Contrasting magazine covers

The Bowie magazine shows him as the center of visual interest; he is stood confident and proud showing his power and strength. This could possibly be showing him in his fight against his previous drug issues or simply his fight against society. He is being an independent man and his stance shows this; he is dressed in clothing both smart and casual. This shows us that he is happy in his own skin and style; he doesn't need to overdress to look good. The image at the bottom of the page is a representation of a journey or a path Bowie is taking and the people in society are taking. It is in German and he revealed an album at the same time as the Berlin wall crisis. The pug in the corner entices the reader to read because there's a free CD. The magazine cover has captions that mention other artists, however, they don't take away from the main splash.

   

Zayn Malik is shown as having his hand in front of his face and could be seen as having his thumbs up; he looks positive but also very subdued. The caption saying ‘own direction’ relates to one direction his previous band. It is a play on words but also his physical new direction in his career. This doesn't have a pug or a pull whereas the Bowie cover does.

                                                               
  Similarities  
Both have someone of significance in the middle
Both act with confidence in what they're doing and are trying
to portray an image to the readers.
They both have captions about other things yet they don't distract from the main splash.
Both show the music artists in their true self, comfortable in clothing.

Differences
The Mojo magazine has a pull and a pug
The billboard magazine has zayn looking very different to how Bowie looks.
Bowie is more pristine and airbrushed, Zayn looks rough.

Avril Lavigne codes and conventions

1. PREP MUSIC VIDEO CODES AND CONVENTIONS 
   To prepare for the exam, we look at the media language of music videos, such as their codes and conventions below. For prep, copy the points in colour then add your own points in black.= 
2. Performance - the singer / band are seen to be singing and playing (including lip synching), to provide authenticity, so that followers believe in the talent and can see their star. Record labels sign stars and promote them  to ensure sales. Avril Lavigne sings throughout the video using a mike and draws a huge crowd of fans around her when she jumps onto a car roof in the street. She sings with great passion, energy and conviction, holding the mic close to her mouth. Close-ups show her every word (lip syncing is a feature of music videos.) She performs for her fans and for her 'boyfriend' the sk8er boi who features in the narrative. Screens often feature in music video and the sk8er boi is videoing Avril Lavigne as he gazes adoringly up at her. She returns his gaze as she sings about 'we rock each other's world'. The performance element creates authenticity (fans have proof of her talent) because we see her sing.
3. Star - use of close-ups, sometimes direct eye contact with audience, to build relationship with audience.The close ups emphasize her attitude, she's explaining the story where she appears to be right. It shows her cockiness about the situation, the use of her eye contact with the audience shows us she's trying to persuade us and get the audience on board. She has a determination to make us agree with her, she's right and that's all that matters. The close ups further into the video show us her scowling, punching the air and performing gestures in a very aggressive manner.
4. The visuals (what the star and other characters are seen doing) illustrate, amplify or contradict the lyrics (the 'story in the words'). Illustration = the visuals play out the story more or less literally; amplify = the words in the lyrics are only the starting point and the story develops in other directions; contradiction / disjuncture = the visuals do not interpret the words of the lyrics and may even show something contradictory. Throughout the video the symbolization of Avril being the most important, her aim is to promote her gang which is revolving around her. She is supposed to seem the most superior. The visuals are almost violent which matches the tone of the song. When she's sings about the other girl being at home we don't actually see the girl for ourselves, we are focused on what Avril is doing which contrasts completely with someone sitting at home alone, disjuncture is used. The punches are in time with the music which creates so much power, it is rebellious power.
5. The narrative usually features the performer in 'real life' situations but often with experimental types of film making such as hand-held, dramatic camera angles, symbolic codes and lighting. A lot of the camera work is hand held, it allows the audience to feel as if we're traveling with her.. Extreme close up on the boy as he reflects her love and he admires her. She looks at the camera in the audience in such defiance. She looks triumphant as she defies society and the people who opposed.
6. The visuals are usually cut to the beat of the music; the editing is often fast-paced; there is often use of montage, ellipsis and intercutting, stylish effects. The opening montage sets the tone for the whole video, it is edited so it's cut to the beat of percussion and electric guitar. The Editing is a serious of very fast pace cuts which is complementary of the fast pace music. It is clear at the beginning that Lavigne's gang are putting on a concert we see this because they are marking their territory by showing the location.
7. Refrain - repeated chorus, sometimes with variations. During the refrain the visuals intensify the pace of the video.The refrain helps tie the whole story and video together.

Wheatus mise-en-scene

In the music video for teenage dirtbag we see Wheatus dressed down rather than up. They are dressed in very casual clothing that can be seen as almost comical. We see the 'bully' or more 'popular' people dressed in a way which makes them appear more important and we view the people more comically dressed as below them. The way the more popular people are positioned around the 'teenage dirtbag' shows us he is meant to be seen as the joke or someone of far less significance. The mise en scene used in this video shows us the relation between the lyrics and what is actually happening in the video, him getting rejected by the popular girl he appears to love.

Editing question

PREP Analyse how editing is used in the extract from Cuffs to create meaning. Refer to at least two examples from the extract in your answer. (This means that a good candidate will write fully and freely, covering more than just 2 examples, as we practised in class).
Worth 5 marks: write half a side of A4 and post on your blog tonight. If you have DoE, take an extra 24 hours

 
Slow motion is used  when the police officers are fighting the racist who attempted to murder the young Asian boy. The slow motion is used to show us what's happening in Jake's mind as he is thrown into an environment that he is not used to at all, he has to make big decisions in such a small amount of time. The use of the shot being held for a long period of time almost shows to us his thought process and what's happening to those around him whilst he's frozen there. 


Close up and cross cut into the recording is used when DI Kane realizes there is a clue into where the little girl might be. The last frame is held for a long time while his brain and eyes clarify what he thought was true. We then see it for ourselves using and extreme close up of the hotel name and we feel the same as the detective. The close up verifies what we and DI Kane assumes and hopes to be true, as the camera focuses on this tension is built and we immediately want action to be taken.


Shot reverse shot is a editing technique used when the father of the abducted child is hanging on the edge of the balcony ready to commit suicide. There are close ups of the man's hand which is almost completely over the balcony. Both men are focused on each other however do not say a word because it might trigger unnecessary action from both of them. After DI Kane saves the man there is a close up shot on his face and we see the relieve and shock on his face. This makes us feel a slight sign of relief as well.