research into existing products: documentary

Analysis of a Documentary: In a documentary there are codes and conventions that have to be followed and are used to make the documentary as effective as possible. In terms of camera angles/shots there is a master shot of San Quentin prison which is similar to the concept of using a master shot in a film, it sets the scene of where the documentary will take place. Then when it gets to being inside the prison the way the camera is used changes, it becomes hand held and this is obvious because of the way the camera slightly shakes in the documentary. This is effective because it can show that the camera man is uncomfortable or genuinely fears for their life, but is also more practical because in the context you cannot take a whole camera crew to a prison where you will be filming in a dangerous environment in a confined space, the crew would have to be to a minimal. On top of this it makes the whole programme seem as if it’s your point of view which adds effect as it gives the viewer the feeling of actuality or realism. Due to the fact the camera is always hand held then it allows for a lot of pans between the presenter, Louis Theroux and the inmates he interviews. Due to these pans it can also create some shot reverse shots by facing the inmate then focusing on Theroux’s question before panning back to the inmate to answer. The type of shot range is normally a close up or mid shot because generally the interviews are in close proximity in between cells. In the title sequence there is also a montage, this ranges the angles and shots of the inmates that you may see throughout the series between interviews and will general start as long shots as they film people in the distance and end as close ups because they are usually walking towards or past the camera. In terms of editing at the beginning it seems to fit the codes and conventions of a film with the use of a fade in as it starts form black before fading into the master shot of the prison, this again sets the scene by acting as a curtain raising to reveal the location. Within the documentary it uses cuts between scenes and in some short and quick conversations where the camera can’t speak fast enough then they are used their instead of a pan. The only other use of editing is of the fade out at the end where it acts as the opposite to the way the documentary began as it goes from light to darkness as he leaves the prison to signal the end , more like a curtain falling. In the mise-en-scene we can quickly identify the type of prison he is in based on the surroundings, for example in the first interview the bars around cells are an inch thick in metal and are ringed in barbed wire around the top which suggests it is more secure than most and then when the hook is used that says ‘500 years in prison’ it tells you that it is a maximum security prison. Another part of the mise-en-scene that we see is just before the title sequence as it shows the BBC logo which is the stamp of quality for the programme as it is universally recognised as a high quality channel known for good quality television. The title also contrasts the programme well because it is a cartoon which almost makes the programme seem more relaxing which helps to break down the idea that prison is a harsh and dangerous place and makes us accept that it is just another community, though it may be made up of criminals. The sound that we hear right at the start is that of basketball as it is the stereotype of yard time and sports and gives you a sense that he is in the middle of a prison. It fits with the image that most people have from films and television drama that prison pastime is filled by prisoners using gym weights and free weights or enjoying physical activity which is exactly the image that this sound creates. The sound used at the beginning of the documentary as well is non diegetic and is used at the end of the first scene to coincide with the title sequence, this particular piece of music acts as an oxymoron to the situation as we expect the prison to filled with depression and a lack of hope or ambition based on its ruthless reputation as housing some of the worst criminals in the USA but the music contrasts this image as it is positive and quite bubbly which gives the idea that the prison actually is in fact been looked at in the wrong way and that there aren’t hateful relations and separations but there is some harmony; proving to be true in some cases where inmates share some form of bond/ attachment to prison guards. So the music is used to breakdown the point of the documentary: Prisons are not as bad as we expect them to be and there are positive stories within them as well as people willing to accept their wrong doing and improve their life. To conclude all four of the main codes and conventions are used in a similar way to film in a documentary but instead of being used to create a story or stereotype of a genre they are used to break down the questions created by the topic that the documentary is based on and to give an insight to the chosen topic.

research into existing products: music video

Deconstruction of Beyoncé- Formation: In the music video Formation by Beyoncé she challenges the ideas of the south, where she grew up, which in turn highlights the black lives matter campaign that is also focused on by more modern controversies. On top of this she makes reference to the natural disasters that has affected the poorer demographic in the south. The first shot in the video is of Beyoncé on top of a police car: generally seen as a symbol of protection and justice. However she destroys this idea of justice based on the long shot of her on top of a half submerged police car. This suggests that she is putting herself, the civilian, in a higher position of respect than the police. Therefore this fits with the idea of ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaigns, which focuses on the inequality to black people in the USA and has direct influence from how the police operate. This is because the police are often seen as being discriminative and stricter towards black people so many see it as racial stereotypes. Therefore because of the way the police act Beyoncé suggests in the black community that police are not respected well unlike their own ethnic group who are treated like family. She also has a scene that uses a long shot of the house she is stood outside which is viewed as a plantation home where black slaves would be forced to work in the cotton fields. This was common in the 19th century before slavery was banned. Therefore the image of her, a black woman, standing there representing the powerful position of the plantation owner shows how far people have come in a short time because it shows black people can now stand in real positions of power. However because we know in the context of the video it is challenging racism it is a message to the black population too. It is saying that as a group black people have come so far in so little time, therefore its almost a plea to keep the faith as it shows they have come through difficult times to prosper so they can do so again. Another connotation that can be made is referencing the disaster of Hurricane Katrina by seeing the police car submerged underwater because during the disaster in the US most of the land below sea level, generally poor areas that ethnic minorities lived on, were flooded and had homes destroyed, therefore leaving families with nothing. However Beyoncé gives a voice to this deprived area of the South that has been horrifically affected by natural disaster and in many ways ignored by the rest of the US as it has taken years to recover from. She creates this voice by repeating the word ‘formation’ as its purpose is to get the community to stand together and rebuild to what they once had and then aim for a better future by doing so. Beyoncé also uses irony in the video to show how she feels about race equality. This is shown in the scene where a Latino man is wondering the streets sat on a horse, which is reminiscent of the Wild West and the 1870’s and 1880’s where the railways were built. During this period the ethnic minorities, mainly Black, Latino and Asian men were the people that had to work long hours while white men watched over on horses to keep them in order. However this camera pan following the Latino man on the horse symbolises change through time because 100 years ago this would not have been accepted but now is perfectly normal behaviour so it shows the progress made. This irony of change though demonstrates that despite some thing’s improving for ethnic minorities there is still an inequality because it raises the question, why is he on a horse? Why not a car? It provokes this idea that he may not be able to afford a car, suggesting that he is not as well off as a white man. Therefore this scene can be used to depict inequality through its irony. However it opens up the idea that it is not just Black people that suffer in the USA but all ethnic minorities to some degree, which therefore shows that the WASP (white Anglo Saxon protestant) movement is still relevant today in a country that claims to focus on equality. Due to this Beyoncé’s interpretation of multiple ethnicities shows the white population still heavily influences America. Her use of lyrics are also used to inspire other black people, this is evident when she uses the lyrics ‘black Bill Gates in the making’ which fits well with the idea of inequality and hope to ethnic minority groups. The thinking behind this is that it suggests firstly minority groups can be a success, using her as an example (despite it being seen as vain by some). Then it also suggests inequality by suggesting that if she were white like ‘Bill Gates’ then she would not be in the making but would already be ‘made’. Therefore her lyrics fit well with the images created in the video that highlight the inequality of black people in America, whether it be past or present.

