Chris Brown- Grass aint greener analysis

329331535 Grass Aint Greenr by harry on Scribd

Poster 1

Chris brown is one of the world’s highest selling artists the album covers for his album say goodbye gives many different denotations about the artist. The first denotation in which can be encoded by the target demographic is the medium close up of the artist himself wearing a white and black suit. These two colours give two very different connotations about the artist. Firstly, the colour white connotes purity and cleanliness. These ideologies signify how the artist looks on the outside this is encoded further as on the onside of the artist’s white jacket is a black top which the audience can decode as connoting the artist being empty inside. The two colours juxtapose each other allowing the audience to make their own interpretation of the artist. However, revealed in the image artist is wearing a belt with a very large prominent gold buckle. Gold is a very prestigious metal as very luxury connotations alongside it. The colour many signify a life of luxury the artist is living on the other hand the dark colour centre of the buckle may suggest the long journey It took the artist to reach this high level of fame. The facial expression of the character also offers numerous connotations about the artist. As the image suggests the artist is either giving an unhappy or Angry denotation this is synergistic with the title “Say goodbye” as on a connotative level this album maybe the artist expressing his disappointment at having to let someone he loves go.

In the background two large stereo sets are denoted to the audience. A medium shot denotes the artist standing in front of these stereos with a microphone in his hand these ideologies connote the musical synergy to the artists rise to fame. The prominence of these musical instruments is a clear signification that music is the character’s life and without it he would not have reached the level of success he has reached today.

DigiPak first draft

Narrative theory- My music video

Narrative Theory Johnny by harry on Scribd

Music Video Analyisis 1

Krept and Konans song falling is very different hip hop/rnb song subverting many of the codes and conventions of this genre. Many audience members associate this genre with crime; money and drug use however this song is a love song discussing the artist’s deep love for women. The many connotations in which can be seen through the music video will be analysed in this essay.

Although this is not a specific RnB song. many codes and conventions and hidden connotations shown in this music are very similar to other songs within this genre. The music video opens with a medium shot of a dark room on desaturated light where a hour glass is placed on an old wooden table. Roland Barthes Enigma code theory is connoted during this early of the music video as the audience are unable to connote the true meaning behind this, but on a denotative level this ideology could have huge relevance to how the artists are feeling. For example the hour class could represent the eternal passage of time, it is  a reminder that life is not ever lasting and that all good and bad things come to an end. This is relevant to the music video as this could be a connotation for how the artists are feeling about this song. The hourglass connotes that they feel like the time with a girl is coming to an end.



 A fade to black then switches the scene to a close of up one of the artists with his hands in his lap having deep thoughts. This shot is synergist to the hour glass denotation as it 

connotes the artist thinking about how the relationship is not working out, the following diagetic sound is then said “i know them scars aint healed and they won’t” this line shows the artist is expressing the psychological pain he or her may have faced in a previous relationship. He is saying that this pain is still present and is not healing However the following line “you say you don’t trust men and I’m about to prove you right” connotes that the artist is going to add to the insecurities the girl may already have which juxtaposes the hourglass ideology discussed before. This is because the connotations behind the hour could be connoting how it is only a matter of time before he hurts the girl and although she wants him he is happily confessing his is no different to the guy who hurt her before.

A jump cut then changes to an extreme close up of a tree this connotation is the artists way of describing this girl without saying anything. The tree ideology denotes that the girl is has great beautiful and offers him stability, good fortune and shelter. The male gaze theory is then used to attract the target demographic as an attractive women is placed on the centre of the screen and tilting shot shows her body to the audience.

A montage shot then shows the couple spending quality time together. The words “don’t want to be without you” are then by the artist and jump cut then switches the scene back to the hour glass where this time  the couple are sat at that wooden table holding hands around the same hourglass. This ideology conforms the connotations discussed above as this image signifies that the two of them don’t want this relationship to end but know its only a matter of time before one of them hurts the other. At this point the hour glass is half way through connoting there is not much happy time left in this relationship.

The music video then changes to a close of the artist with a large angry frown on his face preaching the line “Its all good until your dumb friends get involved” in this line the artist is expressing his deeper  feelings for the relationship . This line can be expressed in all different situations as Konan is saying people aren’t the same when they’re around certain people. He feels like her sharing the situation with her friends is doing more harm than good this is synergistic with his facial expression shown through a close up as he is clearly upset and annoyed. The artist thanks “God that he sent” her because she is more than a love she is his friend too. Juxtaposing is anger but conforming to the demographic he cares more than he said before.

The scene then changes to a series of black and white flash backs looking back at the good times within the relationship. Similar connotations are explored throughout the music video however the video ends with a shot denoting the same hour glass from the start of the music video. Although Krept and Konan have expressed how they are feeling and all there intentions to the demographic the hour is glass is still yet to empty.  This gives the final connation to the audience that although everything comes to end if someone wants to make it work then it will last a lot longer.

Questionaire

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Copyright request

The following image will show an email i sent to the producers and copyright holders of Craig davids song Jonny. This email was to request use of there song for my A2 media production.

Digipack

What is a digipak?

A digipack is the album an artist releases. It comes in a foldable book styled case which contains the CD for the album. Digipaks also contain large amounts of information about the artist, they often contain large amounts of back ground knowledge and facts above the development of the album for the demographics entertainment making it different from a typical album. The most significant difference is the fact the album usually comes with just two images and the CD itself whereas a Digipack contains more information. Please see below some examples below:

Codes and conventions of typical music videos:

There are four main parts to the structure of a digipak: The front, The back, The middle and the spine. Each of these parts always genuinely contain very similar things. The front of the digipack is the first thing the audience will see so it is essential to ensure this part is engaging. A picture of the band or artist is usually the most prominent part of the front cover. Often close ups are used so the demographic immediately know who's digipak this is the name of the album will also appear very bold on the digipak.

The inside of a digipak also contains many set conventions that most digipak's and artists follow. The most important and frequently used aspect of the digipak is the two booklets in which are usually included in the package. The first is the booklet containing more detailed information about the artist the second is the lyrics booklet. These are both included to make the digipak more enjoyable for the audience encouraging them to buy it. The inside of the digipak also contains the CD itself.

The back cover contains the most important information regarding the digibak itself.  it contained things such as the bar code , record company name,  a website to download tracks and more.

Visual codes and conventions

Many Digipak's have a set theme and house style in which they use synergistically with all there products. This creates a brand image for that artist so the demographic can relate to the specific when they see the chosen colours or themes. This is a very common convention to digipaks there are also many differant secondary images in which can be seen behind the plastic cover.

Research.

Ne-Yo’s album red has a digipak that offers many different codes and conventions of a digipak along with many hidden ideologies

Firstly, the title R.E.D is synergic with the main color scheme of the digipak. As discussed in the codes and conventions page it is vital for artists to do this to ensure the demographic can easily relate and acknowledge the artist. The color red also connotes many different things regarding the album and artist. As denoted alongside the low key, desaturated lighting a close up shows the artist looking down to the ground. This and color red offer synergistic connotations regarding the thinking behind the album. The color red connotes energy and war signifying a personal war the artist could be fighting however the color red could also connote love and passion which could also be the chosen theme for the digipak.

Many of the codes and conventions of the RnB genre are also followed and denoted through the three images the most prominent being the slanted hat the artist is wearing.

The codes and conventions of Digipaks are also followed her as the book style theme is followed as denoted by the different images used of the same person.