Savannah's A-Level Media Blog - Course Work

  Music Video: Common - Letter to the Free Social and cultural context Common has been involved in a project with  John Legend in which these two successful artists wrote  Glory  as the soundtrack for  Selma. Selma was a  2014 film portraying the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement The 13th Amendment of the American Constitution was passed on January 31 1865 and it was to abolish slavery in the United States and provides that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in the US. The Black Codes were laws in the Southern states that had an intent of restricting African American's freedom to   ensure their availability as a cheap labour force after slavery was abolished during the Civil War People suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect of American culture 150 years after it was abolished by the 13th Amendment. This is because a lot of sacrifices were made to reach that point. Countl...

  Music Video theory - Childish Gambino blog task Childish Gambino, the musical stage name of writer and performer Donald Glover, released an incredible critique of American culture and Donald Trump with  This Is America  in 2018. The music video is a satirical comment on American culture, racism and gun violence. Racking up 10m views in the first 24 hours, it now stands at over half a billion views and has been dubbed ‘genius’ and ‘a masterpiece’.  Childish Gambino's This is America music video meets the key conventions of a music video. The artist is seen lipsyncing to the song, along with this the artist and other individuals featured in the video are dancing to the rhythm of the song. In addition to this, a narrative is shown through the video with the supplementary use of props and movements. This video was used as an aim to perpetuate the real and deep issues that lie within America. Topics such as racism and gun violence are addressed in this music video....

  Music Video introduction blog task The purpose of a music video is to sell products like  the song featured in the video. The digital age has changed the production and distribution of music videos. Music videos can be viewed on multiple devices and streaming services. Youtube, Spotify and Apple Music are examples of this. Vevo is an American multinational video hosting service. There are three major record labels behind VEVO;   Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI. Key conventions of a music video:  Narrative  Movements to complement the rhythm of the song: Actors, Camerawork or Editing  Visual effects  Intertextuality  Narrative can be used in a music video to add a deeper meaning to the song or create a storyline for the viewers to follow. An example of this is Into You by Ariana Grande.  An example given in the factsheet for intertextuality is 'All the small things' (Blink 192) using references from other ma...

The impact of new/digital media on TV: blog task The industry concept in A level media refers to companies that create and distribute media texts  standard practise of media production and regulatory/legal work frames in which the companies operate. David Hesmondhalgh argues that there has been a shift in cultural production in terms of creative industries since the 1980s Hesmondhalgh's points regarding change in cultural industries: There has been an increase in media corporations owning companies in different sectors of the industry Globalisation leads to media texts circulating more easily across borders and reduces the North American dominance Niche audiences are increasingly targeted. Technical convergence is the process of making media digital. An example of this is being able to read the newspaper online.  Technology companies are challenging traditional broudcasters in the TV industry by producing their own media. An example of this is streaming services, like Netflix,...

  The rise of foreign-language TV: Blog tasks Independent: British viewers can't get enough of foreign-language dramas The article suggests that traditional audiences that indulged in subtitled dramas were considered as dull and odd Walter luzzolino suggests that the key appeal of his 'Walter Presents' shows is the fact that they are so culturally diverse, views get to experience and embrace different cultures.  The popularity of having subtitles comes from the fact that the viewer has to be more focused on the screen. In a multi-screen age, it is easy for people to focus on their phones rather than the show. Subtitles help combat that.  information & Surveillance, personal identity and diversion are some audience pleasures that are given to viewers when watching foreign TV drama. Television companies are increasingly using audiences to inform the production process. They do this through social media and websites dedicated to the TV drama  Film School Reject...

  Postmodernism & Deutschland 83: blog task The distinction between culture and society is shown within the examples: Borat and Bruno X factor Andy Warhols Pop Art The rise of celebrities through reality TV Fredric Jameson's idea of historical deafness is the theory that as mediation increases, the culture loses the sense of historical context. This idea can be applied to Deutschland 83 where some historical information was hidden behind some fictional aspects of the show. The examples provided for the idea of 'style over substance' are celebrities with no talent, such as  Paris Hilton and John Edwards. Another example is the influence on branding products. Music with artistic intent is often seen in advertising, this is an example of the breakdown of the distinction between art and popular culture. This is seen in Deutschland 83 when sweet dreams are made of these is played throughout the supermarket. Bricolage refers to the process of adapting and juxtaposing old an...