Research - Censorship and Music Videos

Censorship and Music Videos

What is censorship?

Censorship is the act of altering words, statements or visuals in order to conform with and abide by the rules and laws of society. The impact this has upon the audience is that artists who appeal to younger audiences and include obscene nature that shouldn't be viewed will now be protected. This will help to prevent younger audiences from mimicking the acts of their favourite artists as this known to be very common. Also, the use of censorship will help keep audiences safe as they will not be trying to imitate their artists, which if done could cause harm or damage to themselves or others. 

Explicit Content vs. Explicit Lyrics

It is very easy to get the both of these mixed up or to think that they mean the same thing however what they actually represent are very different. 

-Explicit Content: This is what the audience see, meaning if something harmful or derogatory is shown is it deemed as explicit content.

 

-Explicit Lyrics: This, however, is what the audience hear. This means that if the words/lyrics that the artist uses are offensive they are notified as explicit lyrics. 

What things get censored?

-Sex and Nudity

This is from 'Maroon 5 - This Love'. Here we are shown the lead singer interacting with this female actress. This is deemed as Sex and Nudity within a music video and did cause the video some heat when it was first released. This was due to the vast audience the band had so including scenes such as this would be deemed as explicit content. 



-Language

This is from 'Eminem - Stan ft. Dido. In this particular scene we hear Eminem speak on trapping his pregnant girlfriend in the back of his trunk and planning to inflict harm on himself as well as her as they speed down a wet road. Offensive language is used in this so it had to be 'blanked' out for audience safety. Eminem has many younger fans so hearing this type of language would be un-fit for this viewers. 

-Politics

This is from 'Kanye West - Diamonds From Sierra Leone'. In this music video the scandal within the blood diamonds story which is known worldwide is spoken upon by Kanye West. This music video involves the children that are slaved to find these diamonds in the mines and also the families that are killed because of the diamonds. Influential artists such as Kanye himself tend to speak a lot on their moral views of society and also politics. This is to help spread awareness of what is going on and due to his stardom within the music business he will be able to broadcast this further than most can through the use of synergy. 

Lyrics and Radio Censorship

There are techniques that are used within radio editing which help to censor the offensiveness within music videos for example: 

-Repeating: Having the last word said twice instead of the censored word

-Blanking: The entire word is not heard but music is still heard

-Disc Scratching: Using a scratched sound of a DJ to cover the word

-Bleeping: Putting a "bleep" sound over the word

Cut Or Banned?

I will explain the difference between when something is cut and when something is banned within a music video as this can sometimes be lost and misunderstood. 

-Cut: 

When a music video is edited or lyrics beeped out to make it appropriate for viewing and listening.

-Banned:

When a music video or lyrics is taken away from viewing "completely" due to indecent, harmful or offensive material.

Categorising Audiences

Advantages

-It prevents the public display of disrespect to any particular individual or community

-It promotes political corrections

-Children are prevented from learning things that can harm them and others

-It shields the morals of society 

-It restrains vulgarity and obscenity 

-The abundance of violence in music videos is restricted by it

Disadvantages 

-Freedom of speech

-It prevents ideas from flowing freely 

-Censorship in music videos may compromise their entertainment value

-Creativity is restricted 

-It has no place in a democratic nation

-People have the right to hear

Personally in my own opinion i agree with the right to censor things that artists put out in their music videos which can be seen as harmful, offensive or vulgar. This is not to shut down artists creativity but to allow the audience to enjoy their favourite artists without any harm done towards them. This is because it is very easy to cause a ruckus over an an artist using the word 'faggot' or calling a female a 'bitch'. Audiences will react instantly and bring hate over what this artist has allowed to be shown . This is why censorship is to be supported. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is necessary to consider the effects censorship has on audiences. This is due to the help and security if offers us which we are sometimes blind to see. I am planning to film a music video to ' PARTYNEXTDOOR - RECOGNIZE ft. Drake'. The way i will think about by audience's safety is that i have made sure the song will not have any explicit lyrics or content. It will be strictly fun and enjoyable to film and for the audiences viewing pleasure.  

