Codes and Conventions of Rock Music

Codes and Conventions of Rock Music

                           Codes and Conventions of Rock Music

Conventions:

Piercings

Dark clothing

Vests/jackets

Boots

Instruments (seems obvious, but many other genres don’t have actual instruments in their performance videos such as electric, dubstep rap)

Dark backdrops

Poor/low lighting

Coloured hair

Codes and Conventions of Music Videos

                    Codes and Conventions of Music Videos

Music videos are commonplace among mainstream music nowadays, and have outright flooded the industry, no matter what genre you’re looking at, and there are things that pretty much all of them have in common, or that make them identifiable as a music video. These are their conventions. Conventions of music videos are basically aspects, features or creative choices that allow people to recognise it as a music video, Things that music videos have in common, or are expected to have in common. Modern music videos, generally, have two purposes: promote the artist, and get people interested in the song, simultaneously getting people interested in the artist. It’s all about artist promotion in the modern music industry, and this is done through either narrative or performance.

The performance aspect is what we see here,  the band/artist performing the song together, playing the instruments, singing in synch to the song,  that’s what a performance based music video is the artist performs. Of course if they were all to perform in the same way, music videos would get boring very quickly. So everyone tries to do something a little different to their predecessors. It’s not commonplace to get a video that’s purely performance in the rock genre nowadays, with the most recent one being Feel Invincible by Skillet. In the mainstream however, the majority of the videos are

The narrative aspect of music videos is exactly that, a music video with a narrative. It tells a story, like with this video for I Apologise by Five Finger Death Punch, we see the sorrowful wandering of a man through a graveyard of his icons and all the legends of rock, and Serpents by Neck Deep which shows us how this man is having a very hard time with his ex, likening her to some form of evil supernatural creature. (I assume). Ashes of Eden by Breaking Benjamin enlightens us with a tragic extra-terrestrial story about two alien beings lost to earth’s gravity, and Little White Lies by Deaf Havana gives us a proper 80s lads night out after a good game of footy. Music videos with a narrative can still have the artist(s) moving their lips in synch with the song, even if it doesn’t really fit with the diegesis or the video itself, such as in this video for Enemies by Shinedown. The plot is basically them in a band meeting trying to make progress, but they all end up beating the piss out of each other instead. And all throughout, they move their lips to the words, even though if often doesn’t make much sense. This is actually the case with most of the videos I just mentioned, as is practically a convention of music videos.

 But the most common type of music videos is ones that intersperse both narrative and performance. The ones that flick back and forth from telling a story, and showing how awesome the band are and how well they can play in an attempt to convince the viewer to support them. In fact, some of the aforementioned music videos are a mixture of narrative and performance based, such as in Serpents, we see the performance of the band with some unique animation to complement.

But ultimately, the primary purpose of any music video is to draw attention to the artist, and to promote their song. And if they can succeed in doing that by collating an interesting narrative, stellar performance or combination of both, then that’s a plus for them and their record label. 

Analysis-Starset-Monster

This is my LIIAR analysis of Starset's Monster

Video Analysis

Lyrical Analysis

"Monster"

Under the knife I surrendered
The innocence yours to consume
You cut it away
And you filled me up with hate
Into the silence you sent me
Into the fire consumed
You thought I'd forget
But it's always in my head

You're the pulse in my veins
You're the war that I wage
Can you change me?
Can you change me?
You're the love that I hate
You're the drug that I take
Will you cage me?
Will you cage me?
You're the pulse in my veins
You're the war that I wage
Can you change me?
Can you change me?
From the monster you made me?
The monster you made me?

This is the world you've created
The product of what I've become
My soul and my youth
Seems it's all for you to use
If I could take back the moment
I let you get under my skin
Relent or resist?
Seems the monster always wins

You're the pulse in my veins
You're the war that I wage
Can you change me?
Can you change me?
You're the love that I hate
You're the drug that I take
Will you cage me?
Will you cage me?
You're the pulse in my veins
You're the war that I wage
Can you change me?
Can you change me?
From the monster you made me?
The monster you made me?

