Poster 3
The following poster is from hip hop and R&B duo Public
Enemy’s album” it takes a nation of millions to hold us back”. Many of the
typical codes and conventions of this genre are both subverted and conformed in
the post and these will be explored throughout this essay.
The first main speaking point on this poster is the medium
close of the two artists behind bars used as the main image. The denotation of
the two characters in a cell is a very significant conformation of the codes
and conventions of this genre as hip hop artists are genuinely stereotyped as living a
life of crime and being a part of the social class D/E. The ideology of this
image could connote that the artists are being unfairly treated and as the
title suggests they might be a “public enemy” connoting that everyone is
against them for whatever reason. Secondly the two artists are denoted as
wearing “Chavy” like clothing which is also a big countertype of this music
genre. The inspiration behind the clothing could suggest that the two artists
may have in fact been brought up with a rough childhood filled with crime and
violence however the synergetic relationship between them and the title could
be suggestive of the fact that this is just an image that society has given
them. Just because they wear the denoted clothing does not mean they should be
signified as criminals and yobs.
The second significant part of the main image is the giant
clock in which is placed around one of the characters necks. This clock could
be a symbol of the reoccurring issues the two characters face during their
life. The clock denotes both a beginning and an end for the two characters but
just like a clock, there same beginning and end keeps haunting them. This could
connote that the two artists keep making the same mistakes in their life which
is why they feel like they need to lock their self away however it could also
connote they keep making the same mistakes which will eventually leave them
with a life of imprisonment. This ideology has been used as it enables the
audience to relate to the artists in all different ways, this links to the uses
and gratifications theory as both Criminal or discriminated people will be able
to relate to the artists situation and possibly music
Situated down the bottom right hand side of the screen is
the title of the album in which reads “it takes a nation of millions to hold us
back”. The title is in red writing which connotes many different
interpretations to the target demographic. The first being anger and the
relationship that this has with blood and fire. This ideology is synergetic
with the main image as the red maybe connoting to the audience that the two
characters are angry with the way they have been treated throughout their life.
However this ideology could also be connoting strength and leadership which
completely juxtaposes the main image this is because this ideology could be
suggesting that the characters are proud of how far they have become and are
proud of the strength they have shown throughout their challenging lives
The final important ideology on this poster is the artist’s
names and the deeper connotations within the colours they have chosen to use.
The three colours the artists have chosen include green and dark yellow which
are common colours used within the military. The logo next to it also connotes
military resemblance through the denotation of the sniper scope looking at a
disorientated silhouette. The military denotations connote to the audience that
the artists may have spent their lives fighting their own private battles which
is the possible inspiration behind the music furthermore this could suggest
that the ideology behind them being in a cell connotes that they have spent
their whole life locked away fighting a
deep internal battle they cannot escape from. This album could be the artists
way of sharing all of the deep problems they faced and how they overcome them
which seems to be a reoccurring theme within this genre of music conforming
many of the stereotypes in which are put upon this genre of music.
No comments:
Post a Comment