Research - Audience Identification

Audience Identification

What are audiences?

Audiences are the target markets media products are deemed for. A target market are a set type of people who your media product is meant to be catered for. All media texts are made with a target audience in mind. With all media products it is always important to ask questions such as; " Does it have an audience?" If not, then there is no logical need to go further.
Audience research is essential in any media production; questionnaires, focus groups and comparisons to existing media texts. 

How might some audiences be categorised?

Some audiences may be catergorised into certain aspects such as:

1. Income brackets/ status
2. Age 
3. Gender 
4. Race
5. Location

This information is used alongside other information to help develop audience categories. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of categorising audiences

Advantages:

-You have an idea of what people are interested in

-You can make your content suit what the audience are interested in

-You know what sort of products they would buy, based on how much money they have to spend

-Use the information to encourage companies to advertise on your radio station

Disadvantages:

-It doesn't consider that people are different, despite having a similar job

-It doesn't consider people's interests, just their income and status

Different genres have different audiences

One Direction (1D)



Genre: Teen Pop 
Audience: Young girls 15 and under



Slaughterhouse




Genre: Hip Hop 
Audience: Teenage Boys and older





Audience Reactions

Audience reaction in relation to Goodwin, Dyer and Hebdige..

Goodwin - audience expectations

These are the advance ideas an audience may have about a text. This particularly applies to genre pieces. Don't forget that producers often play with or deliberately shatter audience expectations. 

Dyer - audience identification

This is is the way in which audiences feel themselves connected to a particular music video/artist, in that they feel it directly expresses their attitude or lifestyle. 

Hebdige - audience engagement

This describes how an audience interacts with the music video. Different people react in different ways to the same text. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, from this post i have learnt very valuable information on why knowing who your audience is can be of great importance. This information has helped me to discover who my audience will be when developing ideas for my own media product. This is because, without a clear audience a media product will not be successful. 

This is why my audience will be mixed genre teenagers and young adults who enjoy the lavish lifestyle of being out at night and having fun until the morning doing crazy things and just being surrounded by great people. 

Planning - Initial Ideas

Initial Ideas

IDEA - Darhyl Matias

Artist: Mack Wilds

Song: Remember The Time

Video Structure: Performance and Narrative Based

Video Content: I will have a person in their room thinking about things back in his past with some when he is thinking of the memories for example: having coffee, playing in the arcade, watching TV, playing PS3 etc. With this it will flick from the person performing and the memories, and then some of the memories will be linked with the lyrics.

Advantages: 

-Simple to film as the lyrics give some ideas I would use in the video

- It's quite a slow song but yet has some tempo as well, which could be great to film and edit as we can do a lot in the editing with it. 

Disadvantages: 

-Might be heard to lip sync

-Trying to have good actors to play in the video

Genre: R&B

Characters: Male (performer) & female (actor)

MES:

-Location: Coffee shops, home, shopping, spending time together

-Costume: Casual, high fashion, lazy etc. 

IDEA - Chloe Boylan

Song: They Don't Need To Understand

Artist: Andy Biersack

Genre: Alternative/Soft Rock

Narrative: One single person performing the song walking outside at night (Camden maybe?) while in other parts they perform in front of a black wall and videos of them growing on will be played. Also scenes of them being rejected from music labels and concert venues will be included. Then at the end, it will show them performing on stage to show the progress and that they didn't give up and didn't listen to people who put them down. This is relevant to this genre because the music videos normally have a meaning and they will relate to the lyrics.

Characters: One main character (other people may need to be used in order to play the younger versions of this character). 

Iconography: Guitars, microphones and microphone stands.

Costume: Casual clothing, perhaps dark in colour to represent how hard their life has been. 

Lighting: Low key. This  will represent the night theme. I have chosen this because the night tend to be when people go for a walk and think about things. In this case, the character is reminiscing on the hard times in their life but being grateful because of what they achieved. 

Location: Street at night and a dark room where videos can be projected. 

Editing: The editing will be quite slow paced in order for the audience to capture the emotional feel of the song, visuals and lyrics. 

