MUSIC VIDEO CODES AND CONVENTIONS

1. Performance - the singer / band are seen to be playing, to provide authenticity, so that followers believe in the talent and can see their star. Record labels sign stars and promote them  to ensure sales. 
2. Star - use of close-ups, sometimes direct eye contact with audience, to build relationship with audience The music video is very fast pace and when it comes to eye contact with the singer and the audience the camera seems to take a few seconds to keep this contact to build/form a relationship with the audience. This also helps the audience feel more involved and not just invisible like many other music videos.
3. The visuals (what the star and other characters are seen doing) illustrate, amplify or contradict the lyrics (the 'story in the words'). Illustration = the visuals play out the story more or less literally; amplify = the words in the lyrics are only the starting point and the story develops in other directions; contradiction / disjuncture = the visuals do not interpret the words of the lyrics and may even show something contradictory.
4. The narrative usually features the performer in 'real life' situations but often with experimental types of film making such as hand-held, dramatic camera angles, symbolic codes and lighting
5. The visuals are usually cut to the beat of the music; the editing is often fast-paced; there is often use of montage, ellipsis and inter-cutting, stylish effects This is true as the song has a very fast beat to it. By listening to the song quite a bit now i roughly counted 2-3 beats per second. the camera work seems very up to date with the music however this changes when the camera keeps eye contact with the singer (Avril Lavinge) or other main characters such as Sk8er Boi.
6. Refrain - repeated chorus, sometimes with variations Things songs seems to have a pattern on many of the new lies it probably starts with 'He was a .....' or 'She was a ....' This is clear that she is really trying to get the message out there that e.g he was just a skater boy.
7. Intertextuality - references to other media, films, performances, events

Analyse how editing is used in Cuffs

Analyse how editing is used in the extract from Cuffs to create meaning. Refer to at least two examples from the extract in your answer. 

We can clearly see how editing is used in this programme. I evaluated episode one and found multiple ways of which this was effective. For example near the beginning we see that PC Ryan Draper is trying to break up a fight. I notice that as he tries to pull his arm off one of the stag do members the editor has slowed it down and you spend more time to really focus on whats happening. At the same place the nudist ends up hitting the viking hat off of one of the stag do members and as the hat gets pulled to Earth the slow motion engages.


Crosscutting is also show near the beginning, as PC Ryan Draper starts to get involved the camera carry's on cutting back to Chief Super Robert Vickers. This was very clever of the editor as it showed the calm and sophisticated climate in which Chief Super Robert VIckers was in, then panning back to the rough uncomftable and violent loaction that PC Ryan Draper was trying to sort out.


Finally another example of this was when PC Donna Prager, PC Lino Moretti, PC Ryan Draper and PC Jake Vickers where working out in some sort of garage and then the editor used a transition that dissolved one scene into the other making it feel like a lot of time has gone by. This was a great effect and would like to use this one day.


Written By Harrison Allman-Varty



 

HOW MISE-EN-SCENE IS USED IN THE EXTRACT FROM - CUFFS -

The way mise-en-scene is used in Cuffs is very clever this is shown numeral times in episode 1. An example of this, is when the chief constable is addressing his speech to the newly recruited police officers. He is placed on a higher platform than the others showing his importance. This is not the only mise-en-scene is used however we can see also because this is a very special occasion. The signs that show us this is the neat and tidy uniform, white gloves and hats centre/straight. This is also made more visible as the camera somewhat looks up to him.

Another example of this is when there was a murder at the local store and DS Jo Moffat went to investigate. She makes her way over to the farther (owner of the store in which the crime was committed) and his son. We can clearly see that the child is holding some sort of action figure/toy therefore symbolising that he is a child. Later on we also hear that he is off school this is indicated by the way he is wearing home clothes.

Written By Harrison Allman-Varty

QUESTION 1 - CUFFS

How does the camera work make meaning in Cuffs?

The camera plays an important role in modern day media such as when a bad guy pops up traditionally it would look from the floor and maybe lighting and a wicked "ahahahahah" however i am just stereotyping this.

Examples of this being used in Cuffs is when PC Draper is trying to handle the stag do and the nudists, the camera is very shaking and very rough representing how rough these people our. It also gives the viewer the chance to feel more involved with the conflict as the camera starts to shake. Another thing to mention is that while PC Draper is dealing with them and the camera is a lot more unstable it pans back to the constable where the quality, focus and stability is perfect then back to PC Draper where this is the opposite and violent.

By Harrison Allman-Varty

THE AVENGERS - QUESTION 5

Avengers: explain how social contexts influence television programmes.

The social contexts influence television quite significantly today. In the avengers it is obvious to the viewers that this is not set in present day it is set in the 60s with indications of the war which was not that long ago. We notice this by the way the characters speak such as when John Steed enters the pub Piggy Warren starts the conversation with 'Ah!, hello ol' boy' and 'oh the little poppsy' this indicates that we are still in a time with old fashioned language.

Another thing that was noticeable was references of the war as in the pub there are a number of WW2 planes hanging and the fact that Piggy Warren had a gun represents that they have not got rid of there items of defence from the war. It is also to be noted that it is illegal to carry a gun in the United Kingdom so they are also effectively breaking the law.

It is also noticeable to the viewer that they are quite the wealthy kind, as on the train they had a considerable amount of leg room, comfy seats etc. During their train journey John Steed offers Emma Peel afternoon tea "sugar or lemon". Also comedy added in there with fitting large items into small hand luggage.

Harrison Allman-Varty.

HOW DOES THE EXTRACT DEPICT THE POLICE'S POINT OF VIEW - CUFFS

The way the police are presented on the opening scene on the beach is quite complicated and handled with irony because Chief Supers voice over was at odds with what PC Ryan Draper experiences on the beach. It is ironic because the chief Super asserts that a police man must remain 'calm and assertive in the face of provocation, always striving for conflict resolution ensuring cohesion and security'.  However,  PC Draper is insulted on the beach by the nudists that he tries to protect and punched on the nose by the young men in the stag do. The audience definitely feel that has done his professional best because he does not loose his temper and tries to be fair to both sides. Therefore the audience is likely to feel sympathetic towards him particularity at the end, even if our sympathies were with nudists with the begging however the mood swings against the nudists who through themselves into the affray and in some ways just as guilty as the stag do who have been taunting them certainly the characters who came out worst are the stag do who are guilty of criminal assault when they hit PC Draper.

CUFFS-EXAM PRCATICE

How is sound used to create meaning?

Well there are many examples of sound being used to create a sense of meaning, such as at the start where he is called into action the music acts with the scenes. The music being playing in the background is very upbeat and gets the rate of the show going however if it was classical music you would have very mixed feelings of what is happening. Music is very important when it comes to media as it makes up most of the feeling.

An example of this is also when they are both called to a house where they discover a poor guy in a real mess (tried to commit suicied) when jake says "OPEN THIS DOOR!" it is very forceful however when the other officer tries the music changes and he approaches with, "you ok? Why dont you drop the knife and open the door" a very soft voice combining with the soft music combined perfectly.

By Harrison Allman-Varty