research into existing products: music video

Deconstruction of a music video: Lady Gaga- Bad Romance In the music video for the song ‘Bad Romance’ Lady Gaga takes the opportunity to give her opinion on the running of the music industry as well as referencing product placement and her own fandom. Firstly the opening scene is a spa: generally it is associated with women and the idea of them being beautified. This therefore suggests that the music industry focuses on the appearances of women rather than their music which gives the impression that female musicians are mainly viewed upon in a sexual way and therefore have to be attractive for the company to sell records. Gaga shows this by having a sign for a spa in the opening 30 seconds and it is followed by faceless women coming out of pods, this helps construct this denotation as it shows the music industry gives female artists a rebirth that turns them to a faceless sexualised object with little or no identity. She also suggests that women in the industry can influence other female artists. She does this by showing herself in a spa bath and being different in her actions as well as appearance then two faceless women drag her from the bath and force a drink down her throat. This shows that identity is not accepted by some women in the music industry and that women may generally conform to the expectations of the industry. By doing this it suggests there is also the problem of peer pressure in the industry which highlights that there are multiple problems for women who are trying to be a success in the industry. The fact they force her to drink water can be making a reference to, not only the music industry, but the modelling industry to as both have being scrutinised in the past for supporting women in the industries to go on water diets and this image symbolises that it is forced more than anything and violates a woman’s human rights. Gaga also represents the people involved in the music industry through the perspective of the public. This is because she sets a scene with a spa and we naturally associated that with relaxation, wealth and self-indulgence. Therefore she is stereotyping the people within the industry, most likely other musicians, as being very relaxed towards the sexist treatment that women receive in the music industry and accept it because they care more about the money they are making rather than the image they are creating for themselves. Lady Gaga also uses lyrics to connote and denote the industry, first in denotations with the line ‘leather studded kick in the head’. This seems innocent but when we put it into the context of her views on the industry based on the video we expect that this is a reference to the music industry also. The clear images of her being dragged out of a bath shows pain and suffering which compliments this line perfectly. It is obvious that a kick to the head is going to be painful but knowing the focus of the video it is a metaphor for her treatment and therefore the emotional pain she has suffered rather than the physical pain. It is key that there are images of her being forced into something she doesn’t want to as that image is the context for this line. She also uses the idea that men focus on the sex appeal of women in one scene where she is forced to the floor in front of a group of men. It shows that women in the industry are constantly being judged upon by their appearance by men and that it is cowardly to do so. This cowardly idea comes from the fact that a shot from over the shoulder of the men is in a dark lighting which suggests that they are viewing her from a different area or room much like the expectation and stereotype of men judging women from the comfort of their home on a computer or phone. This therefore highlights how easily women can be objectified. There is also a scene that pans around Lady Gaga and shows diamonds surrounding her then around that a circle of men. She seems as though she is completely anonymous to the presence of men and that she only sees diamonds. This denotes that women in the industry are often blinded by money and fame so often don’t realise that their fame is partly due to a sex appeal created by the industry. Therefore they begin to care less about how their popularity rises and care more about becoming richer as they focus more on material items. It therefore suggests that people in the music industry should be more careful on protecting their images in the industry rather than just focusing on the business side of the industry. Finally the video ends with Gaga sat on a bed with a skeleton burnt to a crisp. This can be interpreted in one of three ways: she fights back. The industry has had power for so long but this video is exposing them and it is like a fire, once it catches alight the outcome is inevitable. Therefore this is saying that the music industries grip over women within it is now a little weaker due to being more exposed. However it can be argued that the burnt skeleton is her because she feels tortured and burned by the industry so in light of this she has let that part of her die, therefore the Gaga we see by this body is her new state of resurrection and in turn more power for women in the music industry. Finally it may be her giving up to the power of the industry. This is because it shows her burnt, broken hopes and dreams lay across the bed and what is left next to it is just her body, the sole and love for the industry is gone and replaced by a lifeless shell only fuelled on anger.