Jean Baudrillard theory on postmodernism
In post modern media, pastiche (to combine multiple elements) can be playing a homage (tribute) or a parody of past styles eg. Billie Jean is a parody to Singing In the Rain where the main white protagonist is feeling free walking in the rain whereas MJ has a different experience by being followed as a man of colour, its a coloured persons version of singing in the rain, being represented as a criminal. . It can reference pop culture as part of the narrative. Postmodern Productions often blur the lines between the lines of good+evil, light+dark, for both viewers and characters eg. we read the vid differently from then to now.
Hyper-reality is a condition where reality has been replaced by a simulacre (creating a view of someone thats false)
simulacrd- an image or representation of someone or something eg. MJ represented as an amazing god in Billie Jean
Baudrillard wrote a philosophical treatise called ‘Simulacra and Simulation’ Simulacra and Simulation is most known for its discussion of images, signs, and how they relate to the present day. Baudrillard claims that modern society has replaced all reality and meaning with symbols and signs, and that the human experience is of a simulation of reality rather than reality itself.
The simulacra that Baudrillard refers to are signs of culture and media that create the perceived reality; Baudrillard believed that society has become so reliant on simulacra that it has lost contact with the real world on which the simulacra are based.
Now music vid revision
There will be TWO questions …
One will be 9 Marks and may ask you about one music video.
One will be 20 Marks and may ask you to refer to both.
Time yourself accordingly.
Roughly one minute per mark.
No Matter what the question is YOU KNOW what the marker is looking for:
Media Language and Media Representations.
Reference to a theorist or two.
So, what are we trying to prove?
That Media Producers make choices to REPRESENT an artist through MEDIA LANGUAGE.
That Media Producers make choices to REPRESENT an artist through MEDIA LANGUAGE.
Barthes-
Enigma codes- story avoids telling the truth or revealing all the facts, in order to drop clues in through out to help create mystery. This drives the narrative forward because we want to know what happens next. unanswered enigmas tend to frustrate the audience. (we used it in newspapers how in the daily mail front page there is a 'turn over' bit which pushes us to read on which drives the narrative forward). This also can be found in music vids whee mysteries are established as the vid goes on. Narrative functions to first establish, then solve.
Start by re watching Billie Jean.
Representations of Michael Jackson as a brand and performer created by the Billie Jean Music Video;
Representations of Michael Jackson as a brand and performer created by the Billie Jean Music Video;
1.) Smooth
2.) In demand
3.) Untouchable
4.) Star qualities
5.) God
6.) The best
7.) Incomparable
Rewatch Letter to the Free.
Representations of Common created by the Letter to the Free Music Video;
1.) Moral
2.) Cares about key issues
3.) Using his music to raise awareness
4.) Political
5.) For the people
6.) Well- being for others
7.) Togetherness/community
Next you have to back it up with Media Language;
So take some notes...
Letter to the Free
Cinematography
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Mise En Scene
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Editing
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Billie Jean
Cinematography
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Mise En Scene
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Editing
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What might they ask you about?
The social, political and historical context...
The social, political and historical context...
1 in 17 white males vs 1 in 3 black males likely to be incarcerated in the US. What about ALEC and the media surrounding the SUPER PREDATOR. The CCA profiting from prisons…![]()
Go through and underline any key words about Media Language or representation that might get you some marks…
The political context of Letter to the Freeexplores the mass incarceration of African-Americans. It focuses on the lack of freedom they have in prison, and the prejudice from stereotypes they receive for being put there in the first place. This context also represents the artist Common in a positive light as a campaigner for the issue that Black Americans were incarcerated in state prisons at an average rate of 5.1 times that of white Americans. This is reinforced through editing, cinematography and mise en scene.
Now have a go at writing your own example…
The social context, Common portrays the cruel legacy of slavery, Jim Crowe and mass incarceration in the stark new video for “Letter to the Free.” The song appears on the rapper’s latest album, about the history of the amendment that outlawed slavery: 13TH. its about the how eventhough slavery has ended it really hasn't and we are not all really free. These stereotypes hold a certain negative view about black people just like it did back at slavery days where it was believed black people are dirty and made to serve the needs of whites. Coloured people and whites still are treated differently to this day unfortunately and Common wants to make that clear and show hoe they are treated.