My heart's an artifice, a decoy soul
I'll lift you up and then I'll let you go
I've made an art of digging shallow holes
I drop the darkness in and watch it grow
My heart's an artifice, a decoy soul
Who knew the emptiness could be so cold?
I've lost the parts of me that make me whole
I am the darkness
I'm a monster

You're the pulse in my veins
You're the war that I wage
Can you change me?
Can you change me?
You're the love that I hate
You're the drug that I take
Will you cage me?
Will you cage me?
You're the pulse in my veins
You're the war that I wage
Can you change me?
Can you change me?
From the monster you made me?
The monster you made me?
The monster you made me?

The monster you made me?

Analysis-Breaking Benjamin-Ashes of Eden

Here is my analysis of Breaking Benjamin's Ashes of Eden music video

Video Analysis 

Lyrical Analysis

"Ashes Of Eden"

Will the faithful be rewarded

When we come to the end

Will I miss the final warning

From the lie that I have lived

Is there anybody calling

I can see the soul within

And I am not worthy

I am not worthy of this

Are you with me after all

Why can't I hear you

Are you with me through it all

Then why can't I feel you

Stay with me, don't let me go

Because there's nothing left at all

Stay with me, don't let me go

Until the Ashes of Eden fall

Will the darkness fall upon me

When the air is growing thin

Will the light begin to pull me

To its everlasting will

I can hear the voices haunting

There is nothing left to fear

And I am still calling

I am still calling to you

Are you with me after all

Why can't I hear you

Are you with me through it all

Then why can't I feel you

Stay with me, don't let me go

Because there's nothing left at all

Stay with me, don't let me go

Until the Ashes of Eden fall

Don't let go

Why can't I hear you

Stay with me, don't let me go

Because there's nothing left at all

Stay with me, don't let me go

Until the Ashes of Eden fall

Heaven above me, take my hand (Stay with me, don't let me go)

Shine until there's nothing left but you

Heaven above me, take my hand (Stay with me, don't let me go)

Shine until there's nothing left but you

Analysis- Five Finger Death Punch-I Apologise

The first music video I will be analysing is 'I Apologise' by Five Finger Death Punch

Video Analysis

Lyrical Analysis 

"I Apologize"

One day the shadows will surround me
Someday the days will come to end
Sometime I’ll have to face the real me
Somehow I’ll have to learn to bend
And now I see clearly

All these times I simply stepped aside
I watched but never really listened
As the whole world passed me by
All this time I watched from the outside
Never understood what was wrong or what was right
I apologize…

One day I’ll face the Hell inside me
Someday I’ll accept what I have done
Sometime I’ll leave the past behind me
For now I accept who I’ve become
And now I see clearly

All these times I simply stepped aside
I watched but never really listened
As the whole world passed me by
All this time I watched from the outside
Never understood what was wrong or what was right
I apologize…

One day the shadows will surround me

All these times I simply stepped aside
I watched but never really listened
As the whole world passed me by
All this time I watched from the outside
Never understood what was wrong or what was right
I apologize…

LIIAR Analysis

But first, what is LIIAR analysis?

(Media) Language- The aspects of the cinematography, mise en scene, lighting choices etc of a music video that allow the text to convey meaning to the audience and for a viewer to infer meaning from the text (in this case, a music video). Practically anything can be inferred as media language, for example: a yellow cab in a traffic jam can be correlated to New York to add realism to a video set in New York.

Ideology- The beliefs and opinions that are inserted into the media text and are attempted to be conveyed to the consumer. The beliefs of the individuals involved within a media text can be different from the overall message and ideology conveyed by the media text.

Institution-

Audience- The people who will be consuming the media. Content is always catered towards these individuals, 

Representation-What the people, setting, mise-en-scene, design choices etc represent in terms of genre.

Codes and Conventions of Music Videos- Analysis of Music Videos

The music videos I have selected for my LIIAR analysis are as follows. I'll be analysing each of the four videos in its own separate post on my blog.

Five Finger Death Punch-I apologize

Breaking Benjamin-Ashed of Eden

Starset-Monster

I Previal-Scars

Originally I planned to present my analysis of these videos in the form of a Prezi. However after speaking to my teacher about my previous experience with editing software, I decided to type up my analysis instead. I will still leave the unfinished prezi on my blog as evidence that this was my initial chosen method.





No matter my chosen method, I plan to use LIIAR analysis to deconstruct each of the three music videos.

