Annotations of wordpress

What and how have you used the right technical and symbollic conventions?

I have used both simple technical and symbolic conventions because i want to show my audience that it is about the music and the artist for who she is rather then constructing a a fake idea where the audience cant connect fully to the artist. For technical conventions i have used no camera angle on the photo, it is completely 2D because i felt if i had added angles then it would isolate my audience e.g using a low angle making the audience feel smaller. For my main image i used a photo of my artist (mid shot)because i want my audience not to be looking straight at her i don't want to break the fourth wall because i want it to be completely organic and the concentration to be in her eyes to show the genuinity. For symbolic the key image that is black and white gives the effect of an old era aswell as showing the simplicity of the artist there are very little colours mostly black and white as i don't want to distract the website from what the artist is all about.
How have you applied Dyers star theory?
I have applied Dyers star theory by presenting my artist as organic, the photo is in black and white so it is simplistic and believable, the concentration is on her eyes to show the meaning of her music, her name is in bold to reinforce the star image that it is all about her, there is nothing that is not to do with her, the only photos are of her, by doing this it reinforces the idea that as soon as the audience see the website they are hit by the powerful image of the artist and absorb information about only her and there is nothing that appears synthetic as i want the audience to feel like they can really connect with the artist so that is a personal attraction and not just a figure they appreciate.
How/ why would this attract your target audience?
I think this would would attract my target audience of people from 17-24 both genders because it will show them that the artist is completely real and they can make a real connection with her through her music which is the main focus unlike some websites that concentrate on the detail of colour and font and layout that distract the meaning from what the artist is representing and each audience member can interpret that for themselves. The thing that makes my website different is what you can see the artist is showing through her smiling face and eyes and there is a sense of mystery that is overlayed by the simplistic website that will intrigue an audience for the right reasons.

Looking at two websites (comparing, audience, conventions and ideology)

 What is the point of a website and homepage? 

The point of a website and homepage is to show the audience what overall message the artist is trying to portray to intrigue there target audience aswell as giving as much information as possible about the artist. A website acts as a data base to store everything about an artist that a audience member can research and find at the click of a button. It also promotes the artist so that audiences can be intrigued by the artist they have an interest in.

THE XX HOMEPAGE

 What does each band/ artists home page need to have?
Each band or artists home page needs to have eg photos, news, lyrics to songs, contact, links to social media sites, tour dates, shop for products linked to the artist. All of these are key factors so that the audience feel that all the information they are looking for is there in one place.

ONE DIRECTION HOMEPAGE 

 Who would visit The xx website? (audience age gender and interest)
I think The XX would have a wide audience as the website is plain and simple and i think this attracts different people. I think there specific target audience would be both boys and girls from the ages of about 17-23. I think the target audience would be interested in this music as it is all different, simple yet has a different edge and i think these people would have interests such as Art and photography as the homepage is not overwhelming it is simple but has something intriguing.
For example the picture below shows the shop full of clothes that are marketed for the band and they are for both men and women in simple black and white but have something extra that intrigues people the symbol of the x in different colours that all fuse in to each other that adds an edge.

What conventions have they used? Both technical and symbollic? 
For technical conventions the angles of the photos on the homepage and other parts of the website eg linking to social networking site such as instagram are all very 2D there are no tilts or angles again keeping it simple and showing what they have for real and not trying to make it constructed. For symbollic conventions although each part of the website layout is very simple always using the colours black and white to display, there are always extra bits of colour added in for an extra edge that would appeal to the people who are interested in music that is slightly different and edgy for example these photos are displayed with simple balck and white boarders but draw your eye to the colour inside eg the sunsets, the sky and the pictures, this gives the audience an idea about what the band is like and gives a very naturalistic effect because of the beauty of the photos, this also shows they are what is known as an organic ideology as they are not trying to be a constructed image but they are true to themselves. This also exists for the photo below as a link to there social site they are not smiling which gives the audience the idea that they are genuine and its not fake at all. There symbol of an X that exists on there homepage again is simple but inside it there are colours such as red and orange which hold connotations of fire which could represent that all that is important is there music and not how they are constructed

What is the overall message/ideology the site is trying to express?
I think the overall message that this site is trying to express is that the band are trying to show the audience that they are what they are and it is all about the music that is for a audience with slightly different music taste and they are not trying to construct a fake image. The simplicity of the website with an added extra of colour and the bold X symbol shows this idea clearly.

