The Weeknd - The Knowing (Official Video)

This is the first video that the Weeknd has constructed for one of his newest songs. Here you can see the artists idiosyncrasy compared to other R&B artists as well as the enigmatic video approach. This is not a conventional music video, its got a mysterious reading to the audience and creates a sense of "being on drugs". 

In terms of how it relates to videos today, it still includes a girl and an intimate moment occurring, the rest is trying to portray that he is on drugs hence the "weird" images.The story to the video links with how Haile Selassie was overthrown by his own people during his reign of Ethiopia. It's symbolism for how The Weeknd was betrayed by his girl.

This is just an example of the type of music and representations the Weeknd portrays, we aren't going to be following his footsteps in terms of this video, but we will be using very dark lighting and some unusual images in our own music video to try and meet the conventions of the Weeknds music.

Analysis Of Music Video - Robin Thicke Love After War

The Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwFtfnUGJfg&ob=av2e

Robin Thickes' Twitter
http://twitter.com/robinthicke

MISE-EN-SCENE

For the mise-en-scene of this video is rather simple but sophisticated in the way that it is used and laid out for the video. You have beds being used giving of the iconography of peace and love, with usually slumbers or

coupled connotations. Window seals and bathrooms are also used but these are not of modern day quality, these are of 1960’s old manner house quality, giving the video’s look a timeworn age. There are ices of lingerie and beautiful furniture used for example the red double seated. This gives the connotation of trouble as these as these common double seated benches are used mainly in couple’s counselling meetings as waiting chairs.

Only two people are used within this video, those being the music artist, Robin Thicke and the beautiful young lady who is playing his other half,Paula Patton. Bothe are dressed in opposite ends of the table, with Robin Thicke dressed in wonderful, vibrant cotton sweaters, accompanied by a dark blazer, this gives on the connotation of a well presented and high earning man. The iconography for this is that he has the power and is of great importance within this music video. Thickes’ co-star however is portrayed and given connotations of the slutty wife, who is disrespectful and mischievous. She throughout the video is

seen in nothing more that leather body pieces and towels with glasses on. Both stars within the video are wearing glasses, which are usually worn if sunny weather occurs, but within this video there are no outside shots meaning the glasses are being worn as a representation of a secret, as if there both covering something up.

CAMERA

The camera shots used in this video are mainly based and created to show the stars body languages which is different to the usual modern day shots within R&B of Extreme Close Up’s (ECU’s) of the face to show feelings and emotions. Within this video a lot of Medium Long Shot’s, Medium Close Up’s and Close Up’s are used instead of Extreme Close Up’s, breaking the typical R&B structure and mould.

The camera movement within this video is very limited as to the different types of tracking, tilts and pans that are used, in fact there are barley any, although there is a lot of footwork shooting, with the camera being held by someone so the footage is somewhat unsteady, giving you the effect as if you were there. There are also different height levels of shooting, with not just above the waist but also below on the ground also, which I really found interesting and something to perhaps delve in to. R&B structure and mould.

ENCODING/DECODING

I think that the preferred the audience will obtain from this piece of text is that life and relationships are difficult as well as tough to understand and cope with, but even then you should soldier through it and fight for what it is that you want. In terms of gratifications and pleasures offered to the preferred reader I would personally say that this piece of text informs and educates helping those at a standstill in their relationships with their spouses. I also think

this video offers social identification as some of the preferred readers may be able to say once watching this video, “yes I to can relate to what is going on within this video as I deal with the same issues in my everyday life”. I also think it offers Social interaction as the viewers may be able to talk about what is going on within the video and how it affects them in terms of their own Love life.

The groups represented in this are Middle aged white men, of class A1 to b, between their early 30’s to early 40’s. Within this text they’re represented as sophisticated and classy in the way that they dress and approach rough domestic relationships. The second group represented within this piece of text are young women ranging in the early 20’s to middle 30’s. Their class would be that of the B to C section. Within this piece of text they’re represented as hard and a struggle to put up or deal with, representing and backing the dominant ideology, that women within relationships are always the main cause of problems or difficulty’s, That man often having to put up with whatever the female throws upon to him.

