Redundant and entropic features

Maximo Park - Our Velocity

Redundant features

• The entire band is playing with the music - A performance video. This is a redundant and expected feature of the genre. 
• The clothes the musicians are wearing are the usual style of Maximo Park. For example, the lead singer is often seen wearing a black trilby
• The musicians are very energetic in the video, which matches the pace of the song. 
• The lead singer lip-syncing is a common trait in music videos in general.

Entropic features

• The editing in the video makes it seem like it was recorded all in a single take. This is very rare in music videos.
• The bright colours used for the background is unusual in rock music and unexpected.
• Having the editing make the same person on the screen multiple times at once is bizarre and entropic.

The band uses what begins as a fairly generic and redundant performance video, which is common in the genre, but turns it into a bizarre video that is extremely entropic. As the music video is all a single take, it is confusing for the viewer as it is difficult to comprehend how it works. Beginning the video upside down, with the shadows of the musicians being coloured, quickly makes the viewer realise that the video is unusual. The strange movement of the camera aids the editing and illusion of the same person being on screen multiple times at once.

lyrics - ideas

Theme of being trapped "In your head", "how to escape" etc. Possibly use trapped imagery eg. small enclosed spaces,  walls

contrasting light, soft colours with darker colours etc.

slow movement, few cuts during verse and faster with more cuts in chorus
More use of (muted) colour during chorus, brighter lighting and less contrast - upbeat and more intense - use white and red?

Image and Brand Identity

An example of a video by muse which demonstrates the abstract and sci-fi themes common throughout the band's music videos and  other promotional packages.

Indie Pop Music Video Conventions

Marina and the Diamonds - Primadonna

The video focuses mainly on the singer, using mostly close-ups and medium close-ups. The costume and makeup is pastel and unconventional, with non-matching mise-en-scene. 

The mise-en-scene is dark, dusty and quite traditional. The set goes against the stereotypical indie pop convention of being set outdoors.

Foxes - Youth

This music video seems to be aimed more at a younger "youthful" audience. The actors wear quite "hip" mainstream clothing, which appeals to a wider audience. 

The mise-en-scene is generally a mix of dark and pastel colours, and the actors are lively and active throughout the video,

There is a lot of movement in the music video ,and a wide range of camera angles and shot types. The camera uses a close-up of the artist's face often throughout, particularly during parts with lyrics. 

Music Video Analysis

Creativity

Creativity is being able to come up with original, unique ideas. This means avoiding clichéd or overused/overdone ideas. Researching a wide range of different music videos, with very contrasting ethos and ideas would give a wider perspective and better range of ideas for inspiration. Having a more creative and original approach to creating the digipak will make the final product more attractive and unique, and it will stand out much more than if unoriginal ideas and images were portrayed.

Creativity depends on somebody not being afraid to be wrong. It is punished in schools for being wrong, and thought to be a bad thing to do. This makes people afraid of making mistakes, and this means that they are less likely to come up with original ideas.
I agree with this, as i find that original and interesting ideas and concepts are rare, and with "creative" forms of media people often use very similar ideas to others, and take too much inspiration from others. It shows that many people are afraid to be wrong or do anything drastically different to what is expected.

I think that most of the points made in this video seem accurate. Having plenty of sleep definitely help focus and motivation, which are key to creativity. Personally, exercise is not something that helps me as it leaves me exhausted and often makes me lose motivation. The idea of having something to write with wherever you go is something which i completely agree with and something that I have been planning to do, as I often find myself have ideas and end up forgetting them when I get chance to write them down.


Photos of inspiration:

 

 
 

Action plan - 8 September to 22 September

• Introduction to coursework brief
• Research unsigned artists to find ideas and possible music for digipak
• Research artists' brand identities, how they create a particular image for themselves with videos, adverts etc.
• Set up this blog and write introduction to the coursework
• Research the function and purpose of music videos.
• Write a textual analysis of a music video

• Research and planning
• Post action plan on blog
• Ask permission to use music by the copyright holder
• identify the conventions of music videos
• Apply Andrew Goodwin's Theory 
• Analyse redundant and entropic features of music videos
• *Complete grade booster on Stars and stardom

*Extension task


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Purpose of music videos

• To help advertise and sell albums and singles
• to promote the band or artist
• to circulate the artist's name and reach a wider audience
• to appeal to a wider audience
• for an artistic outlet

Introduction

For this project I will produce:
A promotional package for the release of an album
this must include:

• A music promo video
• A cover for the album's release on digipak
• A magazine advertisement for the digipak

Exam board information

• 20 Marks will be for planning and research, which will be done on blogs
• The practical component of this project is worth 60 marks (music video out of 40, print tasks 10 marks each)
• 20 marks are for the written evaluation

Other criteria

• Music video needs to be 3-5 mins long
• Work in groups to produce video - 4 people max
• Digipak work will be made individually
• Blogs will be worked on individually