IDEA - Sean Mutiso

Artist: PARTYNEXTDOOR

Song: Recognize ft. Drake

Genre: PR&B (alternative R&B)

Narrative: The narrative will display the London night life featuring a group of friends who enjoy partying, drinking, smoking and listening to great music. The entire video will be filmed in low-key lighting to connote the mysteriousness of the night. The video will highlight the thrills London has to offer to those who are ready for it.

Narrative Structure: The structure I would like my music video to follow is Todorov’s. His theory includes a (start, middle and end) which is ideal for the video I am willing to create.

Characters: The characters that will feature in this video will be a 3 guys and 3 girls initially. However, more characters will be included as the video progresses.

MES:

-Location: A house which is where the party will situate.

-Iconography: Bottles of alcohol etc.

-Costume, Hair & Make Up: Characters have a free choice to wear what they like. The ideal clothes for this will be “party-outgoing attire” for both the guys and girls.

-Lighting: The lighting will be low-key throughout. This is because it will be needed for the style of the video I will be shooting. The tempo of the song would correspond best with a night time video and not a day time.

-Editing: I will include a range of editing types throughout the video such as: Slow paced editing, fade to black, straight cuts, jump cuts and many more. This will help to make the video very surreal and effective, drawing in the audience intended for. 

Conclusion:

From this, I have gathered and understood three new ideas that can be used very strategically for my music video. They have been clearly identified through the use of micro elements which allow for the audience to visually see this in their minds before it is actually performed which is very good. 
However, the idea my group and I have decided to go for is my own. This is because, out of the three, my idea became the most fun and easiest to pull off. It narrative is very familiar to my own lifestyle within living in London which is why I would be the best person to direct and make this video a great experience for the audience. 



Research: Hebdige's Sub Cultures

Hebdige's Sub Cultures

 

 

What are sub cultures?

 

Sub cultures are when a group of people come together and form an identity because they share similar values/ideas and beliefs.

These groups are united through common values, systems and tastes e.g. (clothes, music, politics etc.) They are positioned outside of the mainstream culture.

 

They are evident in the music industry as there as sub cultures who listen to particular 'sub culture' genre music.

For example:

 

-Skinheads

-Nerds

 

-Bikers

 

-Hippies

 

-Greases

 

-Queers

 

-Goths

 

-Emo's


 

 

Conformity and Rebellion

 

They do not like conformity. They like to rebel against common values and systems.

 

Attitude to capitalism and consumerism

 

Do not follow capitalism. They have their own set of rules and behaviour conduct. They tend to not be consumerists, however do consume goods that are relevant to their lifestyle.

 

Tribal/Gang rivalry with other groups in society

 

Don't like mixing, however traditionally, they have stereotypes where they do not like certain groups of people/races etc.

 

Traditional ideas or 'Neophyte' (New Ideas)

 

Have their own traditional beliefs in the way they should live their lives. True followers of sub cultures do not take upon 'neophyte' ideas.

 

Music Interests

 

Niche - genre depends on the sub culture group

 

 

What did McCraken say?

 

McCraken stated that the post modern world is full of diversity, dynamism and creativity. If we look at the array of values and ideologies then we can't say all sub cultures come from one culture.

 

 

What did Hebdige say?

 

Even through some people think sub cultures appear to be different, deep down they are the same. 'Sub cultures' are 'Little cultures'; as they are al doing the same thing of resistance.

Consumption is an active process in which different audiences read into the same cultural product. Many groups are involved in protest and resistance against the mainstream.

 

People can resist mainstream culture and will resist and become a 'sub culture'.

Hebdige's theory suggests that sub cultures, in which people with similar tastes and interests, have different tastes in which due to their social background etc.

 

 

 

'Sub Cultures' and History

 

Many argue that cultural music tastes depended on the historic time and structure of social, economic and political change.

 

1950's - rock n rollers, beatniks and Teddy boys

1960's - surfers, rudeboys, mods, hippies and bikers

 

1970's - skinheads, soul boys, rastas, glam rockers, funksters and punks

 

1980's - heavy metal, hip-hop, casual, goth, rave and clubber styles

 

1990's - noughties and beyond; distinctive blends of fashion and music have become a defining feature of the cultural landscape - depends on 'what's cool and what social group you fit into.





