media blog course work

1)   Music Video - introduction and factsheet questions 2) Music Video theory and This Is America analysis 3)  Common -  Letter to the Free  context and analysis 4) Michael Jackson -  Billie Jean  context, analysis and MM article

1) How does the  This Is America  video meet the key conventions of a music video? There is a clear creative concept, as well as a message trying to be portrayed. On top of this, the artist is dancing; showing a clear performance, is lipsyncing,  2) What comment is the video making on American culture, racism and gun violence? This video is perhaps commenting on how it can go unnoticed by the mass media, perhaps to hide it away from the masses, this is clear through the constant references throughout the video as well as sneaky activies in the background of some shots. This video could also perhaps be saying that gun violence and racism is seen as something which isn't dealt with as seriously, almost as if it is a secondary target to eliminate, almost like how it is the secondary subject in the frames of different shots, by which i mean that we notice Gambino dancing first, rather than the terrors of American Culture behind him. 3) Write an analysis of the video applyin...

Social and cultural context Read this  Billboard interview where Common talks about  Letter to the Free , political hip hop and contemporary American society. Use the article and the notes we have made in lessons (also available above) to answer the following questions on the social, cultural and genre contexts for  Letter to the Free . 1) What other projects has Common been involved in over recent years? He performed a longer version of Letter to the Free at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival as well as make new music such as "The people" and "The Light". 2)  What is the 13th Amendment of the American Constitution? The amendment stated that slavery was abolished as well as involuntary servitude, expect in cases where a person has committed a crime. 3) What were the Black Codes? The Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states in 1865 and 1866 in the United States after the American Civil War with the intent and the effect of restricting African Americ...

1) What was the budget for  Billie Jean ? How did this compare with later Michael Jackson videos? The budget for "Billie Jean" was 300,000 dollars 2) Why was the video rejected by MTV? Billie Jean was rejected by MTV as it was argued that it didn't suit their demographic of middle class America. 3) Applying Goodwin's theory of music video, how does  Billie Jean  reflect the genre characteristics of pop music video? Goodwins's Genre theory suggested that media products appeal to audiences through repetition and difference. Billie Jean accomplishes the repetition element of this through the following conventions: lip synching, dance routine.performance, expensive/high fashion wardrobe and lyrics linking to the video. 4) How do the visuals reflect the lyrics in  Billie Jean ? Even though there isn't a direct reference, Billie Jean is referenced throughout the song, as a character who is claiming that MJ got her pregnant. A clear reference between visuals and l...