Music Magazine - Contrasts

PREP: Analyse the media language of the MOJO cover below. Use the terms that you have learned. 
Compare and contrast the cover with another magazine cover, drawing attention to the similarities and differences, and saying what the genre codes and conventions are.

The contrast cover can either be your own cover or another professional cover.




There are two photos above, one of the MOJO magazine featuring David Bowie as the main splash and the other a Billboard Katy Perry magazine. Both these magazines have similarities and differences that i shall highlight.

A similarity they both have is the placement of the main splash. The photo taken is a full-body shot and they are put in the center of the magazine with their eyes looking right at the potential reader. Both of the pictures have the music artist covering part of the magazine logo as well which is effective as the reader can still see a majority of the logo so regular readers know its a MOJO magazine or a Billboard magazine. Both magazines have other stories within the magazine showing an insight as to what is in the issue.

The Katy Perry magazine places Katy right in the center of the magazine. This diverts the magazine from portraying Katy Perry as being a provocative character, but rather a strong and independent woman. The MOJO magazine does the same as David Bowie is standing in a very dominant pose which in the army is 'at ease'. These postures help to convey their personality. Katy Perry has many curves in her posture which is a very feminine look, as men tend to be portrayed as have wide shoulders and being quite stocky. The curves in Katy Perry's posture contrast with the curves in her hair making her look very soft and natural.

A big difference  in the magazine covers is that the Katy Perry Billboard magazine lacks a Pug which could have a major effect on sales of the magazine as it does not promote a special feature or once in a lifetime free item included with the magazine. The use of Pugs help to boost sales as it draws the reader in as if the magazine includes a once in a lifetime opportunity only included with this issue of the magazine.

Another bid difference between the magazines is the position of the main splash text on the cover. The MOJO magazine has the surname of David Bowie positioned right in the center of the page in order for the reader to find it easily. In contrast, the Billboard magazine has the main splash of Katy Perry on the left hand side of the cover in a bigger text size than that of the other stories involved with the magazine. The pro of having the main splash text in a significantly bigger size and font is that it draws attention to the main splash of the magazine. Human brains are very good at detecting anomalies in certain patterns. The difference in size and in font draws the attention of the eye very quickly.

02 MUSIC: MOJO COVER 2017

How representations on magazine covers reflect the social and cultural contexts in which they were produced

• Claims they are the biggest UK music magazine
• For those truly obsessed with music. 
• Claims that the MOJO magazine is the music expert
• A magazine of high values and integrity
• Claims that if your featured in one of their magazines you matter
• Carefully crafted music archive

Sex Pistols Information

The Sex Pistols were a punk rock band that were active between 1975 and 2008. They were a very loud and in-your-face band that did what they want regardless of how society portrayed them. The Sex Pistols were controversial band as they did many things that were considered socially unacceptable such as swearing on TV and slouching and singing songs about controversial things happening in the world. The group would sometimes refer to themselves as being anarchists and rebelling against the state. They brought a very harsh and rebellious mood to the music industry that before-hand had never been seen before. 

In the MOJO magazine cover they use two main colours, acid yellow and hot pink. This is because they are contrasting colours and the album 'Never mind the Bollocks' had the Sex Pistols in hot pink with an acid yellow background. This means if a Sex Pistols fan walks by the magazine, they can tell its about the Sex Pistols as the colours are quite prominent of the cover.

On the cover, above the magazine logo, there is a sneak peek of a article about the Allman Brothers. The position of it is very important as it is above the logo which means the article is important. The Allman Brothers was an American rock band formed in 1969 founded by brothers Gregg Allman and Duane Allman. Duane Allman died 1 month before his 25th birthday, however, the band carried on.

LANGUAGE IN MEDIA

PREP MUSIC VIDEO CODES AND CONVENTIONS 
To prepare for the exam, we look at the media language of music videos, such as their codes and conventions below. For prep, copy the points in colour then add your own points in black. 

1. Performance - the singer / band are seen to be singing and playing (including lip synching), 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. Avril Lavigne sings throughout the video using a mike and draws a huge crowd of fans around her when she jumps onto a car roof in the street. She sings with great passion, energy and conviction, holding the mike close to her mouth. Close-ups show her every word (lip synching is a feature of music videos.) She performs for her fans and for her 'boyfriend' the sk8er boi who features in the narrative. Screens often feature in music video and the sk8er boi is videoing Avril Lavigne as he gazes adoringly up at her. She returns his gaze as she sings about 'we rock each other's world'. The performance element creates authenticity (fans have proof of her talent) because we see her sing.
2. Star - use of close-ups, sometimes direct eye contact with audience, to build relationship with audience

          Close ups in music videos help to build a relationship. It creates the feeling of authenticity and            helps to build a relationship between hr and the viewer. She makes eye contact with the                    camera which can make the viewer feel as if though she was talking to us rather than singing.            Her cocky attitude and her clothes are made to make us feel as if though we talking to her as            if we new her personally.