EDITING

The pace of the shots are rather different to your typical everyday R&B videos as within this video they are very sluggish and deep, were as in most videos common like this one the shots are all pacey and sharp to change in to the next scene. The transitions used within the video are

mainly fades and cuts, at the begging we do see a zoom out on text written in French with the subtitle written in English underneath. A French male voice over is used to anchor the open sequence down with the video, again representing the common ideology of French language being the ‘Language of Love’.

Analysis Of Music Video - R Kelly Iginition

The Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6y_4_b6RS8&ob=av2e

R-Kellys' Twitter

http://twitter.com/kellzodiac

Mise-en-Scene

The setting of this video is mainly within a club. Props being used are things such as champaign bottles and dance floor, dance floor disco light and a stretched

Hummer Limo. These items and Locations are all connotations of having a good time and enjoying your self,

which shows unity but also that they're huge party animals. The amount of seductive beautiful women in this video isows just how much r&b over the past 30 years has changed. It's gone from having sad tails about love and misfortune to now being about having a good time and enjoying life to the fullest. The are also a lot of different ethnic minority's within this video, which gives the connotation of above the norm with a few males dotted around the scene, as the whole dance floor is filled with them. This gives the connotation that Life is about partying and getting women. Hot at that.

The atmosphere of the video is very lively and party realistic with everyone dancing and having a good time.

The Video uses a lot of Medium shots and Medium long shots. to focus on R-Kelly the artist. The camera also uses pans to capture the whole club partying and having a good time and also uses establishing shots along with tilts on the women to show how attractive and hot they are. dolly shots and pull shots are used quite a bit in

this video also to get in on the partying action, but the interesting thing about the dolly's and pull's used in this video are that they are done

at different hight's and angles, just to make things a little more interesting and different to look at from your usual straight ahead shot.

The Pace of the shots are no longer than 4 seconds as the shots and cuts match the timing and bass of the be

at. the editing and special affects within the video are no really present but the lighting and surrounding are played with quite a bit from focusing the camera on certain objects leaving other objects out of focus, within the video you don't of focus to merging the scenes together through a 2 second fade shot as a easy transition.

The preferable reading of this text that the viewers get is that the party lifestyle is how to live life

see anyone unhappy or angry and miserable. Alcohol, Money and women are the way to satisfy ones need's in life, which of course is nowhere near the case. The Gratifications given from this

video are that of entertainment as it is a rather feel good R&B Song and i personally think would make anyone get up and dance. I t offers social interaction as the people within the video will socially interact. it offers escapism as people watching the video may feel like they are really there, or listening to the song may help create that party atmosphere.

The groups represented in this piece of text are young women between there 20's and 30's. They are represented as very attractive and always looking to have a good time, which is v

ery misleading as not all young women live the lifestyle that the young women in this video portray. also men in there 30's to 40's are represented as big party goers when realistically that is not the case at all. Most men of that age are settled down with kids and have no time for scenery of that sort. both genders and ages are represented as wild and adventurous, also having a great lust for dancing and alcohol.

The dominant ideology's are that, life is about fun and shouldn't always be take

n seriously. Also if you want to have a good time the only way that is going to happen is by going to bars and meeting women, consuming some what amount of alcohol, all of these aspects help create the typical stereotype that this generation is about nothing more than fun, portraying this generation as 'less serous'.

Analysis Of Music Video - Usher Burn

The Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5XNWFw5HVw

Ushers' Twitter

http://twitter.com/USHERRAYMONDIV

Mise-En-Scene

the video is set up in two main places, a luxurious American apartment with an outdoor swimming pool and a beautiful view. The second shooting location is L.A Strip, with palm tree's and beautiful scenery (Plantation)ect. This gives the connotation that he is rich and leading a well of life almost like a bachelor.

There are

also Shelves, books, lamps, sofas and beds used within the video to make the apartment come to life and seem more realistic towards the viewer.

As the video starts the camera looks at a woman's' eyes and lips within a photo, as the video progresses on,

there is a very big portrait photo of a woman in the back drop behind the artist. this is clearly the artists love and who the song he is singing is about.

The artist is not alone in the video as he has a young pretty lady as a co-star playing the girl that has left him. Within the video the camera depicts the young lady as a mirage to the artist as when he see's the young woman it's only in his head. This gives the connotation that he is missing her dearly and is not over her.

