys
I wear my heart on the sleeve
I know that we the new slaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I know that we the new slaves
I see the blood on the leaves
They throwing hate at me
Want me to stay at ease
F*@k you and your corporation
Y'all n*@*as can't control me
I know that we the new slaves
I know that we the new slaves
I'm about to wild the f*@k out
I'm going Bobby Boucher
I know that p*@*y ain't free
You n*@*as p*@*y, ain't me
Y'all throwing contracts at me
You know that n*@*s can't read
Throw on some Maybach keys
F*@k it, c'est la vie
I know that we the new slaves
Y'all n*@*as can't f*@k with me
Y'all n*@*as can't f*@k with Ye
Y'all n*@*as can't f*@k with Ye
I'll move my family out the country
So you can't see where I stay
So go and grab the reporters
So I can smash their recorders
See they'll confuse us with some bulls*@t like the New World Order
Meanwhile the DEA
Teamed up with the CCA
They tryna lock n*@*as up
They tryna make new slaves
See that's that private owned prison
Get your piece today
They Probably all in the Hamptons
Braggin' 'bout their maid
F*@k you and your Hampton house
I'll f*@k your Hampton spouse
Came on her Hampton blouse
And in her Hampton mouth
Y'all 'bout to turn s*@t up
I'm 'bout to tear s*@t down
I'm 'bout to air s*@t out
Now what the f*@k they gon' say now?
I have blanked out the explicit language by using '@' and '*' due to school filters blocking me from blogger.

Research: Copyright

Copyright

 

Since the song I have chosen is copyrighted, I have decided to write to the two record labels which the song is copyrighted to. These 2 labels are Rocafella Records and Def-Jam Records, below is a copy of the email which I have sent to the two record labels.

 

 

Research: Song Choice

I have decided to use the song 'New Slaves' by Kanye West. This song is about racism and how it is still around no matter what anyone says. I have chosen this song as it does not follow the conventions of a typical rap genre music video, I do not want to follow the typical conventions of a rap video so this song is the right choice for me.

This song will allow me to create a music video in whatever style I like as I do not have to follow the conventions of a typical rap music video. I can take this from the video as the artist does not jump around and throw his arms around like any rapper would, he simply stands there and raps. This is because the song is serious and he wants to get the message across to people about the way blacks are treated and to send a political message out there.

Research: Song choice shortlist

I have drawn up a shortlist of songs which I may use for my music video. These songs are:

Kanye West - New Slaves
Kanye West - Black Skinhead
Jay-Z and Kanye West - Otis
Jay-Z and Kanye West - No Church in the Wild

I have chose these songs on my shortlist as I am familiar with them and they all fit into the genre which I have chosen.

Research: Analysis of Poster - Recovery

This poster is similar to the album artwork, which also shows us it follows typical conventions of rap posters. It shows the album artwork and also what date the album is to be released. It gives the same message as the artwork as they are the same picture. The colours on this poster show rap conventions but with Eminem's own spin on things showing him walking away.

Research: Analysis of Album Artwork - Recovery

Eminem - Recovery

 

This album artworks links to the title of the album, 'recovery'. It shows how Eminem has recovered from what had happened to him in past life and he can now walk away from everything which has affected him. It follows the conventions of rap albums as the artwork links to the title.

 

 



Research: Analysis of Poster - Watch the Throne

This poster follows the typical conventions of a rap poster, it shows who is playing and where, and it also shows the album which the artists will be performing. You can also see what you can expect Kanye and JayZ to look like as there is a picture from one of their gigs. This poster uses rap/hip-hop colour conventions using the dark background and highlighting the artists and easy to read text.

Research: Analysis of Album Artwork - Watch the Throne

 JayZ & Kanye West - Watch the Throne

This is the album cover for JayZ and Kanye West's album Watch the Throne. From the artwork we can see that the gold patterns are what we would see on a throne of a King or Queen.As JayZ and Kanye are believers of the Illuminati there is signs all over the cover of things such as the pentagram and the triangles which represent the Illuminati. This album artwork does not follow the conventions of a typical rap album.

 



Research: Analysis of Poster - Yeezus

The poster which Lanye West used for his US tour shows how he has mixed his nickname 'Yeezy' and the name of the Christian leader 'Jesus' to make 'Yeezus'. We can see this as it looks as though Kanye is being elevated by a ray of light leading him to God, which also matches the name of the album as Jesus was taken after he resurected and Kanye has took that idea and made it his own. The colours on this poster show the hip-hop/rap conventions using the dark colours with a bright main image.

Research: Analysis of Album Artwork - Yeezus

Kanye West - Yeezus

Kanye described his album cover as an “open casket funeral to the death of the CD.” It represented the changes in the music industry since the beginning of the Internet Age. The cover also fits with the rest of the album’s minimalist aesthetic. This album artwork does not follow the typical conventions of a rap albums album artwork.

 

Research: Analysis of Music Video - New Slaves

Kanye West - New Slaves

As there is not a proper music video for this song as it is not allowed on the internet, these are the projections that Kanye did to show off the music and the video.



Research: Analysis of Music Video - Ni**as in Paris

JayZ & Kanye West - Ni**as in Paris



Research: Analysis of Music Video - Black Skinhead

Kanye West - Black Skinhead

 

 

Schedule

This is the schedule in which I will be using so I can do my work on time, I will need to hit all the deadlines set so that I know I am up to date.

Introduction: First Post

James Stephenson
A2 Advanced Media
Biddulph High School Sixth Form

My intentions for A2 Media Studies is to make a music video that relates to the music genre of Rap/Hip Hop.

How will I choose the song for the music video?
As I am a fan of Kanye West, I am very tempted to use one of his songs, as in his songs he is not afraid to say his mind and also the truth.