Go through and underline any key words about Media Language or representation that might get you some marks…
The topic of racism is presented as outdated through the use of cinematography since the whole music video is in black and white. This connotes how racism has been around for years, since before film and video footage even had colour. It also links to the times when the black civil rights movements were in an uprising in the 1960’s. Even today, things are still the same - black and white. This reinforces the idea that racism is alive and may continue to grow in the shadows of society.
Now write your own example try editing or mise en scene….
The video is completely in black and white, displaying the seriousness of the situation and shows how old and long this inequality and racism has been going on for. They need equality. They are dressed in really dark clothes displaying the sad lonely mood they are in, its not a time of happiness and joy. Everything is dictated with the writing on the wall which says "no excessive noise". Its contradicting because a basketball court should be noisy. Restricting black people from their rights, treated differently. A lot of the framing is behind bars portraying black people being overrepresented in prisions
The main visual effect in the 'Letter to the free' is a black, inanimate object which is floating around the prison. This highlights that idea of injustice as from that use of editing, it suggests that the prisoners are nameless and will forever be trapped in prison, floating around aimlessly. The artist being inside the prison suggests a consensus with the prisoners creating the idea that he is a victim of the system himself.
The video is completely in black and white, displaying the seriousness of the situation and shows how old and long this inequality and racism has been going on for. They need equality. They are dressed in really dark clothes displaying the sad lonely mood they are in, its not a time of happiness and joy. Everything is dictated with the writing on the wall which says "no excessive noise". Its contradicting because a basketball court should be noisy. Restricting black people from their rights, treated differently. A lot of the framing is behind bars portraying black people being overrepresented in prisions
The main visual effect in the 'Letter to the free' is a black, inanimate object which is floating around the prison. This highlights that idea of injustice as from that use of editing, it suggests that the prisoners are nameless and will forever be trapped in prison, floating around aimlessly. The artist being inside the prison suggests a consensus with the prisoners creating the idea that he is a victim of the system himself.
What was happening at the time?
Here is a timeline of the history of music videos…
PlotBillie Jeanand Letter to the Freeon the timeline…
p![]()
You might be asked how the music video genre has changed over time.
A music video has always served as a promotional tool for an artist. (Media Representation)
Billie Jeanis promoting Michael Jackson as a brand and a performer (his dancing etc he is ‘untouchable’) whereas Letter to the Free promotes Common as caring for others (he is ‘of the people.’)
Some questions for you to practise on...
Practise Question 1;
Music Videos are a tool that use media language to create representations about artists. Discuss with reference to your two close study productsPractise Question 1;
Here’s how to answer this…
Music videos are seen as a promotion or advertisement of the artist. It creates a representation of an artist to market to an audience. This is reinforced through editing, cinematography and mise en scene.
1.) Letter to the Free promotes Common.