Camera Shots

The Camera shots used are predominantly medium close-up's and long shot's This is so the seriousness of the artists break up is able to be shown and portrayed through his

physical emotions. Pan's and tilt's are used to create a build up within the video and dolly sh

ots are used to capture someone's action and range of movement, for example when the young lady is waling by the pull side. There are also push and pull shots, main

ly done on the artist to

establish the main person.

The way the scenes are cut and edited is because it's a slow song, the cuts are not to rapid but quick in effect. The pace of the shots are no longer than 4, 5 maximum seconds. The scenes don't just jump in to each other, as this is a slow song the scene's gently merge in to one another to keep the atmosphere of the song and topic dim. Special effects used are the flames used within the video. seeing as the track is entitled 'Burn', flames are used to emphasise a love that once was, showing and burning brightly before being extinguished. There's also

under water footage of the young lady swimming above her on the surface of the water are flames. The Palm tree's along the L.A Strip are set a light as Usher performs his dance scene.

The Audiences perception of this video would be that the artist is clearly hurting and not over the break he has embarked on. He still misses his love, hence the mirages he see's of her in the video. Another perception the audience will get from this video is that break up is an emotionally draining thing to go through, also the artist is really wealthy in this video and although he has all of these nice things he still is not happy. Money can not buy you happiness.

The audience may be able to identify with this as they may go through break up's and face the same emotions that Usher faces within this video. The Video may offer entertainment with the beautiful shotn not buy you happiness.

s and special effects used to create this short movie like video. I also feel that the video Informs and educates by teaching and telling the viewers that not everything works out in relationships or life for that matter of fact.

The Group being represented are young black males between the age of 20 and 30 of the A/B end of the social Classification system. They are being represented as very emotional and incapable of maintaining a good relationship.

The Main ideology's within this video are that nothing good lasts for ever and also heart brakes are one of the most toughest things to deal with.

Audience Theories

The target audience at which things are aimed at are very selective about what music to listen to and consume as there media intake. there are many reasons and within this post i shall try to explore those reasons in greater depth with 2 of the many theories created around them.

The first theory i will be talking about is the Blumer

and Kats theory. Here are the sections i and my group plan to cover with our music video.

INFORM & EDUCATE, meaning what it says it gives information and helps give understanding in to a certain topic or subject.y, this is the target audience making an active decision in to what media they decide to consume in order to meet there specific needs. Media ca

IDENTIFICATION: This is when the target audience can relate to the piece of media because they have either been through the situation or can relate through some similarity.

ENTERTAINMENT: This makes the target audience feel something or react in a certain towards the piece of media.SOCIAL INTERACTION: This gives the target audience the ability to talk to others about the piece of media he consumed.

ESCAPE: This is a piece of media that offers the target audience a reason to relax and forget about the troubles there real life has and almost live the life the character within the piece of media has.

There is also a different approach to Media intake going by the theory of Richard Dyers' Utopian Solution's Theory. This having 3 main reasons for consuming the media. These are called Inadequacy, These are isolation, Confusion and Boredom to these 3 reasons there are answers these answers are Community, Clarity and Excitement. This theory is very simple and easy to understand with the table involved.

Music Video Brainstorm

Secondary Theories

Laura Mulvey a British Feminist Film Theorist claims that media is patriacle to men. All types of media is for the benefit and use of the "male gaze". She describes men as voyeurs and through gaining pleasure through peeping at others. This applies to my brief as many contemporary R&B videos support this. For example, music videos consist of creating euphemistic symbols aswell as representing women in a sexual way in terms of clothing and movement.

Our video will juxtpose this as our video is going to look very dark in terms of connotations, it will be black and white and focus on one male going through distressing times. There may be girls featured but they will not be sho

Experiencing Music Video- Carol Vernallis
Carol wrote a book about what conventions and stereotypes follow the making of a music video. She explains some features that are visible and how they are usually created. She says "some writers about music video have claimed that videos work primarily as narratives, that they function like parts of movies or television shows, others have wanted to say that music video is fundamentally antinarrative a king of post modern pastiche that actually gains energy through defying narrative conventions"

Vernallis also says "Music video presents a range all the way from extremely abstract videos emphasizing colour and movement to those that convey a story."

We will be following and taking this into account when creating our music video. We are more likely to convey a story as the song that we have chosen is quite dark with powerful indoctrinating lyrics. The majority of the video will be black and white to follow the connotations of the song.
Experiencing Music Video- Carol Vernallis

wn in a sexual manor.