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.