 

 

How does the industry now target audiences?

 

There are two rival views in the relationship between pop music & youth.

 

1. Pop stars are constructed to appeal to specific markets with specific values.

 

2. The audience are so unpredictable in their likes and dislikes that record companies can never truly know how to target them.

 

Dyer's theory can also apply to sub cultures. This makes sub cultures more accepted and normal.

 

For example: Nirvana

 

-Care free

-Live to the full

-Take risks

-Resisting against commercialism

 

The music industry now targets audiences through the use of televised game shows such as; The Voice and X Factor which are competitions where average day people with talent are given the chance to showcase their vocal abilities on stage in front of thousands for a chance to a cash bonus and a recording contract.

This allows the industry to analyse the types of artists audiences tend to conform with. By having this research, industries will now be able to find artists who suit the character the audiences go for, and this will improve the likelihood of the artists being successful.

 

The audiences play a very important with the music industry. For one, they are the sole reason why artists become mainstream/known or even make any revenue from their music.

The audience determine what artists are relevant by the songs the make and how well they connect with them which is out of the industries control.

 

This is why the industry now target audiences through the audience's approval which is clearly evident on 'The Voice' or 'X Factor' where the winner is audience based, which is perfect for the music industry but not a full proof.

 

Current day in relation to Hebdige

 

Consuming music is a process that differs from person to person which is clearly evident in today's society.

Social background can lead to different readings of the same thing. This is because people are not part of one 'mass culture' so they all like one thing, but for different reasons.

The theory suggests that sub cultures, in which people with similar interests and tastes have a different taste in music due to their social background etc.

This is still true, however it is clearly starting to change.

 

 

Current day in relation to Dyer's 'Star Theory'

 

Stars are represent 'shared cultural values' and attitudes and will promote a certain ideology. Fans who agree that a set of values will support the star. Fans will then imitate stars in an  aspirational effort to get 'closer' to the glamorous, fantasy lifestyle they appear to have - this may take the form of 'dressing up', imitating performances, adopting behaviour etc.

Through Dyer was applying this theory to movie stars. It can also be applied to pop stars, who often have far faster rise to stardom by promoting values.



Conclusion

With my music video I am targeting it towards young adults who live average lives. They are not a sub culture due to the fact that they can have similar likes and dislikes thus making them the same. This is because it is proven that the audience play a large part in the success of many of the artists we listen and adore in this day and age.

 

 

 

 



Research: Popular Music Theory

Popular Music Theory

Introduction:

 

A theory presents a systematic way of understanding events, behaviours and/or situations.

It is important to understand a theory because it allows people to acknowledge the reasons why things happen in society.

The theorists I will be drawing upon are:

• Popular Culture
• Antonio Gramsci - Hegemony
• Frankfurt School
• Theodor Adorno
• Birmingham School
• Dick Hebdige

1.Popular Culture

Popular culture is everywhere. You know it when you come to the Internet, listen to music, watch television or go to a movie, concert or stage show. You the know the artists, the actors and actresses, sports personalities and the games they play. Today, anything with a buzz is deemed pop culture.
The book definition says pop culture is a collection of thoughts, ideas, attitudes, perspectives and images preferred by the mass mainstream population. A sort of common denominator.

2. Antonio Gramsci - Hegemony

Hegemony is when the dominance of one social group over another such as the ruling class over all the over classes below them.
With this theory it claims is that the ideas of the ruling class come to be seen to the people as normal.
Hegemony occurs when class and ideas dominate the society and this effects every institution: including music. With Gramsci, he believes that they are able to do this due to the control they have over the influential institutions such as popular media like magazines, TV, Music, and different media platforms.

Cultural hegemony is the sociological concept that the culturally diverse society can be ruled or be dominated by one of it's social classes which is the ruling class.


