Textual analysis of Say it by Flume (9)

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Media regulation

Rihanna BBHMM

In lesson we were given an article, we were asked to review and discuss the controversy surrounding Rihanna's music video titled 'Bitch Better Have My Money'. Many journalists and the general public have voiced their opinion about the controversial video.

The 'Video Games' article explains what the actual video is about. "Firstly, Rihanna's accountant has stolen her money so Rihanna kid naps his wife, stuffs her into a trunk, strips her half naked, half drowns her and then stabs the accountant to death. Finally, she has a smoke in a trunk full of cash whilst naked and covered in blood."

The article goes onto explain the backlash the video received on the internet, following its release. The article also says how "an event video is a picture window into a pop star's brain", it says that this could potentially reveal flaws with the artist, even though it is meant to make project power and money. I feel that this music video perhaps suggests that Rihanna is a bit deluded, it seems she has gone back to her 'controversial' ways again, as she does come across as being very provocative. I believe that in the music video industry now, it is 'normal' to see something along these similar lines, however, I do believe that Rihanna has perhaps taken the music video a bit too far. The gore, the violence against women and drug usage doesn't portray Rihanna in a positive light. The lyrics aren't family friendly either, with the reoccurring line 'Bitch better have my Money' appearing several times throughout the song. The video to me makes it seem so surreal that maybe Rihanna would be capable of actually doing something like this in real life, it is genuinely quite scary that the video could put ideas into younger impressionable minds. 

The general feel  from the article is that Rihanna's video is 'just something pop do at a certain point in their careers.' The article explains that the "event video" has its own conventions, as if it were a genre,: it must be long, self-regarding, hubristic and flamboyantly expensive.The article goes into further detail by saying that pop-stars like 'Micheal Jackson' and 'Axl Rose' have all made this sort of video which usually concern the pop star's fantasies. I personally believe there is a limit to controversy in music videos, as in this case, I believe that Rihanna has taken it too far, however, maybe this music video in 20 years may be considered to not be controversial as music videos may keep changing to fit with the times. 

Partly the media is to blame for this racist, violent and sexual video. The media fund this on their platforms such as YouTube and Vevo, which to a certain extent is protected if for example you have a YouTube account and has age restrictions, and the warning at the beginning of the video. However there are obvious ways round this, and it may even courage people of a young age to watch the video even more. Perhaps there should be a ban on music videos of  a similar type to this one, or perhaps Rihanna is simply going mad. 

Director case study

Applied genre theories (8)

Photo-shop practise

Photo shoot from hyleanaanthony2

Later on in the week, I was told about a editing website called 'pixlr', which in my own time created more effects on images we took. I found this software a lot easier than photo-shop to use, here are some examples of what I have created on the website.

Textual analysis of Telephone by Lady GaGa and Beyonce (7)

Different types of genres

Music videos and genres

The conventions of a music video differ depending on the genre of the music. However, some general conventions are; the artists are shown performing, the lyrics of the song reflect and influence what is shown in the video, the pace of editing is suitable to the pace of the music, and then codes of outfits tend to reflect the mood of the song. 

Theories about genres:

Hartley (1994)- this theorist argues that 'genres are agents of ideological closure - they limit the meaning of a given text'. Giving the effect that genres act as a straight-jacket by limiting creative potential in artists. For example there may be a pop artist who wants to be different and incorporate a different genre into their music but they feel restrained by genres, and what the audience is expecting of them.

Hodge and Kress (1998)- they say that genres 'control the behavior of producers of such text, and the expectation of potential consumers'. Therefore this conforms to the audiences expectations, which is necessary for them, for example if somebody invested money into going to a gig to see an artist because they like the genre of music they are; and they come out with something different to the norm, they may feel like perhaps they have been cheated out of their money. 

Fiske (1987)- genres reflect the zeitgeist (current events). Genre conventions 'embody the ideological concerns of the time in which they are popular. This suggests that genres tell us something about the way of the world. Therefore genres are important in shaping future events and how society functions today.

Rick Altman-  he argues that there is no such thing as 'pure' genre anymore. Audience become tired of the same formula as it needs to still have appeal to audiences. The reason that genres survive is through hybridization borrowing. For example, there may be sub genres withing a genre which may be slightly or completely different to the main genre.