In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge

forms and conventions of real media products?

Before I made my final task I looked at conventions of music videos, digipaks and posters. To answer this question I

will compare/deconstruct my final products to already existing media

texts.

Music VideoBefore the construction of my music video I researched what the conventions of an Indie music video are. My research found that Performance videos were generally seen in Indie music videos, as many Indie artists can play instruments, thus representing them as talented compared to mainstream artists. When Indie bands make narrative music videos they base it on the lyrics and stick very close to them. My research also found that Mise en scene played a vital part in representing the band in the music video. The choice of costume is what sets Indie artists away from mainstream artists, as it’s not what people would usually wear. Props are also seen as a convention in Indie music video, this may also include instruments, which many Indie artists have in their videos.

After looking at the conventions of an Indie Music video I looked at already existing ones. The music videos that I chose also had similar ideas to mine. For my music video I wanted my song title, Float Forever, to have connotations throughout my music video. This is the main reason as to why I took inspiration from John Everett Millais’ painting, Ophelia. Once I gained the idea to have a drowning scene in my music video, I looked at music videos in my genre (Indie) that had water based imagery or actual drowning scenes in them.

Music VideoOne of the music videos that I looked at was No Hope//The Vaccines. This is what people would call an Indie music video. This music would fit under the sub genre of a narrative video as we follow a

young boy trying to impress a girl he fancies. This music video does relate back to the lyrics as it shows that the girls doesn’t like him back, then showing him run off in age as if there is ‘no hope’

Music VideoThis music contains a lot of mise en scene, for example we see the use of props in the

form of a bunch of flowers throughout. These flowers almost symbolise his hope as towards the end he starts to let go of them compared to the beginning of the music video where

he has a whole bunch of flowers.

Music VideoCostume plays a huge part in this music video. The Vaccines are renowned for their 50s rocker style and this can be seen in this

video. The lead singer in the denim waistcoat is represented in the the younger boys style.

Music VideoThis music video also contains a music video trope called ‘Face of the band.’ This is where the main singer is the

member who is seen throughout most of the music video. This is something that many Indie artists will do.

Music Video

I would say that my music video does stick to the convention of a narrative music video as I was influenced by the title of the song ‘Float Forever.’ I have broken a convention by not choosing to use

performance or even lip syncing in my video.

Music VideoThroughout my music video I use props. I have used flowers to link in with the death of Ophelia,as she died submerged with flowers. By using props I was able to use my props as symbolism. The flowers in the water not only relate to the death of Ophelia, but also link

with my advertisement and digipak.

Music VideoFor my music video, I wanted to recreate the lead singer in a

female form. Subtly recreating the trope of the face of the band.

Magazine AdvertisementsFor my research I looked at already existing advertisements. I am going to compare my final

advertisement to this already existing one for Peace (the band I chose)

Whose album it is, to make it clear for the audience. Peace use the same font in their music videos

too.

Title of Album in white and in the same font as the bands title, which are subtle links.

Reviews from magazines which fits the indie genre and

where this advert would most likely be seen. The reviews give the reader an insight into how good the album is, thus making people want to

buy it.

Image is of the whole band, which is usually seen on other advertisements. This is so the audience can recognise who they are listening too. This particular image reminds of

Review from top indie magazine NME, a magazine where the band would naturally

be featured.

Magazine Advertisements

Band’s name in the same font that

they use in their music videos. Have

also used this font throughout my

own work.

Haven’t used a photo of the band because wanted the main focus to be on the album, hence

why I used the same image that’s on my

digipak.

Included the different formats that the album

comes in to inform the audience. I chose to add a vinyl as my TA

would own a record player.

Available at Rough Trade, which is a well known record

shop, somewhere where my target audience may have visited.

Featured the website so the audience can buy gig tickets and find out more about the band.

The modern background

juxaposes the vintage fonts that I have

used.

In my opinion I believe that I have developed conventions that are usually seen on adverts.

Digipak

Didn’t include image of the band because

wanted the whole digipak to link with my music video and

concept so used floral imagery.

I made my text go to the right

as it looks creative.

I made my other half of my

digipak black and white to represent the death that is

seen in my music video, as these colours often

represent that.

I also used the same fonts on my advert, music video and

digipak to make them all link.

Text

The fonts I have chosen have a vintage feel to them, juxtaposing them to the modern image.

Overall, I have challenged conventions that are seen on a digipak.

To conclude I feel that all my tasks have mainly stuck to conventions

rather than challenged them, however in some cases I have developed some

of them to make my final piece original.