(back this up with evidence from cinematography, editing, mise en scene)
Letter to the free is promoting racial awareness to something that should have disappeared after the 13th amendment (freed all slaves). The music video is not benefiting or advertising Common but him himself a black man is a representing all black people in America through the video which gains a massive controversial audience, not just of black Americans. He is trying to create representations about himself but of American society as a whole as we see through Cinema photography where the shot in the beginning is very slow as if there is no angle. loads of zoom in slow motions, trying to very much focus our attention on the big black square in the middle. In addition there are point-of-view shots with someone holding the camera as its shaking a bit trying to make us feel as if we are there so we can visualize it and understand what black people go through in society and how uncontrollable there lives are everyday because of racism. Progression of the cause is slow and an aimless quality of the camera which shows it has no purpose. We don't see anyone's face clearly (no close up shots) so we don't see their emotions . The USA sees black people as faceless, the more unrecognisable they are, the less human they are. Also this way they are viewed the same by whites as criminals. A big subject to dwell on which creates awareness and gives people something to think about. The use of the long shot makes the artists appear small in the frame, implying their insignificance in society, worthlessness. Even through the editing, the video is quite dull and in black and white which suggests separation and their differences. They don't belong together like in the 20th century when segregation was huge. He is demonstrating how little has actually changed but it is covered up by making it look like a lot has changed on the outside. The video is completely in black and white, displaying the seriousness of the situation and shows how old and long this inequality and racism has been going on for. They need equality. This is shown through mise en scene . Everything is dictated with the writing on the wall which says "no excessive noise". Its contradicting because a basketball court should be noisy, restricting black people from their rights, treated differently. A lot of the framing is behind bars, again showing how blacks are portrayed as criminals. The Black Box signifies how black people are objectified andf not treated as human beings as if they have no control over their lives. As result all throughout the video, inequality, segregation and trouble demonstrates what American society is really like and how we are blinded by what is happening, the trends of racism and labeling has not dissapeard . This only benefits Common by getting his views and what he stands for successfully through in the video representing all black people not himself. He does this in hopes to make a difference in the wider world. We can include Steve Neale's theory of "genre is instances of repetition and difference" in Letters to the free. This is shown by the video a music video with a message which is quite repetitive in the way he wants his message to be received. Music videos usually promote the artists however in the video it does not do that at all but promotes the political agenda making it not repetitive and it also does not use a close up in your face or a person walking through a dessert but its quite real and not showing his face shows its not with the intention to promote himself but to promote racial awareness making it not a standard music video.
Letter to the free is promoting racial awareness to something that should have disappeared after the 13th amendment (freed all slaves). The music video is not benefiting or advertising Common but him himself a black man is a representing all black people in America through the video which gains a massive controversial audience, not just of black Americans. He is trying to create representations about himself but of American society as a whole as we see through Cinema photography where the shot in the beginning is very slow as if there is no angle. loads of zoom in slow motions, trying to very much focus our attention on the big black square in the middle. In addition there are point-of-view shots with someone holding the camera as its shaking a bit trying to make us feel as if we are there so we can visualize it and understand what black people go through in society and how uncontrollable there lives are everyday because of racism. Progression of the cause is slow and an aimless quality of the camera which shows it has no purpose. We don't see anyone's face clearly (no close up shots) so we don't see their emotions . The USA sees black people as faceless, the more unrecognisable they are, the less human they are. Also this way they are viewed the same by whites as criminals. A big subject to dwell on which creates awareness and gives people something to think about. The use of the long shot makes the artists appear small in the frame, implying their insignificance in society, worthlessness. Even through the editing, the video is quite dull and in black and white which suggests separation and their differences. They don't belong together like in the 20th century when segregation was huge. He is demonstrating how little has actually changed but it is covered up by making it look like a lot has changed on the outside. The video is completely in black and white, displaying the seriousness of the situation and shows how old and long this inequality and racism has been going on for. They need equality. This is shown through mise en scene . Everything is dictated with the writing on the wall which says "no excessive noise". Its contradicting because a basketball court should be noisy, restricting black people from their rights, treated differently. A lot of the framing is behind bars, again showing how blacks are portrayed as criminals. The Black Box signifies how black people are objectified andf not treated as human beings as if they have no control over their lives. As result all throughout the video, inequality, segregation and trouble demonstrates what American society is really like and how we are blinded by what is happening, the trends of racism and labeling has not dissapeard . This only benefits Common by getting his views and what he stands for successfully through in the video representing all black people not himself. He does this in hopes to make a difference in the wider world. We can include Steve Neale's theory of "genre is instances of repetition and difference" in Letters to the free. This is shown by the video a music video with a message which is quite repetitive in the way he wants his message to be received. Music videos usually promote the artists however in the video it does not do that at all but promotes the political agenda making it not repetitive and it also does not use a close up in your face or a person walking through a dessert but its quite real and not showing his face shows its not with the intention to promote himself but to promote racial awareness making it not a standard music video.
