REPRESENTATION
In this section I will be analysing and identifying the representation within a series of music videos.
Representation is concerned in the way people, ideas and events are presented to us.
Representation is concerned in the way people, ideas and events are presented to us.
MUSIC VIDEO 1
STRESS BY JUSTICE
Romain Gavras
WHO IS BEING REPRESENTED?
Working class/youths that have north/north African and Arabian heritage
WHO IS REPRESENTING THEM?
Romain Gavras, a greek french director whos music videos often portray gritty and realistic setting, juxtaposed with its flashy high energy content.
HOW ARE THE REPRESENTATIONS BEING CONSTRUCTED?
Its really being shown through the youths collective identity, they all wear the same jackets, and by them being as a group together. The way they are being represented by the audience is very badly as they seem to be abusing and assulting members of the public. The youths are also seen attacking their own estate, the city and also the rural countryside. These three locations hightlight the fact that the youths are attacking society as a whole. This in fact shows that the youths are completely outside of society and so this suggests that they are against those within society.
REPRESENTATION NEGATIVE/POSITIVE?
Even though the actual video contains a negative representation of youths, It does also have a clear positive message to its government stating that youths from a working class are not to be who they are actually said to be. This videos representation is extremely similar to that we saw in the London Riots. They were represented in the media negatively, and so this could be Gavras view and honest representation of youths.
DOES IT CREATE A REALITY OR REFLECT IT?
Romain is trying to reflect a reality that happens but not as obvious. It shows the governments thoughts on what they think actually happens.
DOES IT SUPPORT OR CHALLENGE THE DOMINANT IDEOLOGY?
I personally feel music video is challenging the dominant ideology. This is because it is going against everything that society and the government believes in.
Working class/youths that have north/north African and Arabian heritage
WHO IS REPRESENTING THEM?
Romain Gavras, a greek french director whos music videos often portray gritty and realistic setting, juxtaposed with its flashy high energy content.
HOW ARE THE REPRESENTATIONS BEING CONSTRUCTED?
Its really being shown through the youths collective identity, they all wear the same jackets, and by them being as a group together. The way they are being represented by the audience is very badly as they seem to be abusing and assulting members of the public. The youths are also seen attacking their own estate, the city and also the rural countryside. These three locations hightlight the fact that the youths are attacking society as a whole. This in fact shows that the youths are completely outside of society and so this suggests that they are against those within society.
REPRESENTATION NEGATIVE/POSITIVE?
Even though the actual video contains a negative representation of youths, It does also have a clear positive message to its government stating that youths from a working class are not to be who they are actually said to be. This videos representation is extremely similar to that we saw in the London Riots. They were represented in the media negatively, and so this could be Gavras view and honest representation of youths.
DOES IT CREATE A REALITY OR REFLECT IT?
Romain is trying to reflect a reality that happens but not as obvious. It shows the governments thoughts on what they think actually happens.
DOES IT SUPPORT OR CHALLENGE THE DOMINANT IDEOLOGY?
I personally feel music video is challenging the dominant ideology. This is because it is going against everything that society and the government believes in.
MUSIC VIDEO 2
A TEAM BY ED SHEERAN
Ruskin Kyle
WHO IS BEING REPRESENTED?
The protagonist, a young teenage girl (approximately 16-18 years of age).
WHO IS REPRESENTING THEM?
Ruskin Kyle (director) and Ed Sheeran (artist).
HOW IS THE REPRESENTATION CONSTRUCTED?
The representation has been constructed through its story line. The young girl is being represented through the situations and locations she is seen in. We know as an audience, that the young girl is venerably housed, emotionally unstable and addicted to class A drugs.
IS THE REPRESENTATION NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE?
DOES IT REFLECT OR CREATE REALITY?
The music video creates a negative representation of the young girl, however seeing something like this builds a strong message/awareness to the effect of drugs, and how living a wasted life can lead to a unhappy lifestyle. Illegal drug taking, and prostitution is represented throughout the music video, which are both things that are looked down upon by a majority of people and especially something that government take extremely seriously.
DOES IT CHALLENGE OR SUPPORT THE DOMINANT IDEOLOGY?
The narrative supports the dominant ideology, however this isn't entirely correct. As the video could make members of the public create direct assumptions that people who are venerably housed are involved and take part in illegal activity. Seeing a homeless person makes us question if our current government and policies are working for everyone. It is obvious from this that our current system have failed alot of people. We are a rich country, however, many people are still living in extreme poverty in the United Kingdom. My understanding of the video is, the only way she can make money in the current system is to prostitute herself in the homes of the rich and wealthy. She is appealing to the audience to help change the current ideology by presenting her life to them.
