BBC Music Awards

the 1975 plays music
Adele won the award
Robbie Williams accepted the award for adele
Lukas Graham performed
Emily Sande performed
Coldplay receives award
then performed
John Legend performed
Izzy Bizu performed and received award
Kaiser Chiefs performed
the 1975 received an award
Craig David performed
Zara Larsson performed
Adele wins another award for 'Hello'
Robbie Williams performs

Music Video- Micheal Jackson

Music Videos

Examples of Black, Male Music Artists:

• Drake
• DR Dre
• Snoop Dogg
• 50 Cent
• Stormzy
• Jay Z
• Tupac
• Ice Cube
• Micheal Jackson

Representations of these artist:

Gangstar 

Thug

Drugs

Loveable Rogue

Sexualisation

Comedic  

Artists That Conform These Representations:

Gangsta, Thug- Ice Cube, 50Cent, DR Dre

Sexualisation- Drake, Jason Derulo, Chris Brown

Comedic- Childish Gambino, Snoop Dogg, Will-I-AM

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MTV

Music Television 

On August 1st 1981, Music Television (MTV)  was launched

NEW YORK (CNN) -- "Pictures came and broke her heart," came the lyrics from the first song on MTV -- The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star." It turns out, video now makes the radio star, thanks to that fateful day back on August 1, 1981, when music ventured into the realm of television.

In the early days of MTV, music videos became a vehicle to revive veteran rock stars like Rod Stewart and promote hot, new acts like The Stray Cats.

The first videos had small budgets and production values to match, but kids were hooked. Music videos soon became the most innovative stuff on TV. Some, like A-Ha's "Take on Me" -- which stepped between reality and the world of illustration -- set new standards in special effects and animation.

Before long, MTV was the red-hot centre of the music business. The videos sold records, and record companies began spending the money to make them slicker and more stylish.

MTV's style, hand-held cameras and quick-cut editing had its own impact on 1980s culture.

The new revolutionary format suffered an inertia of mindset with the early video-presenters reflecting the segregated tastes of American Radio – Rock was heavily promoted with no major black videos being aired in regular rotation.

At the start MTV, especially promoted American Rock and European Pop music. 

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Rick James put forward a video to MTV called 'Super Freak' in hopes to be the first black artist featured on MTV.

Rick James is hyper-sexualised throughout the video of 'Super Freak' this is evident as Rick James is seen frolicking with many white women throughout the video.As well the lyrics state "She is a kinky girl" and also "The kind you don't take home to mother". In the video, it shows Rick James going into a limousine with girls, this also has sexual connotations. The video is also hyper-sexualised by the females in the video who are seen wearing risky clothing and playing along with Rick James 

Rick James is also represented as very masculine and seen as 'a player'. Mainly due to Rick James almost flexing his muscles and being surrounded by females. 

In those times, it was difficult for Black recording artists to feature on MTV to promote or to even showcase their music. This refusal to play black music was a holdover from radio station programming, where conventional wisdom was that you would lose your white listeners if you played black music.

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Stereotypes Black Men in Popular Media

• Black sidekick of a white protagonist (secondary role)
• The token black person
• The comedic relief- Will-i-am, Snoop Dogg
• The athlete- 
• The over-sexed ladies' man,- Drake, Rick James, R-Kelly
• The absentee father or
• The violent black man as drug-dealing criminal and gangster thug- Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent

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Summary of Billie Jean

Billie Jean represents the groupies that accompanied 'The Jackson 5' during their time on tour. The Groupies were known to make up negative rumours about 'The Jackson 5' but some were true in the fact that the band did get up to no good. In the song, Michael Jackson goes on to state that the kid is not his which is repeated in the lyrics ,"But the kid is not my son". Despite the kid having the same eye colour and hair colour as Michael Jackson. He still denies and tells the world that the kid is not his son. Jackson goes on to prove that the woman accusing Jackson is clearly obsessed with him. 

Aspects of the video which create meaning

This shows Michael Jackson walking down the street and with every step he is taking the pavement is lighting up. This accentuates the fact that Michael is being quite egotistical, maybe implying that he is the light in the darkness or that he has found the light in a way. The lighting of the pavement could also strongly suggest that Michael jackson is free as such this relates to the actual back story of the song where an obsessed fan claimed she had Michael's son and by the pavement lighting up this shows that Michael is past it and is in a better light to the world. A high angle shot looking down at his feet represents that Jackson is above it all and everyone is basically by his feet, wanting attention. Promotes the idea of 'Magical Negro'.