2.) Billie Jean is promoting Michael Jackson as an artist.
(back this up with evidence from cinematography, editing, mise en scene)
Can you get Steve Neale in there? Can you reference Roland Barthes? (What does the black box signify?)
The music video Billie Jean however, is promoting Micheal Jackson. The message he is trying to get across is how famous he is, for people not to believe everything they see and read in the media and how he was treated as more of a target due to the colour of his skin. The white detective who we think is part of the paparazzi is strip people from their rights through them interfering in their private lives by finding gossip. This promotion for himself is shown by cinematography in a pan shot when Micheal Jackson comes in like we have to move with him and keep up with in but with the detective it was just a one shot and stationary demonstrating how Michael Jackson is too fast and too good for the detective. There is a shot reverse shot to the chorus shows different stories of the 2 people. The freeze frame clarify his he is a superstar of status. Michael Jackson is showcased to sell as a product through his dancing skills which require no back-up dancers because he is the central character and only one needed to shine, Making the artist a focus for the video puts them at the forefront of the audience’s mind and so they pay most attention to them. Likewise, being the first and last image on screen makes the artist the first and last impression. Moreover, close up and freeze frames centralises the artist to the music video and when he comes in the video, through editing the scene changes from black and white to colour almost like a metaphor to say he lights up the entire world. Furthermore, we see his feet first but the detective we see his face straight away. Not seeing his face builds tension . lots of flashing lights demonstrating the paparazzi. They also using split screen which makes him look like magic like Michael is incomparably superior to human beings even like a God. In mise on scene, the lighting is used to make him seem like an untouchable lightning king. the billboards are seen looking down on him, further evoking a sense of ‘watching’ and ‘looking’ portraying how he is always being watched by everyone around him (women/paparazzi) from all angles. He is so famous, he is never really alone . This video has a lot of moments of showing Jackson as a star. He’s shown literally turning everything he touches into “gold”, e.g. the Tiger and the Homeless man into wearing a suit. The particular image to the right is definitely aimed to show his star qualities of being able to do a very difficult dance move that has eventually been recognised to be one of his “signature” moves. Also he is shown giving money to the homeless man at the start, suggesting that’s what hes like in real life. The way he is being followed demonstrates how he is targeted as a black man, feeling like he was always accused of something due to his skin. overall, we see a viewpoint from Jackson about being accused and followed all the time, also he is promoting his high, famous status by centralising himself.
Barthes-
Enigma codes- story avoids telling the truth or revealing all the facts, in order to drop clues in through out to help create mystery. This drives the narrative forward because we want to know what happens next. unanswered enigmas tend to frustrate the audience. (we used it in newspapers how in the daily mail front page there is a 'turn over' bit which pushes us to read on which drives the narrative forward). This also can be found in music vids whee mysteries are established as the vid goes on. Narrative funtions to first establish, then solve.
Practise Question 2;
Letters to the free- is is because its a music video with a message. however its not because its not close up in your face or a person walking through a dessert, its quite real not fantasy.
Here’s how to answer this…
Music videos are seen as a promotion or advertisement of the artist. It creates a representation of an artist to market to an audience. This is reinforced through editing, cinematography and mise en scene. Letter to the Free by Common Feat Bilaal effectively borrows conventions from other music videos to create a unique product.
Examples of how Billie Jean makes suggestions about the artist. (Reinforced through editing, mise en scene, cinematography.)
Examples of how Letter to the Freemakes suggestions about the artist. (Reinforced through editing, mise en scene, cinematography.)
Now try these;
To what extent is Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean an example of intertextuality?
Its not
What do the exam board say?
Product: Music Video – Letter to the Free – Common ft Bilal
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Media Language
Detailed study of Letter to the Free should help students to develop an understanding of how music video can serve a range of functions while communicating multiple meanings.
Analysis should include:
• Mise-en-scene analysis
• Cinematography
• Semiotics: how images signify cultural meanings
• Aesthetics
Narrative
• How does Letter to the Free appeal to its target audience?
