Thursday, 11 June 2015

What do audiences 'get' out of watching music videos?

The effects model (1950s) suggested that media is harmful to the audiences and that media can make audiences aggressive, rebellious, and can change people. It also suggested that audiences are passive and allow the media to manipulate their personalities.

Blumler, Lazerfeld and Katz contradicted this theory by saying that audiences to media are active and take what they want from the media to fulfill different desires. 

What do audiences get out of music videos?
  • Diversion = and escapism from mundane realism. They will imagine a more exciting lifestyle by using media figures lifestyles which are presented to them.
  • Personal relationships = felling a friendship with the characters within a text. may be from a familiar setting, direct address, privileged access, or an idea of the personalities of the star.

1. OG Maco - "U Guessed It"
The hand held camera movement, the direct address in this music video in some sections creates the personal relationship between the audience and the characters. The setting of them all being crowed into a lift gives the idea that the audience are getting a preview into the backstage, privileged access tot he life of the stars

The diversion to the fun, party lifestyle which the characters are taking part in; will intrigue and audience. 
The showing of the security guards and the characters when doing what they want gives the illusion of their authority above the rules and by having this famous, party lifestyle and that they are above the laws. The up close shot with the character leaning into the camera gives off the impression that he is aggressive and authoritarian.
The electric colours shows a psychedelic drug reference which again refers to an authority above law. This gives the audience an insight to lifestyle of the artists. 



2. Disclosure - "Grab Her"
The music video uses surrealism within a mundane environment which makes it visually intriguing.It is mocking the corporate lifestyle by using the metaphor of how workers in those environments make it impossible to do their jobs but they just have to carry on and not complain which is why the video is comical.  It makes the audience wonder how they made it, it is technically and creatively innovative. The personal identity aspect is what relates the audience most to this music video as there is a shared value between the audience and characters within the video.
The vanishing point within the image gives the images a balance and a focus point around the struggle the employee is having in the office with the surreal problems. it gives the clip comedy because the focus on the problem is unrealistic in a boring work environment which contrasts to what is going on in the shot. 
The image above shows a comedic impression of how people feel about people in authority to them. It makes the video funny and want to watch it. 
The attention being directed to wards the males shows that he is out of place and an unfamiliar character in the environment which would usually be expected. 

3. Hyuna - "Red"

 The sexually provocative aspect of this music video by having the references of the bananas, lipstick, attract a straight teen male audience and to young females wanting to diverge into that body image, styling and the fashion of the artist.
 The dismemberment shots of the breasts, bum and crotch objectify her as a female and make her more of a sexual object which is why males would be more attracted to this music video.  the body language of the artist is provocative and sexual which relates to the music itself and sells the product
 The group shot shows the desired party lifestyle, with the leading female in the middle of the shot with a spot light on her. the colour within the shots is mainly pinks reds and white. These are stereo typically female colours which adheres to the stereotype of females.  


The females black PVC outfit is a sexual reference which is adhering to the submissive personality of females however she is onto of the cage showing her dominance within the sequence which subverts her stereotype that she is creating for herself. 
The shot above of the female just surrounded by lips just highlights that females are being portrayed as purely looks and provocative.

4. Beyonce - "Pretty Hurts"

This shot shows all the people backstage which gives the impression that Beyonce, even though she is a star, she is like everyone else and puts in effort to look the way she does which is how many people aspire to look like. the backstage image gives the aspects of seeing behind the scenes like it is privileged access. 
 The isolation among her trophies suggests that the pageant girl lifestyle is lonely and not that great when you get there. this shows to the audience that even though they aspire tot look like her and everything it inst all that great when you get there. It makes it able to the audience because it shows that even if you are famous you feel isolated like normal people.
 The image of the judges looking at her and scoring her shows that even she feels judged by people and it is highlighting that everyone has insecurities that they may feel judged about. This will make her target audience of teenage females want to watch this music videos to feel better about themselves that someone as talented as Beyonce has insecurities that they are judged on.
 the image of Beyonce being measured and then dismissed again highlights the judgmental society which we live in where there are actual measurements that are considered "pretty" and again relates back tot he audience as they will feel an empathetic connection between themselves and the star which makes them feel better about themselves which is what they get out of the video.
 
The dotted line around her face shows that she is resorting to plastic sugery to fit ina nd be considered pretty by others around her. this shows the extremes people are willing to go to, to fit into society.
The shot at the end of her alone in the shot again reiterates her isolation within society. which shows that even with all the drastic measures to fit in, she still feels the same. this shows that the audience should be embracing their looks because however hard they try, they should not try and look like everyone else just to fit in or be accepted. 






















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