The difference between indie rock and pop

Pop: The conventions of pop music videos are, sexualised images, close ups of the artist, about love and boyfriends/ girlfriends. They are usually shot in a studio. Girls heavily made up. Pop videos that obviously contain these conventions are, Rihannas videos, the saturdays ect. Below are some shots from Rihannas videos that are very sexualised to gain an audience.

Indie rock: indie rock is more alternative music, they usually include avant garde shots with alternative dressed people. The videos do not usually have narrative as the music is good, therefore not needing to use sexualised girls to attract an audience. Below are some shots from the original Weezer video, island in the sun.

Song ideas

I have chosen these 3 songs for a possible song to the video i will be making. They are very different styles, but i have some ideas for each of them. Therefore i will ask my peers on which one they think will work best.

My ideas at the planning stage

I have decided to make a short music video for my coursework piece. I haven't decided on the genre yet as i have not been inspired by any particular song. But i have been deconstructing songs of the pop genre to help me consider ideas for my video. If i was to make a video like the ones i deconstructed, the shots and settings in them, are more realistic for me to be able to film. This is why i chose them. Next im going to find a couple of songs that i like and ask my peers to pick the one they think will work best for a video. I will then story board some ideas and the narrative of what could work in my video. Also gaining inspiration from other videos i have seen and also asking my peers, what the song makes them think of, to then make a mood board. 

Audience Theory

Hypodermic needle theory: This theory suggests that the media's message is bullet fired from the 'media gun' into the viewers head. It suggests that the media injects its message straight into the passive audience, who are then instantly affected by this message. The public essentially cannot escape from the medias influence and is concidered a 'sitting duck'. This suggests that the public is vunerable to the messages shot at them because of the limited communication tolls and the studies of the media's effect on the masses at the time. I could use this in my magazine, by presenting my own or other opinions as facts, therefore my reader will be more pursuaded to believe the information i am showing them. 

Uses and gratifications theory: This is an approach to understanding mass media and mass communication. The theory discusses how users proactively search for media that will not only meet a given need but enhance knowlage, social interactions and diversion. It assumes that members of the audience are not passive but take an active role in interpreting and integrating media into their own lives. The theory also holds that audiences are responsible  for choosing media to meet their needs. The approach suggests that people use the media to fulfil specific gratifications. This theory would then imply that the media compete against other information sources for viewers gratification. I can use this in my magazine by putting in real life stories about the public and opinions on things, that my reader can relate to or agree/ disagree with. 

Two step flow theory: The two step flow theory says that most people form their opinions based on the opinion leaders that infuence the media. Opinion leadersare those initially exposed to specific media content, interpret based on their own opinion and then begin to infiltrate these opinions through the general public who then become 'opinion followers'. These 'opinion leaders' gain their influence through more elite media as opposed to mainstream mass media. I can use this technique in my magazine by adding a pop star to my double page spread, it would be a girl because her actions and fashion will influence my audience beacuse they could be an icon to my readers and they may want to be more like them, for example their fashion or how they act and personallity.

Audience reception theory: A basic acceptance of the meaning of a specific text tends to occur when a group of readers have a shared cultural background and interpret the text in similar ways. It is likely that the less shared heritage a reader has with the artist, the less the person will be able to recognise the artists intended meaning, and it follows that if two readers have vastly different culteral and personal experiences, their reading of a text will vary. I am able to encorporate this into my magazine because i am designing it for a target audience of girls my age, therefore i will already have shared views and decisions with my reader

Deconstuction

This is a recent pop video by Taylor Swift. It is about her dumping a ex boyfriend. This is subverting the stereotype of a girly pop video, as they are usually about pining for a hot guy whereas she is glad she is rid of him. In the video she is dressed as a teenage girl wearing floral dresses and pyjamas and glasses in her pink bedroom. This helps to portray the character she is playing. Usually artists write about real life experiences, therefore it will make it easier for Taylor Swift to act the part if this has happened to her. In the video they also have good editing techniques to show the split lives of the boy and the girl using a split screen whilst they are on the phone. The girl is at home on her own whilst the boy is out at a club surrounded by girls.

Deconstruction

This pop song is recently successful due to its catchy tune and young pop singer Carly Rae Jepson. The video is all about representing her, as the 'girl next door' having a crush on the boy next door. The girl is dressed in fashionable clothes that any ordinary teenager would wear. This shows that she is connecting with her audience through appearance.  She also uses actions like spying on him from her bedroom window to represent a stereotypical girls crush.
The mise en scene is set between the girl and boys house. At the end of the video it converts the stereotypes by instead of having the girl and boy fall in love and live happily ever after, the boy gives one of her band members his number and says call me. Therefore showing he is gay, and the girl feels stupid and that she has wasted her time.
Pop singers videos are usually about boys for the audience as it is aimed at teenage girls. Therefore not wanting to just see another teenage girl dancing around after a boy.
The girl shows flirtatious body language toward the boy trying to act 'sexy' by cleaning her car to attract his attention, she then falls off the car causing the opposite effect than she wanted as the boy laughs at her.

Short film tips.

I made this spider diagram using bubbl.us i have outlined important tips for a successful music video or short film clip. I will try my best to apply these things to my own video to ensure it is the best i can produce.