 

3. Frankfurt School

Frankfurt school said that popular music is the end of a production line where everything sounds similar. An industry that exploits the mass population for profit and social control, in the hope that they accept a certain ideology about the world they are living in.

The mass industry promotes absorption, everything about these stars becomes a "commodity" ( a product ) such as; their clothes, image, likes and dislikes etc.







4. Theodor Adorno

Theodor W. Adorno was a German sociologist, philosopher and musicologist known for his critical theory of society. Adorno was one of the most important philosophers and social critics in Germany after World War II.
He was a leading member of the Frankfurt School of critical theory, whose work has come to be associated with thinkers such as Ernst Bloch, Walter Benjamin, Max Horkheimer and Herbert Marcuse, for whom the work of Freud, Marx and Hegel were essential to a critique of modern society.


Adorno believed that the culture industry allows people to become 'masses' and be easily manipulated by capitalist corporations an authoritarian governments.
And due to control of capitalist production: music becomes merely standardized, formulaic and repetitive. It has no value whatsoever and leads to a very specific type of consumption that is passive, obedient and easily manipulated for the initial purpose of propaganda or advertising.





5. Birmingham School

Known as the CCCS ( Centre of Contemporary Culture Studies)

This is school includes a modern group of social theorists who developed thoughts on social media, culture and critiqued older social media theorist. (Also stated by Frankfurt)





6. Hebdige (Richard)

Consumption is an active process in which different audiences have different readings into the same cultural products. Adorno's ideas are very pessimistic and dismissive of mass audiences as passive and easily manipulated. (challenges Adorno's theories)

Audiences are active and not passive. This means that the audience is actually interested and bothered about the music videos they watch. They are not blind to the ideologies present, they also critique on how they feel the video was. Through resistance of pop culture creates sub culture. 






Conclusion

In conclusion, I have learnt the ideologies of the 6 theorists we have studied and analysed. My beliefs on theory of 'Popular Culture' are that it is all to do with audience reaction. If the audience deem an artist to produce good music videos and audio songs then that artist is then automatically associated as Popular Culture. Artists such as: Chris Brown, Rihanna or Beyoncé. These artists are given the title of a 'Popular Music Artist' based on their audience's views on them. They can either develop a niche audience and not being Popular Culture or they can develop a worldwide audience and become a 'Popular Artist'.

I will present my artist/band in relation to Popular Culture by including the characteristics that allow the audience to connect with the artist such as: Star image, moral views etc.
I will make by artist/band in a way that appeals to the audience, my hope is that my audience will be active and not passive.



Research: Dyer's Star Theory

Dyer's Star Theory

 

 

What is star theory?

 

The term 'star' refers to the set of meanings constructed around music performers in order to sell the performer to a large and loyal audience

 
Richard Dyer's star theory is the idea that icons and celebrities are manufactured by institutions for financial gain. He believes that stars are constructed to represent 'real people' experiencing real emotions. Stars are manufactured by the music industry to serve a purpose; to make money out of audience, who respond to various elements of a star’s personality by buying records and becoming fans. 

Who he was?

Richard Dyer is an English academic currently holding a professorship in the department of Film Studies at King's College London.
 
Dyer said that:

• Star image is incoherent, that it is incomplete and 'open'.
• The star must be simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary for the consumer.
• The star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer.

 
Further analysis on Dyer's 'Star Theory'
 
There is a distinction to be made between those who are simply known for performing pop music and those who are known for being pop stars.
 
Pop performers are described as pop stars = promoted to this status by their management = synergy.
 
A true pop star does have a lasting significance and has "brand awareness" amongst a wider market over a period of time.
 
Dyer then identified four elements to recognizing a star:

Stars As Constructions

Stars are constructed, artificial images
It also helps if their image contains a USP (unique selling point)

TV programmes such as X Factor shows us the supposed construction process, how an ordinary person is groomed, styled and coached into fulfilling a set of recorded company and market expectations.

Example: JLS & One Direction







Industry And The Audience

Stars are manufactured to make money. Pop stars, whatever their nature, are quite clearly the product of their record company - and they must be sold.