 Who would visit the One direction website?(audiences age gender and interests)

I think the types of audience that would visit this website would be young teenage girls as it is a band that is all boys so girls would look up to them. As they are standing infront of a crowd holding guitars and musical equipment smiling directly at the camera breaking the fourth wall girls would feel hope that they are looking directly at there audience and because they are at a concert it shows how popular they really are.


What conventions have they used? both technical and symbollic?

For technical conventions they have used a slight low angle on the faces of all the band members with the background of the crowd at the concert which makes them look bigger against the crowd to show how popular they are and how many people love them. The lighting on there faces is always over exposed to show that they are the most important people and that there audience aren't really there. For symbollic conventions they have a more detailed layout for there website, with a bolder font that looks handwritten that could suggest a personal value that the audience can relate too. There is a photo underlayed and they all have different facial expressions which is different to The xx page because all there photos of them seemed genuine and not staged which is known as synthetic ideology rather then organic which makes this band appear almost godly.

 There is a lot of colour on both there home page and all there photos this attracts young audiences as it is fresh and appealing. Here a photo of each band member specifically harry,these  are symbols to the audience members of each band member to show them what makes them all different and so different people can take interest in different people in the band and makes them feel connected to them.

Compared to the xx this information with simple text and colour about tickets seems more constructed and fake which attracts the audience more because they desperately want to connect in a personal way with the band where the xx post more personal information which gives clues of there personality instead of this which is less personal so they are less relatable.

What is the overall message /ideology that this site s trying to express?

I think the one direction site is trying to express there fun and fresh way of life as a band but it comes across in more of a synthetic way as they are all constructed like godly figures that appeals more to there target audienece of young girls because they have more drive to connect with the band members then people who are attracted to the xx because they like them for different reasons and for what they are which is completely genuine. However they do give information about the band to intrigue there audience as they feel they are closer to connecting with the band members.

Wordpress website

Hereis my wordpres website:

Here is the link: https://izellaoxenham.wordpress.com

Music campaigns of two artists looking at album website and video

Music campaigns of two artists - looking at album website and music video

Questions about album artwork

QUESTIONS FOR DIFFERENT ALBUM COVERS:

Part 1:

1Do you think the album work is for a band or artist. And why?

2Do you think they are synthetic or organic?

3What kind of music/genre is it and why? 

4What do you think overall about the artwork?

Part 2: 

1If you could ask the designer any questions about their choice of art work what would it be?

PART 1
1. I think the album work is for a band because the woman on the front of the album could represent something the whole album is trying to convey and is in contrast with the fact that its not all about her being an individual artist but representing a deeper meaning.
2. I think they are organic because they are not being constructed as a fake image but they are being sold as themselves and you get this idea through the simple figure of a woman which comes across as very realistic.
3. I think its rock because of the deep red used on the album cover which gives connotations of strong feelings that immediately intrigue and stand out to the audience as i think rock music is very emotional in some aspects.
4. Overall i think the art work is simple yet effective as the deep red works well with the illustrated figure of the woman putting lipstick on which gives connotation of love and femininity and link together   that could possibly show the audience the main themes that run through there songs. I think it is intriguing and interesting also as it has something different and attractive.
PART 2

What were the decisions behind animation and simplistic text? 

What was your intention to use a female on the front? Who is she?

1. I think the album is for a band because the art work is very specific i think that shows there is lots of deeper meaning behind it and i don't think a single artist would want to hold lots of possible meanings that aren't totally specific.
2. I think they are organic because there is no constructed image i think they are selling what they are selling for who they are with meanings behind the art work that the audience can chose how they interpret it eg the child could be everything or nothing to do with the band or music.
3.  I think it is rock because the child is hiding behind a cover  on the front that could convey that he is scared and as rock music is loud and intense that could be the band portraying there music isnt for children.
4. Overall i think the art work is very effective as the audience notice all the details and really intrigues as there are lots of different things it could mean eg the child is hiding because he is scared, the child has something to do with the music, the child represents the music industry as a whole and they are hiding themselves or are we all that child and everyone is hiding something. I particularly like the over exposure of light on his face like someone has opened the door and i think the audience can relate to being a child and being scared.
PART 2
Were you not worried about isolating your audience for using such a creepy picture?

