8-Bit Avatar

My 8-Bit Avatar

This avatar shows the simulation of me if i was to e a character in an 8-bit game.Much like the Sergeant in Wreck it Ralph it uses many of my features rather than being an avatar that has no resemblance to me.

Wreck it Ralph Intertextual References Moodboard

Wednesday 5th March 2014

Lesson Objectie
- Take characteristics discussed last week and explain the reasons why
- Historical, Stylistic, Themes and Ideas

Paparazzi Music Video Analysis

Postmodernism Lesson 26/02/14

- Breaking down of barriers/structures
- Destruction of ideologies
- Cynicism: Lack of Belief

3 Approaches
- Stylistic Approach
- Historical Approach
- Theoretical Approach

Exam Question Criteria
- Comparison of 2 PoMo Texts
- Historical Reference, e.g Matrix Music ideo
- Future Production
- Arguments for/against
- Examples

Key Terminology
- Simulacra, alterity, bricolage, cyberspace, dystopia

Big Theorists
- Baudrilliard

Key Postmodern Media Texts
- Extras, GTA, Scott Pilgrim, Matrix, Being John Malcoich, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind
- The Truman Show

Characteristics of Postmodernism
- Dissilusionment with modern thinking
- opposition to traditional authority
- truth is relatie
- facts are useless
- rationalization
- morality is relatie
- each religion is legitimate
- belief in internationalism
- collectie owenership
- equality

Genre Mock Response

29/01/14 Mock Exam Response

Mock Exam Question

How does media language apply to your chosen text?

I have chosen to use my music video rather than my thriller as my thriller conforms to too much of a set formula to make it an appropriate text for study. My piece follows many conventions of traditional ideas however it does challenge theories in some areas. Showing that it is not at all restricted by conforming to set stereotypes to meet its purpose.

The track used within the music video has a highly conceptual feel and the lyrics follow this, meaning that they are very abstract and do not tell a story or have a clear meaning, they rather leave it open to the listeners interpretations. Due to this the lyrics and the visuals have little correlation however the dark tone of the music and the dark feel of the lyrics are portrayed on screen with the visuals. The piece makes use of beat editing and what happens on screen is heavily affected by what is happening within the music. This leads me to say that Goodwin’s ideas of lyrics and music have a direct influence on the visuals can be heavily applied to my video.

Baudrilliard’s theory of hypereality and simulacra is heavily present within my video as is shown when the character’s soul rises from his body and falls again into a dream world or “simulacra world” as a young boy. It is within this world that all abnormal happenings take place, showing that within the simulacra the hypereality is seen as reality. Showing that once again the piece conforms to a pre-existing theory.

The piece makes use of intertextuality from the onset incorporating both a television set, a vinyl player and multiple vinyl records into the opening 47 second pan shot. This immediately shows the type of character that the video contains but also the influences for creating the character in this image. The idea of intertextuality is a common conventions of music videos as they aim to break stereotypes set by pre-existing pieces. This again shows my piece conforming to postmodern ideas.

As the video contains hardly any shots of women it disproves her theory of the male gaze however it is still heavily voyeuristic, but from a females perspective. The piece challenges stereotypes as it has the male protagonist in only underwear in a bath whereas the common convention would have been to use a female protagonist if such a scene was to be incorporated, as it would be more widely accepted by the public or the viewing audience. The only female character scene is a woman who we discover to be the girlfriend of the protagonist but who we also see as being heavily demonized during a beat edited section where her screaming face takes the place of a clock. This shows the piece deliberately going against conventions to make itself a stand alone piece of work.

In conclusion I felt hat the piece does in some aspects conform to traditional ideas but due to its extensive use of intertexuality and hypereality it is too heavily postmodern to be classified as a traditional piece of work. Making it an innovative and exciting piece.

Representation Mock Exam Answer and Feedback

Evaluate the ways that you have used/challenged simplistic representations in one of the media products you have produced

I have chosen to discuss my music video, the video represents the music and a hypereal state of reality. My music video both conforms to and challenges different ideas of representation as i will be discussing.

My video targets itself at an 18-24 year old audience who can see a distorted representation of themselves through the lead character. Gauntlets theory of constructing identity is supported in my video as the piece opens on a 47 second pan shot which immediately displays all about the character and his situation to the viewer. This large amount of background knowledge presented allows the audience to see if this character is a hyper-real representation of themselves or someone totally unrelated. Through this we have used Gauntlets theory but in doing so have given the audience a decision as to whether their identity is at all shaped or influenced by our protagonist, allowing us to use the theory effectively.

I feel that my video disproves Stuart Hall's theory of encoding texts as it uses a variety of influences making it not repetitive or conformative to something that has been done in the past. As the character reverts back to a child in his out of body experience it abolishes all ideas of "a common sense status". This idea of a predictable nature within the video is made impossible due to the heavily hypereal aspects of the video. Allowing the piece to go outside of normal boundaries and logic such as when the lighter turns to maggots. this shows the video challenging simplistic representations.

My video is heavily hypereal making use of layered shots and a green screen to show the protagonists soul rising from his body. As he rises he falls again as a child into a world that is a simulacra for the real world. It is within this place where all abnormal things happen before eventually returning to relaity at the end of the piece. This use of both reality and hypereality side by side creates a stark contrast and shows how strongly my video challenges stereotypical, Simplistic representations.

In conclusion i feel that through being heavily postmodern and hypereal my piece challenges the stereotypes of representation as it follows only Baudrilliard's ideas of simulacra and does not conform to other popular theories. However as it conforms in someways to Gauntlets ideas I have to say it heavily challenges stereotypes but does conform in some aspects.


Danny's Feedback:
- High Level 2 - 15 Marks
- Not enough theories used, doesn't use the minimum of 4
- To what extent theories are represented rather than how
- Not enough use of examples

Aim:
- Learn to incorporate theories into my work with examples rather than just listing and explaining theories as i have previously been doing

Success Criteria

- 4 theorists that are relevant to argument
- 4 examples from product with judgement/thesis explanation: apply theory by analysis
- Thesis statement that answers the question
- Justification of how relevant or applicable these theories are and why
- Use examples
- How relevant and why you decided to write about thriller rather than music video and vice versa