In this shot it shows Michael Jackson almost minding his own business whilst there is a reporter lurking behind him. This represents in Michael's personal life of how maybe the media and people trying to take him down as such. This is a wide angle shot that shows the whole image. 

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Task 2

WHAT GENERAL STEREOTYPES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH Black males?  LIST 3 THINGS.

1) Violence/Aggressiveness

2) Sexualised 

3) Gang

WHAT STEREOTYPES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH Black musicians IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? ?  LIST 3 THINGS.

1) Political

2) Drugs

3) Comedic relief 

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Representation: Cross Over artist

Compared the Rick James Video (SuperFreak) to Billie Jean, what aspects of the videos Media language make Billie Jean more “acceptable” as a cross over  video?

Billie Jean

1) Billie Jean is about a sexual encounter that did not happen 

2)Billie Jean has less sexualisation throughout the video and is almost trying to not promote so viewers and listeners can receive the message Jackson is trying to portray. 

3)Less female input throughout the video

Superfreak

1) Much more sexualised than Billie Jean as 'sex sells' and so attracts a wider range of audiences. 

2) Much more female input throughout the video and it promotes Rick James masculinity as he is seen half-naked or almost flexing his muscles to maybe get female attention.

3) Rick James is promoting his masculinity 

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15/12/17

Billie Jean is one of the most revolutionary songs in the history of popular music.
Billie Jean was groundbreaking because it introduced the idea that a single must be accompanied by a high-production video - preferably by someone who is a bit of a hoofer - thereby transforming a run-of-the-mill song release into an "event". Billie Jean transformed MTV from a mere diversion for young people into a cultural institution that society at large paid attention to. It introduced the pasty-faced number-crunchers who ran MTV to the concept that white viewers would respond enthusiastically to videos featuring a black performer

The director for Billie Jeans, the music video was Steve Barren who was chosen by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones.
Steve Barren directed Human League "Don't you want me"

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Discuss aspects of the video’s (media language)  present Jackson as an American Teenage Star/Heart throb.

1)Michael Jackson is dressed quite smart and sophisticated. Which can be linked to Michael Jackson attending Prom. 

2) The dance-moves created and performed by Michael Jackson will have connotations to Teens dancing and partying. 

3) The actual song raised issues about pregnancy, which is quite a common problem that occurs for some teenagers so some people can almost relate with Michael

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Representation: Subverting the hyper-sexualised stereotype

 The certain dance moves Jackson performs can be seen as quite sexualised with his thrusting movements and extravagant moves.

Michael Jackson is also seen getting into bed with an unknown person this can strongly suggest a one night stand which is seen as a very sexual act.

However the video is not hyper-sexualised due there being no nudity and hardly any female representations within this video.

fd

The detective is a foil, hidden in the background, in the dark almost being shown as an opposite to Jackson. The foil is seen getting arrested whilst Michael Jackson gets away free, this suggests a counter stereotype that it is normally Black people getting arrested. Michael Jackson is also seen lighting up every where he goes oppose to the detective ,foil, who i always hidden in darkness. 

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Task 4 

Counter-stereotypes

Going against the idea that black people are aggressive and violent, instead Michael Jackson is seen giving some money to a homeless man this is quite charitable and the homeless man appreciated it. 

In this image, it shows the detective lurking behind Michael Jackson almost surveying and watching him. As well as that Michael Jackson's outfit is a counter stereotype it goes against the gangster, thug outfits that Black people are seen as often wearing. 

Music Video

Music Video

Textual Analysis

All media products are 'texts'. When you read, watch, play, listen to a media text, you make meaning or understanding the media text is called Decoding.

Decoding = understanding a media text

Codes can be visual or aural. Codes have symbolic values. TV drama, magazines and video games use these symbolic codes to generate character types and character archetypes. 

Four Micro-elements

• Mise-en scene 
• Camera work cinematography
• Editing 
• Sound

Micro-Elements relate to the following above. 

