Music Videos- Michael Jackson

Snoop Dogg- Promotes drugs
50 Cent- Promotes drugs/ Ganster/ Thug
Ice Cube- Ganster/ Thug
Skepta/Stormzy- Ganster/ Thug
SantanDave- Ganster/ Thug/ Political
Childish Gambino- Lovable

MTV
MTV launched with the words "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll," spoken by John Lack and played over footage of the first Space Shuttle launch countdown of Columbia (which took place earlier that year) and of the launch of Apollo 11.

The first music video shown on MTV was The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star", originally only available to homes in New Jersey.

Rick James
Hyper-sexualised video and message
Represented badly (drug addiction)
Open shirt, tight clothing
Women are all chasing him and trying to touch him

Black Male Stereotypes
black sidekick of a white protagonist (secondary role) – learners may independently research the meaning of the “foil” as a character role.
the token black person,
the comedic relief, Snoop Dogg
the athlete,
the over-sexed ladies’ man, Rick James, Drake, Chris Brown, R-Kelly
the absentee father or,
the violent black man as drug-dealing criminal and gangster thug. Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Ice Cube

Story Line of Billie Jean

Michael Jackson claimed "Bille Jean" represented all the groupies and crazed fans from the Jackson 5 days. The lyrics suggest that the story is about Michael not being this stereotypical "absentee father" as he claims not to be the father of the child of "Billie Jean". However the video suggests that he does sleep around quite a lot. Alternatively the video may also be saying that the media try to frame him for sleeping around. This paparazzi looking character follows him and fails to catch him.

Identify at least 5 aspects of the video which enable you to create meaning.

Everything he touches lights up- Close up shot of his shoes on bin- Magical negro

Disappears when paparazzi tries to get a picture- Wide angle shot of MJ in bed with paparazzi outside. MJ is well lit as he is the centre of attention. Pap is outside in shadows trying to hide away- Rumours? No evidence?

 Wearing clean and sophisticated clothing- close up of shoe and mid shot showing shirt and trousers-

Compared the Rick James Video (SuperFreak) to Billy Jean, what aspects of the videos Media language make Billy Jean more “acceptable” as a cross over  video?

Hyper sexualisation- RJ is wearing open shirts and tight trousers whereas MJ is wearing sophisticated clothing.

Lyrics- RJ lyrics are very based around women and having sex which is a negative representation of the black community. MJ is talking about how he is not included in this bracket, as he goes against the stereotype. 

That girl is pretty wild now

The girl's a super freak
I really love to taste her -RJ

Billie Jean is not my lover
She's just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son -MJ

Discuss aspects of the video which present Jackson as a music/video innovator.
"Billie Jean is the most important record he's made, not only because of its commercial success but because of the musical depth of the record. It has more hooks in it than anything I've ever heard. Everything in that song was catchy, and every instrument was playing a different hook. Every day, I look for that kind of song."

The video for this song is often credited with breaking the color barrier on MTV, which debuted August 1, 1981.
Jackson's "Billie Jean" video was the first to make heavy rotation, and more black faces started appearing on the network soon after


Director : Steve Barron
Also directed for Toto, Aha and many musical documentaries.

Discuss aspects of the video’s (media language)  present Jackson as an American Teenage Star/Heart throb.

Costume: He is wearing a pink, smart shirt. The colour pink signifies love and romance. The shirt suggests sophistication and being a gentleman, treating women well and respecting them. Similar to a prom outfit.

Michael Jackson is also well known for his dancing ability. Which he showcases throughout the video.

Lyrics:

 And mother always told me, "Be careful of who you love

And be careful of what you do, 'cause the lie becomes the truth"

Michael Jackson is highlighting that he is still a young teenage figure.

To what extent is the video sexualised, identify examples 

His dancing is slightly sexualised due to most of it being centred around him thrusting.

At the end of the video he gets into bed with a mysterious figure

FOIL

The foil is a secondary character whose role is to contrast completely from the primary.

The foil is the detective who, unlike MJ, is not well lit and always in the background.

Counter-Types

MJ's costume suggests that he goes against the stereotype of black men being aggressive thugs and gangsters. What he wears is sophisticated and clean. 

Discuss how Jackson’s video consolidates the representation of  “talented musician/dancer”

Michael jackson proves this by going against stereotypes. He is an innovator and well respected by his audience and others in the industry.

