Our music video will be to Halsey's Control, which is a new song from her début album BADLANDS, which came out 28th August 2015. The song addresses a pressing issue in society; mental illness. In a recent interview she did whilst promoting BADLANDS, Halsey decided to reveal her own struggle with this, saying she suffers with Bipolar. She said that, for her, "badlands" was the place she was "trapped in" during a very testing period of her life and therefore her album tells the story of her struggle suffering with it and overcoming it.
'Control' is a very emotional song, that is completely honest about what she experienced due to her mental illness, talking about "villians that live in my head". However, one of the most vital parts of the song is when she says "I'm meaner than my demons". Most of her fans are attracted to her because they find a connection with the songs and as she is such a prominent, public role model, it was important that she mentioned how she did not let her illness consume her, and managed to escape it by being "meaner".
Due to the serious subject matter we do not want to make the video too extravagant and detract from the meaning of the song. We have decided to film in 2 or 3 different locations which I will do a blog post on soon. We have also started planning our costumes, which I will also dedicate a full post to.
Sunday, 29 November 2015
Saturday, 28 November 2015
Star Theory - Richard Dyer
Dyer's Star Theory is the idea that celebrities are manufactured by institutions for financial gain.
He believes that although famous people are constructed to represent 'real people' they fail to do so and just act as someone for the public to aspire to be like.
The first thing to question when studying Star Theory is are stars really in control of their own image?
It is common for artists to become more exaggerated versions of themselves after they begin to become wealthier and real feel the effects of fame. However, it is also common for 'Stars' to loose themselves in order to become what the public want. Amy Winehouse, for example often spoke in interviews, and said she was under constant pressure from her managers to do things she didn't think suited who she was. Press gossip is also a vital element to the creation of a star as they can have a massive impact on how they are perceived by the public.
Here are some of the key points in Dyer's theory:
The second paradox is that the star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer.
A good example of this would be an artist called Ashley Frangipane, who created a stage name of 'Halsey', a 21 year old artist from Washington, New Jersey.
Right from being a little known artist she has always been quiet alternative in her fashion and music style, however as her fame and popularity grew she has become more and more extreme.
This is a picture of Halsey before her career took off, looking quite plain
And this is her since her career really kicked off and she became more successful
He believes that although famous people are constructed to represent 'real people' they fail to do so and just act as someone for the public to aspire to be like.
The first thing to question when studying Star Theory is are stars really in control of their own image?
It is common for artists to become more exaggerated versions of themselves after they begin to become wealthier and real feel the effects of fame. However, it is also common for 'Stars' to loose themselves in order to become what the public want. Amy Winehouse, for example often spoke in interviews, and said she was under constant pressure from her managers to do things she didn't think suited who she was. Press gossip is also a vital element to the creation of a star as they can have a massive impact on how they are perceived by the public.
Here are some of the key points in Dyer's theory:
- A star is an image, not a real person who is constructed by a range of different elements
- Stars are commodities produced and consumed on the strength of their meanings
- Stars depend upon a range of subsidiary media-magazines, radio, TV, and the internet. In order to construct an image of themselves which can be marketed for target audiences.
- The star image is made up of a range of meanings which are attractive to the target audience
- Fundamentally the star image is incoherent, and made up of two paradoxes
The second paradox is that the star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer.
A good example of this would be an artist called Ashley Frangipane, who created a stage name of 'Halsey', a 21 year old artist from Washington, New Jersey.
Right from being a little known artist she has always been quiet alternative in her fashion and music style, however as her fame and popularity grew she has become more and more extreme.
And this is her since her career really kicked off and she became more successful
Monday, 23 November 2015
'Male Gaze
The male gaze is a concept coined by feminist film critic Laura Mulvey. It refers to the way visual arts are structured around a masculine viewer. It describes the tendency in visual culture to depict the world and women from a masculine point of view and in terms of men's attitudes.
These are some of the main points:
The male gaze theory can be found in most cinematic media and a good example is She Wolf by Shakira.
The music video displays Shakira dancing in a cage as a "She Wolf", it could be argued that this actually makes the woman appear powerful and aggressive. However, the cage detracts from her power and makes her seems submissive, a quality only appealing to heterosexual men. Furthermore the wide shots show her in compromising positions, and performing acrobats more appropriate for a pole dancer than a wolf. Another devise used in adherence to Mulvey's theory is costume; Shakira wears a nude leotard, which frequently makes her appear naked.
An obvious interpretation would be that it is being suggested that women are animals that need to be controlled and contained.
It is evident that the music video was made for a man's point of view within the first thirty seconds when she appears in a cut out body suit and begins to thrust her hips, holding her hand in front of them. This obvious imagery is designed to appeal to men and even make them dream to be with her, also conforming to the Star Theory.
These are some of the main points:
- The representation of women as a sexual fantasy and froma heterosexual male point of view
- Scopophilia-the pleasure involved in looking at other people's bodies
- objectification of female characters
- patriarchal society
- Active Male and passive female
- men-controlling subjects
- women as an image
- men do the looking and women are there to be looked at
- needs of the male ego
The male gaze theory can be found in most cinematic media and a good example is She Wolf by Shakira.
The music video displays Shakira dancing in a cage as a "She Wolf", it could be argued that this actually makes the woman appear powerful and aggressive. However, the cage detracts from her power and makes her seems submissive, a quality only appealing to heterosexual men. Furthermore the wide shots show her in compromising positions, and performing acrobats more appropriate for a pole dancer than a wolf. Another devise used in adherence to Mulvey's theory is costume; Shakira wears a nude leotard, which frequently makes her appear naked.
It is evident that the music video was made for a man's point of view within the first thirty seconds when she appears in a cut out body suit and begins to thrust her hips, holding her hand in front of them. This obvious imagery is designed to appeal to men and even make them dream to be with her, also conforming to the Star Theory.
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
Monday, 16 November 2015
Hypnotic Original music Video textual analysis
To better my understanding of the song we're doing, it is important to analyse the original music video.
A wide shot is used at the beginning of the video which establishes the location, and shows a mustang rolling up next to the singer who is on a horse. This kind of imagery creates a western/ cowboy vibe which eludes to her indie genre. Furthermore the juxtaposition of new verses old is evident through the face off between the horse and the car, the sound of gun shots further supporting this. This may be metaphorical of how many artists of the indie genre attempt to subvert the typical stylisations of pop videos.
A wide shot is used at the beginning of the video which establishes the location, and shows a mustang rolling up next to the singer who is on a horse. This kind of imagery creates a western/ cowboy vibe which eludes to her indie genre. Furthermore the juxtaposition of new verses old is evident through the face off between the horse and the car, the sound of gun shots further supporting this. This may be metaphorical of how many artists of the indie genre attempt to subvert the typical stylisations of pop videos.
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