Who is the  child supposed to be looking at?

1.I think the album is being represented as an album for a band because there are 3 children on the front and this could represent community within a band and because of the broad landscape in the background, if it was a solo artist i dont think it would be specific enough to intrigue an audience but for a band it shows range. 
2. I think they are organic because again it is showing an idea or a theme that can be interpreted in different ways for the art work there is no specific constructed image for the audience that appears fske it is genuine and believable.
3. I think the theme of nature of the background with the sky,clouds, 'a day in july'  and mountains creates a classical theme for the music.
4. Overall i think the album artwork suits the idea of the song and the children looking in to the far distance could relate to how we feel when overcoming big goals or what the band are facing in the music industry as it is so broad and i think this intrigues the audience in a relatable way with such a philosophical theme.

Andrew Goodwins narrative theory- Illustration

Illustration is where there is a storyline within a music video that enhances the idea which is usually formed from an interpretation of the lyrics.

An example of this is theory is Last friday Night - Katy Perry 

The title shows a narrative theme as it is introducing Katy perry in her own video like a short film would proving the idea of illustration that it is going to display the story. 

The song shows Katy perry waking up in her room and from the mise en scene elements it is clear that she is waking up after a party has happened which supports the idea of 'last friday night' like she is about to explain to the audience how it happened therefore illustrating the story to make it clear and effective.

Here the party is happening as she is explaining it which completely fits the idea of the song therefore reinforcing each part of the story for the audience.

At the end of the video Katy perry is shown in the same place just after she's woken up to show that it was al real and that she has just told the story of what happened 'Last friday night' making Andrew Goodwins 'illustration theory' very clear for the audience. 

Andrew Goodwins theory- Disjuncture

Disjuncture is where the music video and the themes or ideas have nothing to do with each other or where they juxtapose each other.

An example of Andrew Goodwins theory of disjuncture is the music video scream by Michael Jackson. 

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The theme of the song about wanting to scream and Michael and Janet (his sister) being in a spaceship have nothing to do with each other however they do juxtapose because a spaceship is small and chlostrophobic and wanting to scream is like wanting to escape that small space. This gives the audience a clearer picture of how frustrating it is and makes us empathise. 

The simple black and white that is used also supports the juxtapositions as it is two opposites that work together to support Andrew Goodwins theory of disjuncture.

The upside down shot of Michael Jackson helps the audience to see how chlostrophic and frustrated he is and that he wants to 'scream' which supports the juxtaposition.

Andrew Goodwins narrative theory- Amplification

Andrew Goodwin believed in three different theorys, when looking at music artists and music videos
1. Amplification

This is where the lyrics or storyline are amplified to show the audience the deeper meaning of the song through the music video.

Here is an example of a music video that follows this theory: Piece of me - Britney spears

  In this screenshot the people are taking photos of Britney making her the centre of attention which although  there is no story line  amplifies the idea of the song 'Piece of me' which is about her making a statement and shows the audience she is a bold artist that has changed from the young girl or 'Americas sweetheart' that she once was.

 The magazine being shown in the video shows the boldness of her actions being put all over the press but again emphasises her boldness as she sticks by what she does and the 'piece of me' shows that she doesn't care what people say about her, and amplifies that she will continue to do what ever she wants. The photo holds sexual connotations which aims to shock the audience which also links to the 'Piece of me' theme of boldness.

Again the photo of the magazine emphasises the individuality Britney has an artist as she is always on the front page of a magazine for doing something different and shocking people. 

 This is a shocking image of a photographer taking a photo from under her skirt as she steps on him, this is shocking as she is allowing it which makes the audience realise how bold she really is.

This shows her looking at the news of people talking about her and her not feeling insecure like most artists would but instead supporting her bold moves and agressive attitude to people who could possibly judge her.

Textual Analysis on Like A Prayer - Madonna

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