• How is the narrative being constructed by the song lyrics reinforced?
• How does the narrative position the audience?
• How can the narrative invite a range of responses?
• What pleasures does the narrative offer the audience?
• How is the narrative incorporating views and ideologies?
• What is the role of Common in the narrative?
Genre
• Identification of the conventions of the Performative music video.
• How music videos serve the needs of media producers
• How music videos meet the expectations of audiences
• Genre theory including Neale
Media Representations
Letter to the Free explicitly focuses on the history and contemporary experience of African Americans and allows for an exploration of the effect of social, cultural and political context on representations of ethnicity.
• Representation of ethnicity, with focus on how Common is a black man exploring black culture-specific issues.
• Use of specific historical and contemporary experience to construct a political narrative and argument
• The effect of social and cultural and historical contexts on representations of ethnicity • How representations invoke discourses and ideologies and position audiences
• Representation of gender within the video and in the context of wider representations of women in the music industry
• Representation of place
• Common as celebrity persona
• Theories of representation including Hall
• Theories of gender performativity including Butler
• Drawing on theories of Postcolonialism (Gilroy)
Social, political, economic and cultural contexts
Common is an Oscar and Grammy award winning hip/hop rap artist who wrote Letter to the Free as a soundtrack to The 13th – a documentary by Ava DuVernay named after the American 13th amendment (the abolition of slavery). His output is highly politicised, existing in the context of a variety of social and cultural movements aimed at raising awareness of racism and its effects in US society (e.g.: Black Lives Matter). The product can also be considered in an economic context through the consideration of if and how music videos make money (through, for example, advertising on YouTube).
Product: Music Video – Billie Jean– Michael Jackson
What needs to be studied? Key Questions and Issues
Media Language
Detailed study of Billie Jean should enable students to demonstrate appreciation and critical understanding of the historical development of music videos and allow for social, cultural and political comparison with contemporary CSPs.
Analysis should include:
• Mise-en-scene analysis
• Cinematography
• Semiotics: how images signify cultural meanings
• Postmodernism
• How developing technologies affect media language
Narrative
• Construction of a narrative and links to song lyrics
• Narrative appeal and pleasures offered
• Audience positioning and invited responses
• Narratology including Todorov
Genre
• How the music video genre uses intertextuality and hybridity to establish meanings
• The historically relative and dynamic nature of genre.
• How music videos serve the needs of media producers
• How music videos meet the expectations of audiences
• Genre theory including Neale
Media Representations
The music video promoting the Michael Jackson song Billie Jean was the first to breakdown MTV’s racial barrier as the first video by a black artist to be aired in heavy rotation
• Analysis of Billie Jean can help develop an understanding of the processes of selection and combination which construct versions of reality • How representations invoke discourses and ideologies and position audiences
• Representation of gender within the video
• Representation of time and place
• Michael Jackson as celebrity persona including self representation
• Theories of representation including Hall
• Theories of gender performativity including Butler
• Drawing on theories of Postcolonialism (Gilroy)
Historical, social, political, economic and cultural contexts
Billie Jean is of historical significance in that it is most often referred to as the product which came to define the music video genre and the MTV generation. It was the first music video by a black artist to be featured on heavy rotation by MTV. It can be seen to reflect the changing social, cultural and political sentiments in relation to ethnicity in relation to music artists and society at large. The product can also be considered in an economic context through the consideration of if and how music videos make money (through, for example, advertising on YouTube) and how this has changed over time.
.
Barthes-
Enigma codes- story avoids telling the truth or revealing all the facts, in order to drop clues in through out to help create mystery. This drives the narrative forward because we want to know what happens next. unanswered enigmas tend to frustrate the audience. (we used it in newspapers how in the daily mail front page there is a 'turn over' bit which pushes us to read on which drives the narrative forward). This also can be found in music vids whee mysteries are established as the vid goes on. Narrative funtions to first establish, then solve. |
TO ADD-
GILROY-