There is always someone fresh to choose from. Another way is to produce a star/s with long-lasting appeal, who, once their brand is established, can cater to a fan audience for decades.

Examples: James Arthur & Madonna








Ideology And Culture

Stars represent cultural values and attitudes, and promote a certain ideology. Audiences interest in the values enhances their 'star quality', and create their star persona.

Examples: Michael Jackson & John Lennon









Character And Personality

The star is a construct, but the construct that has a foundation of realism.

Star provides audiences with a focus for ideas of 'what people are supposed to be like'.

Stars may support hegemony (dominant cultural ideologies) by conforming to it e.g. (thin/beautiful) or providing difference e.g. ( fat = still loveable)

Examples: Drake & Adele






Control

Artists within the current music industry, I feel, do not have as much control over their star image as they would like to have. This is due to the label or company, that influence their status, that take advantage over the artist and strategically plan how they should perform and act to appeal to a certain audience or gain acknowledgment in the media's eye.

Without the over-activeness of an aritsts label or company it would become a challenge for artists to reach stardom as they would not have the tools and ideas needed to get into this particular field. Thus making the label important and heavily needed for success.



Conclusion

Overall, I believe that star theory holds great importance for artists of the old and of the new . Star theories are key fundamentals to an artists success into stardom and success. I will try to represent my artist using a Character & Personality approach, this is so that I can help push cultural views and ideologies out, in hope the audience will conform to it. By giving the artist the avenue to support hegemony with their star image will allow them to become more relatable to their audience thus making more of a connection with their music.



Research: Star Image In Music Videos

Star Image In

Music Videos

Introduction

What is star image?

Star image is the way an artist is presented to an audience. The most effective way to do this is through music videos as this can reach a mainstream and international audience. An artists star image can shaped by the media institution in order to present a particular type of image to audience that they believe will be economical and successful. Star image is vitally important for all artists in the industry however this can be presented in various ways dependant on genre, age and attitudes of the artist.

How can a music video boost an artist's career?

- Help boost an artist image within the industry 
- Helps display other talents they possess
- Chance to show an artists personality 
- Increase income

 Case Study

I have conducted a case study on Kylie Minogue tracking her developing change as an artist/icon from the 80's, which is when she became relevant till the present 2014 where she remains affiliated in the industry.

80's 

- Within the 80's, when kylie started her career, her audience were teenage girls aged 10-13 year olds 
- She was regarded as innocent girl with curly hair and not much make up 

90's 

- During this time she became more glamorous, and more attractive to the opposite sex
- She then started to include choreographed routines in her music videos

2000's 

- Within this 2000's she had a attributed a wider male audience based on her appearance being more sexy and daring, showing a lot more skin when dancing. 
- She also developed the idea within her fans that it was okay to be flirty with males as well as being strong and independent. 

2014 onwards

-Now Kylie's audience have become young adults and her music has become very popular in clubs
- She is still sexual but maintains this in an aggressive and intimidating way
- Lastly her dance routines have included more back up dancers and the style of it was less sexy than before.  


Few more examples of some stars and their image on the audience/industry 

- Katy Perry used to a young girl in her church choir but since becoming an icon in the industry her image has changed rapidly. 

- Justin Timberlake used to be a children's TV star known for his role on 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse' but his image has also sky rocketed since then into the artist he is now.





- Cheryl Cole change has been very beneficial as she used to be a very 'chavy' girl who lived on an Estate and didn't have much into now being known as the UK's sweetheart. 





Political Reasons, Moral Reasons and Social Reasons

Artists who include politics within their music videos in order to portray an issue are: 

- Kanye West 
- George Michael 

Artists who include morals within their music videos in order to display their beliefs are: 

- Michael Jackson 
- John Lennon 

Artists who include social qualities in their music videos in order to reveal their identity are:

- Drake
- The Saturdays 

Conclusion

In conclusion star image plays a very important part within an artists career. It is what makes an artists remain mediocre or become relevant and iconic. I plan to represent my star as an iconic and this is because it will allow the audience to see my artists personality clearly and also display their other talents. This will help gain more audience recognition and success.