1. 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.

          The editing is a series of fast cuts to new locations in time with the beat of the song. The fast cuts blend                 with the song as the hardness of the song and the metal tune are hard along with it. In the background of almost every scene there is picture of a red star; at first you don't notice it as much. It acts almost like a subliminal message. Later on in the music video she refers in the lyrics that a woman stays at home feeding a baby, the music video, however, does not aid that. It does not even show a picture, this suggests that she is happy with it as she has a group that practically worships her. It is her comparing her life of fun and rebellion and a very independent life to the static life of the other girls life which is boring in her eye. 

1. 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

At the end of the song, Avril and the supposed Sk8r boi make eye contact, as Avril sings her lyrics narrate the scenes happening right before our eyes.

1. 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 intercutting, stylish effects

When the video is cut to the beat it helps to convey the message and adds dynamic effect. In the music video it cuts to her and her 'Gang' messing around and doing mischievous things. Which helps to conjure up what her life might be like.

1. Refrain - repeated chorus, sometimes with variations

The visuals intensify as she is singing the repeated chorus. The camera angles add an intense side of the chorus. The experimental and dynamic camera angles add a very rustic effect to the video and make the viewer feel as though they are there too.

WHEATUS MISE-EN-SCENE

Mise-en-scene in the Wheatus Teenage Dirtbag music video is a very important aspect of the music video. As the video is portrayed from the not-so-popular boy's point of view. The camera would frequently cut to the stage where Wheatus was performing. This stage shows that they were performing, for you, the audience. This forms a sense of authenticity, this can create a bond between both the viewer and the artist. This can therefore help the artist gain fans as the viewers will support them because of the bond created by the video.

Mise-en-scene helps to distinguish the characters from one another, the 'Nerd' wears peculiar clothing that might not be considered 'cool' by the other kids at the school. This makes the viewer create emotional feelings of sympathy and dis-likeness between characters. This aids the story the song is trying to tell.

CUFFS EDITING

The editing used in the racist man's house is most commonly slow motion, this effect shows us the situation in the perspective of what is happening in Jake's mind. It is effective as we see thing from Jake's POV which can cause empathy from the viewer as Jake has been plunged into this difficult situation with next to no experience.

In the next scene the edits used is shot reverse shot, between the DI and the Mother of an abducted child. As the conversation develops the DI can't make eye contact with the woman. This subtle action which is enhanced by this form off editing. The last frame of the DI when he is re watching the video sent by the abductor is held to show his reaction towards finding out the location of the girl and the possible recapture of her, safely. When the DI leaves to find the location, the camera zooms into the piece of paper subtly hidden behind the man to show us the next place we will be.

In the training session there are many transitions used called cross fades. The effect this has is that it shows that time has passed from each scene to the next. It also reflects the dedication to the training and job that the PC's have. After Jake tires himself out, a lawyer approaches him and puts his private business card in the elastic of his trousers, this is a very seductive thing to do which implies the offer of a date. We then jump a scene of the Vickers family together making food, it seeming idealistic and lovely. This in contrast with DC Jo Moffat living her single life.

Mise-En-Scéne CUFFS

In one of the opening scenes, we get a view of the HQ of the Brighton Police Force. There is a big window that gazes out to the Brighton pier. The atmosphere is very professional as the police officers are looking very professional, we can tell this because it is not necessarily something they would wear all the time

Later on in the scene, we get to see the room of a drug addict. The room is very important in assisting the situation that the man is in. It is very messy, which shows he is living a very unorganized life. This could suggest that there is something his life interrupting it or causing havoc within it. The room gives the vibe of drug addiction and the sad problematic life that comes with it.

In the next scene, we go to a corner-shop and the inside life of an Indian boy. He is wearing a clean, ironed shirt. Whilst looking at the available products, a racist man enters the shop. His attire is a lot more threatening, wearing a buttoned/checked shirts and his hairstyle look very sketchy. His friends also wear similar attire to the 'ring leader' and look equally as threatening. The attack itself is not shown, however the dialogue shown in the background and the blood slowly trickling from the wound show that the ring leader has done something bad. 

CAMERA WORK ON CUFFS

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

Focus pull from Ryan onto Jake when he said 'we dont care what parents do' Jake's Dad is the superintendent. Subtly indicating that Ryan doesn't care that Jakes father does and that he is the superintendent. Reaction shot straight after from the rest of the PC's afterwards. This shows us as to what the characters are feeling after each small set of dialogue. These shots help with the argument and the effect of the statements within

There is a Slow zoom that changes into a close up shot into Jo's face in order to convey her emotions like, pain, embarrassment and realisation of the rejection that she has just received. This allows us to see her love towards the superintendent and the shock that he doesn't feel the same way. These camera shots assist with the telling of the story and the way the episode will go.