Previous Editing Software Experience

                       Previous Editing Software Experience

                                                            Video:

Script:

So about six months ago, just prior to taking my AS Media exam, I purchased an editing software package, by the name of Adobe Elements 14. I had become familiar with using photo editing software, Adobe Photoshop, in order to complete my AS coursework,  and I knew that I would also have to become proficient with video editing software in order to create my music video in the second year. I felt as though buying this bundle would allow me to get a head start, as I wouldn’t be restricted by having to use only the Wyke computers that have Premiere installed to complete work on my music video and drafts.

So after owning the software for a few months and getting used to all of the features, I realised that it had more than enough of what the Pro version has for me to work with it easily and proficiently. All of the basics, tonnes of effects and ways to edit, options to add multiple audio tracks, volume adjustments, clip opacity, black and white, colour effects, freeze frame and so much more. But what got me thinking was this-the voice option. At this point I’d used the software only for recreational purposes, hobbies, such as Dragon Ball AMVs, [Show Ashes of Eden snippet] and ‘Best-Of’ compilations of some of my favourite YouTubers [Show AlChestBreach Compilation snippet]. But I realised then that not only could I use this software to give me a one-up on knowing what to do when it comes to editing my music video in the future, but I could use it to really make my coursework stand out.

Most people, when it comes to their coursework, just present everything in a Prezi, including me initially. And while that is definitely an effective way of presenting the information, it gets more than a little tedious after creating so many of them for each individual aspect of your blog. I feel as though presenting my ideas, analysis, information etc in the form of a video is a much more effective way of presenting my work, and if I do it right it should be much more…entertaining. And if I remember right, the second year coursework, or at least certain aspects of it, “should be entertaining” which is what I attempted, and hopefully succeeded in doing here.

And not only is this method different, it allows me to talk without running the risk of turning into a human sub-woofer, as I can edit the voice-over to my liking, meaning no stammer interruptions, no unintentional mouth dubstep. I think this was a little less serious than the ones that I’ll be creating for my actual coursework, purely because I wanted it to act as an introduction to the method I plan to use to outlay work on my blog. Future ones will be more informative, and full of useful information, and the scripts created for each of these will be posted alongside their respective videos. But I enjoy comedy and think humour if implemented correctly could really make these videos better, so who knows-maybe I’ll make them just as lax. Besides, why should I be overly serious?

Now, because my coursework is centred around the creation of a music video, I thought it fitting to end these videos with some kind of musical outro. Something short, and relevant to what I’m doing. So I just thought, to show that I’m working the software out the more that I use it, I’d put a snippet of a song at the end of each video, because I feel as though for one it shows initiative to put in extra effort, and that I’m more than familiar with how adobe video editing software works at this point, which is always good, and three, it opens up an opportunity for any viewer to become a fan of what I deem as ‘good’ music.

Most of them will probably be from Rock or Alternative Rock genres, but more specifically…these guys…so if you enjoy any of the songs I play at the end of these, then fantastic, we should hang out or something. Here’s my phone number. [Picture of digits 1-11 in ascending order and text stating that this is not my actual phone number] If you enjoy all of them? Then I’ll give you the money for the crate of an alcoholic beverage of your choice that you pick up on your way to this address. [Picture humorous and obviously fake house address with text stating that this is not my actual address] Come on down, we’ll play some Battlefield 1 or something. [Show clip of Battlefield 1 Behemoth getting murked and stuck on a plane, and going absolutely bats**t in the sky]

So now the only thing left to do is decide on a suitable outro song. I mean, if you’re going to be watching every single one of these videos, then it doesn’t really matter what song choices I make, because you’ll be listening to them all anyway, and you can pretty much guarantee at least one of them is going to get Stuck In Your Head. 

Coursework Completion Plan

In preparation for getting to work on my coursework, I created a plan for completing my coursework, with each heading being the next subject of the coursework that I plan to work on.

This is the first version of the basic plan that I created, with just the different sections that I plan to work on being included. Later on, after looking at the coursework checklist provided, I made general changes to it and added the basics of what I plan to do to complete each task.

To add to this plan, in the creation of my music video and ancillary texts I plan to use the Windows 10 screen recorder to make a video of the creation process, dramatically increasing its speed and adding a music track over it in post. 

Coursework Brief

Advanced Portfolio Brief Specifications

Here is the coursework outline/brief provided to me by the media department.

(The exam board require you to create your own “identity” for your artist or performer.

You can use the title of the track but you must produce a new original branding for the artist or band. This must be constructed to reflect the genre and appeal of the performer.