BBC Radio 1 The Breakfast Show

BBC Awards
1975
Adele
Robbie Williams
Zara Larrson
Stormzy

BBC Radio 1 The Breakfast Show

Music Videos-Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga-A Million Reasons Why

Similar to film you will analyse music videos through the four micro elements

Mise-en scene
Camera work Cinematography
Editing
Sound

Ex-Mainstream Pop Artist
Mother of "Monsters" (Lady Gaga fans)
Virgin, Mother and Whore (vertigo?)
Body Image "Born this way"
Issues of sexuality and identity are addressed in the video
Weird/Not Normal
Deviant Behaviour
Intertextuality, Pussy wagon from kill bill
Lady Gaga (like the lady lead in kill bill) is a counter stereotype
Strong woman

Lady Gaga is a pop artist who deviates in and out of the mainstream bracket. Lady Gaga as a character is a counter stereotype to what a woman should be. Although she is very sexualised in her videos she is portrayed as a strong woman with deviant behaviour. She also tackles issuesof sexuality and identity in her music. She refers to herself of the "Mother of Monsters" and to her fans as "Monsters".



WHAT GENERAL STEREOTYPES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WOMEN?  LIST 3 THINGS.

1. Domestic Chores
2. Dress in Feminine way for men
3. Weaker

WHAT STEREOTYPES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WOMEN IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? ?  LIST 3 THINGS.

1. Sexy
2. With a man
3. Songs about men/breakups

In Advertising and Magazines

1. They are shown as… 
2. Young 
3. Slim 
4. Overwhelmingly white 
5. Conforming to our image of ideal beauty (perfect skin, hair and alluring gaze).

Stereotypes in "Million Reasons"

Lady Gaga in this scene is having her make up done and this could link to sexualisation as she is being readied for a performance. It could also represent a mask

In this screenshot she is wearing pink which is colour associated with females and has connotations of love and femininity. However she is wearing a suit which is commonly a male clothing item. She is wearing large heels which also are female however wearing a cowboy hat. She is also sat in a positions which are commonly linked to men.

Task 5: Discuss how Lady Gaga uses the iconic representation of the cowboy as a countertype representation of femininity?

The cowboy is used as a countertype representation for femininity as she is wearing a pink cowboy  suit with heels. The colour pink is associated with love and femininity and the heels link to sexualisation as they are an accessory worn buy women to make themselves look more attractive. However the cowboy has connotations of masculinity. strength and aggression. The message she is attempting to portray is that women are as strong as men and they can be strong as well as attractive.

Task 6: In what way is the representation of an all female crew a countertype representation of the media industry?

Her crew is dominated by women which tackles the stereotype that women need men around for strength and protection. In other videos and films women are mainly there only for hair an make up however this shows they can do more.

Task 6b: In what way is the video depicting the musician as a musician on the road, representing the drudgery behind the glamour of performance? 

The video starts off with the star laying in a desert and being picked up by her crew and having to recompose herself. This could show that she is not enjoying the star lifestyle as it is stressful and she is all over the place. This wide close up of her being helped by her friend/crew member shows she needs support to get through everything. 

Task 7: Identify key aspects of the text which represent Gaga as “the vulnerable female”

Lady Gaga is "The Princess" according to Propps narrative theory as she is waiting for someone to help/save her. This wide close up of her being helped by her friend/crew member shows she needs support to get through everything. 

This close up shot is used to capture and convey her emotions of sadness and distress. This conforms to the stereotype of women being emotional.

Task 8: Identify key aspects of the text which represent Gaga within the narrow conventions of music videos “a young and conventionally attractive, star”

This close  up of her getting her make up done is showing her being readied for performance by looking "beautiful". 

This medium shot shows off her low collar and is slightly more revealing which again links to sexualisation.

Minecraft

Minecraft

Task 1 describe how audiences are grouped and categorised by media industries, including by age, gender and social class, as well as by lifestyle and taste.

Task 2. Describe How media producers target, attract, reach, address and potentially construct audiences.

Task 3.  Describe How media industries target audiences

Task 4.  Describe How audiences interpret the media, including how they may interpret the same media in different ways.

Task 5: Describe How audiences interact with the media and can be actively involved in media production. 

In what way is the content suited to this wide age demographic?

The game appeals to a wide age demographic due to its openness and endless creativity. Its open world genre means that there are very little rules and a lot of freedom to do whatever you want. A young person may play the game for its fun and creativity as it is simple and has little rules. An older person may play for diversion or escapism. It also allows social interaction

UNDER 15

Easy to pick up, simple game

Educational but fun

Online aspect to play with friends

21+

Escapism

MEN

Gaming industry is mainly men

Knight and violence

Using minecraft in education helps people learn about coding as well as market the game largely throughout schools. Collaborating with lego is good as they are similar so it will intrigue the existing lego audience and get them to play minecraft 

MINECRAFT YOUTUBERS