Lady Gaga

• "Born this way" shows her opinion on society
• Body Image
• Gender
• Sexuality 
• Intertextual References
• Centre of attention
• Sings mostly Pop music
• Mainstream 
• Virgin, Mother and Whore (Vertigo...)
• Empowered Woman
• Counter-stereotype 
• Not the Norm 
• Laura Mulvey: Male Gaze

Lady Gaga: A Million Reasons

• "Million Reasons" is a song recorded by American singer Lady Gaga.
• It is featured for Lady Gaga's fifth studio album Joanne.
• Initially released as a promotional single

Open and Closed Narrative

Stereotype production is based on

• Simplification
• Exaggeration or distortion
• Generalisation
• Presentation of cultural attributes as being 'natural' 

Masculine traits: powerful,strong and independent

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Task 2

What general stereotypes are associated with women? List 3 things

1) Domestication e.g chores/housewife

2) Damsel in distress

3) Dress in feminine way 

What Stereotypes are associated with women in the music industry? List 3 things

1) Sexualised so sexually attractive

2) In need of being saved

3) Idea of perfection 

In advertising and Magazines

They are shown as...

Young 

Slim 

Overwhelmingly White

Conforming to our image of ideal beauty

Representation of Women

Representations of women across all media tend to highlight the following:

Beauty (within narrow conventions)

Size/physique (again, within narrow conventions)

Sexuality (as expressed by the above)

Emotional (as opposed to intellectual) dealings

Relationships (as opposed to independence/freedom)

Stereotypes in Lady Gaga Million Reasons

High angle shot (looking down) gives the impression that Lady Gaga is vulnerable. This represents the idea of Lady Gaga being the damsel in distress. Lady Gaga has her hands on her head which connotes to being stressed this suggests that Lady Gaga has had enough with her life? or suggests that she is thinking about decisions she has made or choices she has made in the past. As well as that this shot represents Lady Gaga trying to promote herself as well. as on her t-shirt it clearly shows her named stitched on the t-shirt.

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Task 5

Discuss how Lady Gaga uses the iconic representation of the cowboy as a counter type representation of femininity? 

Lady Gaga uses the representation of a cowboy to suggest that females are as equally strong as men and females can be empowering and independent themselves. A cowboy outfit has connotations to being independent but are strong and respected. Gaga uses these connotations to prove to audiences and that despite what is going on her life, Gaga is still tough and strong minded. Even though, Gaga is wearing the cowboy suit to show these connotations. The actual suit is in pink and Gaga is seen wearing heels.  

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Task 6

In what way is the representation of an all female crew a counter type representation of the media industry.

An all female crew is a counter type representation of the media industry, as typically men are always seen as protecting females and are almost bodyguards for females. This is mainly due to society encouraging Men to always look out for females and also Men are generally 'seen as' stronger then women. But by Lady Gaga having an all female crew accentuates that Gaga doesn't need a man in her life to be with her all the time. She promotes the idea of being self-reliant and independent. Also by Lady Gaga having a female crew this suggests that they are there for her emotional needs. In this picture shown, there is a long shot to represent the whole entourage.

In what way is the video depicting the musician as a musician on the road, representing the drudgery behind the glamour of performance

This video shows a musician on the road and how hard it actually is, behind the glamour of performance. The music video of 'A Million Reasons' show the backstage of a tour and what actually occurs. 

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Task 7

Lady Gaga as a Vulnerable Female 

Identify key aspects of the text which represent Gaga as "the vulnerable female"

These shots all represents Lady Gaga as a vulnerable female. The first shot shows her friends helping her up and this shows that even though Lady Gaga is a superstar she still feels vulnerable and needs help from her friends and crew.  In this shot a high angle shot is used to show the vulnerability of Lady Gaga but it also shows her friends picking her up an almost consoling her. 

As well in the second picture it shows Lady Gaga almost crying out for help in the mirror. Here a closeup is used to show the emotions on Lady's Gaga face to show the pain and grievance Lady Gaga is going through. Also it is shown in black and white to present the pain and sorrow Lady Gaga is going through.  

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Task 9

Identify key aspects of the text which represent Gaga within the narrow conventions of music video "a young and conventionally attractive, star"

How might this representation have negative implications.

Aspects of a conventionally young star:

• slim 
• blonde 
• clear skin
• well done makeup 
• blue eyes

Lady Gaga matches with all of the above.  

Three Examples:

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Task 10

Symbol of religion suggests hope and peace. This provokes the idea of Lady Gaga is religious and is using religion to move past the stress and emotional distress. This relates to Propp's theory of Lady Gaga being the princess and is basically the damsel in distress. The rosary symbolises Lady Gaga's life and how she has suffered from depression and trauma throughout her life and through religion Lady Gaga has found her escape or has found the light in the darkness.

The rosary can also symbolise Lady Gaga's past life with her being brought up as an Italian Catholic so this rosary can accentuate Lady Gaga's return to the light as such.