Therefore if your song is by Beyonce then you can’t use the name Beyonce or images of her on your DVD/CD covers or any of your production pieces. You can still use the name of the track.)

1. A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with two of the following three options:

•a website homepage for the band;

•

•a cover for its release as part of a digipak (CD/DVD package)

•

•a magazine advertisement for the digipak (CD/DVD package)

2. A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with two of the following three options:

•a website homepage for the film;

•a film magazine front cover, featuring the film;

•a poster for the film. 

3. A promotion package for a new soap opera, to include a TV trailer, together with two of the following three options:

•a listings magazine front cover featuring the new soap;

•

•two hyperlinked webpages (with video extract) for the soap’s website;

•

•a poster for the soap.

4. An extract from a new documentary TV programme, lasting approximately five minutes, together with two of the following three options:

•a radio trailer for the documentary;

•

•a double-page spread from a listings magazine focused on the documentary;

•

•a newspaper advertisement for the documentary.

5. A website for a new TV channel (to include a minimum of three hyperlinked pages with original images, audio and video extract), together with two of the following three options:

•a newspaper advertisement for the channel;

•

•

•a double page spread for a listings magazine, focused on the channel’s launch;

•

•an animated ident sequence for the channel. 

6. An advertising package for a new product or service, to include two TV advertisements, together with two of the following three options:

•a radio advertisement;

•

•a TV programme sponsorship sequence;

•

•a web pop-up.

 7. A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following three options:

•a poster for the film;

•

•a radio trailer for the film;

•a film magazine review page featuring the film. 

I have chosen Brief 1 to complete for my coursework and opted to create a music video and a CD package. I plan to create a magazine advertisement and a digipak as my two ancillery texts. 

A2 Coursework Checklist

A2 MEDIA STUDIES

Coursework Checklist

I have been provided with a guideline for what to include for my coursework and for when each aspect should be completed by.

Task to post		Deadline
Create new A2 Advanced Portfolio Blog. Post Coursework Brief	E-Mail address to TEA Tim.anderson@wyke.ac.uk	19/9/16
Codes and conventions of Genre (Music, Film, Doc)	With embedded Video examples	29/9/16
Codes and conventions of chosen form.	Illustrate with annotated embedded examples, with LIIAR analysis	29/9/16
History of chosen form	Research and present as Powerpoint, EMaze, Slideshare, Prezi – any way you feel would be interesting. MUST include embedded videos to illustrate.	3/10/16
Choose song and post, (Trailer / short film / Doc that has influenced your ideas)	Textual Analysis	7/10/16
Type up Theory class work (Language, Genre, Representation, Audience, Narrative)	Illustrate theory work with video clips that display the theory in practice.	7/10/16
Create an Identity for your Artist, Band	Visual examples of costume, font styles for the logo, anything you can think of that helps create an image, an unique identity for your artist.	7/10/16
Synopsis	200 words max. Brief outline of your video plan.	7/10/16
Initial ideas on cinematography / Mise-en-scene	Include visual examples of influential media texts.	21/10/16
Production plan	Outline how you intend to proceed with your production	21/10/16
Define your Audience	Psychographics / Demographics Mood board Survey Monkey	21/10/16
Lyrics (music video) with analysis, Script of a film, trailer with analysis of structure.	Discuss meaning and analyse how you can create visuals using the text as a starting point	21/10/16
Storyboard /Script	Hand drawn or IT Designed	31/10/16
Animatic	Storyboard with song. Edited on a software programme (adobe, movie maker,)	11/11/16
Casting, Mise-en-scene, Props, Location, Costumes, Cast List	All with photographs or video evidence	11/11/16
Health and safety Assessment	Grid – see example	11/11/16
Test shots / Website Draft designs		18/11/16
Shoot video material / Create graphics / Provide soundtrack		25/11/16
Prepare 1st edit		5/12/16
Obtain audience feedback on your first edit	Video, written, Facebook – collate to present on your blog	6th Jan 2017
Codes and conventions of ancillary texts.	With examples and analysis	13 Jan 2017
Draft ancillary texts		30th Jan 2017
Present second edit based on feedback		27th Feb 2017
Revised ancillary texts		17 Feb 2017
Begin Evaluation		6/3/17
Submit Advanced portfolio		7th April 2017