In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Introduction:

Before I started working on the construction of my music video, I carried out a detailed research about the forms and conventions of the real media products, and according to that, I believe that my music video and ancillary tasks somewhat do use, develop and challenge the forms and conventions of real media products.

According to Andrew Goodwin: a media theorist, there are some aspects that the audience looks at in a music video:

1. The star image- A close-up of the artist;2. The relationship between the video and the music;3. The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals;4. The intersexual references to other media texts;5. The characteristics of Genre;6. Voyeurism.

After deep research, and a lot of analysis on different genres of music videos, I chose the genre of “SOFT POP” for the creation of my video. In my answer, I will be comparing my music video with “Nobody wants to be Lonely”, a pop song by Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera and some other music videos of the pop genre where necessary.

Costumes:

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In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

As mentioned in my research, the costumes worn in pop songs are very touchy and fashionable. I have portrayed my model in different western outfits in my music video, although they are not too fashionable. I thought of keeping the outfits simple in order to portray a real life story in my music video, as I feel that clothes that are very fashionable cancel out the real feel of the song. In this way I have given my music video a natural and real feeling.

Also I have shown my model in a bright red and black outfit and high heeled boots on my magazine ad and my digipak.

Locations:

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In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In most pop songs the life of the artist is shown as happy and enjoyable and is filmed mostly in places with a happy mood like parks, clubs, boats and/or beaches. I have used this convention in the construction of my video. I have filmed the video in ‘Race Course Park’, also called ‘Jillani Park’, and I have kept a happy mood in my song.

Target Audience:

Pop songs usually target the group of teenagers around the world, which is why teenagers are chosen for the singing and acting of pop songs. I too have made my video with a teenage couple and a teenage singer that is I.

Magazine Ads:

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In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Pop magazine ads are shown with bold and bright colours which stand out to attract teens. I have used red colour firstly because it depicts love and portrays a romantic song, and secondly because it’s a very bright and eye catching colour which would at once gain attention to itself and in this way it becomes a must watch.

Length:

Pop songs are mainly 3-5 minutes long and they have a very bouncy and upbeat tempo which is why its teenage audience gets so appealed by it. I have made my music video in the same way. I have kept an upbeat tempo in it, but on the softer side as it’s a soft pop song. My song is 3 minutes and 30 seconds long which makes it a medium length song- not too long and not too short-just the right length for a romantic song to be.

Lyrics:

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In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Pop lyrics follow a verse-chorus-verse structure and the lyrics are catchy, which is why they tend to stay in the audience’s mind. I have done the same with my lyrics, it’s a verse-chorus-verse structure and the lyrics tend to create a very romantic and happy feeling which my audience has liked a lot.

Sexuality:

Pop songs usually contain elements of sexuality with either, the girl’s actions, expressions, lyrics or behavior in the video. I somehow did not use this element of sexuality in my video as it goes against our culture. So in a way I also depicted our culture where the girl is mostly a bit shy and the boy is shown as the protector and defender of his girlfriend/fiancé. However, I have shown the couple walking hand in hand, sitting together having a good time, having a packet of chips which I thought would look like an everyday scene and would give the video an effect of reality as well as ‘cuteness’.

Makeup and hairstyles:

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In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Makeup and hairstyles are mainly focused in pop songs. It depends on the sub genre of pop, i.e. if its hard pop, then the makeup would be on the darker side probably smokey eyes and red lips; if it’s a softer song the makeup would be softer to portray that it’s a soft pop song.

I have done something similar to this in my video. I have kept my model’s makeup soft, but attractive. However, I somewhat tend to challenge the conventions of my magazine ad and digipak. I have shown my model in a bright red costume with red lips to add to the glamour. Also, I have curled my model’s hair so that she looks even more attractive.

Editing:

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In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Pop videos usually are fast paced and have upbeat tempos. They have fast cuts and one scene usually does not remain for more than 2-3 seconds. Also the editing does not have many effects and backgrounds in it except for dissolving into each other etc.

I, however, have challenged the editing as I have used some effects which I put from a free software that I downloaded. I have done this to create a mood of excitement and happiness in my video and to give it a livelier feel to it, although effects like these are not seen in romantic music videos, especially of the pop genre.

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In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

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