The protagonist, a young teenage girl (approximately 16-18 years of age).
WHO IS REPRESENTING THEM?
Ruskin Kyle (director) and Ed Sheeran (artist).
HOW IS THE REPRESENTATION CONSTRUCTED?
The representation has been constructed through its story line. The young girl is being represented through the situations and locations she is seen in. We know as an audience, that the young girl is venerably housed, emotionally unstable and addicted to class A drugs.
IS THE REPRESENTATION NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE?
DOES IT REFLECT OR CREATE REALITY?
The music video creates a negative representation of the young girl, however seeing something like this builds a strong message/awareness to the effect of drugs, and how living a wasted life can lead to a unhappy lifestyle. Illegal drug taking, and prostitution is represented throughout the music video, which are both things that are looked down upon by a majority of people and especially something that government take extremely seriously.
DOES IT CHALLENGE OR SUPPORT THE DOMINANT IDEOLOGY?
The narrative supports the dominant ideology, however this isn't entirely correct. As the video could make members of the public create direct assumptions that people who are venerably housed are involved and take part in illegal activity. Seeing a homeless person makes us question if our current government and policies are working for everyone. It is obvious from this that our current system have failed alot of people. We are a rich country, however, many people are still living in extreme poverty in the United Kingdom. My understanding of the video is, the only way she can make money in the current system is to prostitute herself in the homes of the rich and wealthy. She is appealing to the audience to help change the current ideology by presenting her life to them.
MUSIC VIDEO 3
FEATHERSTONE BY THE PAPER KITES
WHO IS BEING REPRESENTED?
A young group of children who live in a community in the forrest are being represented.
WHO IS REPRESENTING THEM?
The Paper Kites and Pete Seamons (the director).
HOW IS THE REPRESENTATION CONSTRUCTED?
The representation has been constructed by Pete Seamons choice of shots, group of children and the locations. The fact that they are alone with no adult accompaniment highlights the fact that todays children are allowed more freedom.
IS THE REPRESENTATION NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE?
The music video creates a negative representation of todays teenagers, whos life revolve around social messaging sites, and not enough, around the importance of exercise and communication. Although the music video shows a positive representation to how children used to be, and what they still can be like. It is trying to reinforce these values that aren't typically seen in today society enough.
DOES IT REFLECT OR CREATE REALITY?
The representation which Pete Seamons creates, is a reflection of how reality used to be like, a reflection that he hopes one day will become current. He creates this 'perfect' reality where children are free, enjoy the outdoors and are generally happy.
DOES IT CHALLENGE OR SUPPORT THE DOMINANT IDEOLOGY?
A young group of children who live in a community in the forrest are being represented.
WHO IS REPRESENTING THEM?
The Paper Kites and Pete Seamons (the director).
HOW IS THE REPRESENTATION CONSTRUCTED?
The representation has been constructed by Pete Seamons choice of shots, group of children and the locations. The fact that they are alone with no adult accompaniment highlights the fact that todays children are allowed more freedom.
IS THE REPRESENTATION NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE?
The music video creates a negative representation of todays teenagers, whos life revolve around social messaging sites, and not enough, around the importance of exercise and communication. Although the music video shows a positive representation to how children used to be, and what they still can be like. It is trying to reinforce these values that aren't typically seen in today society enough.
DOES IT REFLECT OR CREATE REALITY?
The representation which Pete Seamons creates, is a reflection of how reality used to be like, a reflection that he hopes one day will become current. He creates this 'perfect' reality where children are free, enjoy the outdoors and are generally happy.
DOES IT CHALLENGE OR SUPPORT THE DOMINANT IDEOLOGY?
INFLUENCE ON MY OWN MUSIC VIDEO
All three music videos portray a social message through the documentary mode. In similarity our music video 'Not at Home' also presents a social message, which is extremely important for our audience to understand. Despite the fact that we live in a wealthy country, you never really know the trials and tribulations of some people, until you walked a mile in their shoes. I also think that theres a lot of criticism of this generation of young people, but it appears to me that there is a lot more unseen poverty within the young than there has been before. There is also a breakdown in family life and the youth dont have the same support network and loving environment to turn to. This is something which we want our audience to understand from our music video, and remember the fact that you cant exactly judge a book by its cover. The ideology is being challenged as our music video tries to present the characters in clothes which are not stereotypical of homelessness, and also doing things which arent typical either. I feel Ed Sheerans video links the most to ours because, even though it supports the dominant ideology, it reflects a real life that is not usually put out to the public.