KNGS Advanced Portfolio: Tara Smith

My ppt displays all of my findings on the codes and conventions of print adverts: including the form of each of them. I found that the posters often work in synergy with the other elements to create the visual image for the artists; which is ultimately what sells the artist.

I have decided to analyse a variety of digipacks. This will ensure that my final artefact will be effective in representing the artist in a way that is successful for selling the artist. I have identified conventional aspects as well as different ways that the digipacks subvert the codes and conventions of the R&B genre.

I collated my analysis of 'Mesmerize' by Ashanti and Ja Rule into a prezi. This video is very much a hybrid style, a mix of performance and narrative. Goodwin's theory of amplification is very true of the production and other genre characteristics e.g. a romance are also reinforced.

In this prezi, I have displayed my analysis of Lauryn Hill's 'Doo Wop'. I found that this video takes on a narrative style, but again is a hybrid with integrated scenes of performance. Moreover, this is clearly a key genre characteristic. Again, the narrative of the contrast between black culture in the 70s and the 90s is very central to the production, rather than any contradicting visuals. Unconventionally, Lauryn doesn't feature much in the video herself, instead the encoded meaning is more important.

I decided to display my analysis of TLC's 'Waterfalls' in a prezi. This video was slightly more complex than others that I've analysed within the R&B genre. I found that one convention that is becoming more clear is the encoded meaning of the lyrics having a deeper preferred reading. This video is a hybrid between performance and narrative which is a very typical genre characteristic.

In this Prezi, I have analysed how the form of R&B videos is conventionsl/non conventional of the wider characteristics of music videos. I've found that, often, there is a hybrid of narrative and performance videos. Goodwin's concept of amplification seems to be the most applicable because the lyrics almost always compliment the visuals by adding an extra layer of meaning. In 'Dilemma' by Nelly and Kelly Rowland, the narrative is perhaps more important as the lyrics focus on the dilemma of the artists' romance.

I used Destiny's Child 'Jumpin' Jumpin' to start off my analysis of the codes and conventions of the R & B genre. This video takes on a narrative style, Destiny's Child also integrate performance too. I noticed that a lot of Destiny's Child's videos/songs have a motif of independent women, this one is no exception. The women in the video are empowered, a key theme of R & B videos. Goodwin's theory of disjuncture doesn't really apply, the narrative and lyrics work in a compatible synergy, hence creating an intimate medium and amplifying the lyrics.

I decided to make a prezi, this gives me a usual reference to how music videos are formed as well as the different styles. I've also began to apply Goodwin's theory to 3 music videos. One of them (Roar) is very elaborate and focuses on illustration. The Arctic Monkeys video (When The Sun Goes Down) is very realistic and gritty, so Goodwin's concept of amplification is very apt. Whereas, the minimal narrative of Stormzy's video (I'm Fine) is assisted by performance. 

I decided to collate my initial ideas onto a mind map. I've began to consider the typical features of the R&B genre as well as music videos as a whole. The comments on representation and codes and conventions are a good starting point on how my music video will form. The artists that I'll use as comparable products include Destiny's Child and TLC. At the moment, my most favoured idea is a narrative style video of Destiny's Child's 'Jumpin Jumpin'. I've used the mind map as an outlet of my first drafts on the music video form and visual imagery.