Friday 21 February 2014

Music Industry - Text - Olly Murs 30.4

Olly Murs - Genre




This will give you an idea of Olly's background:


Olly Murs


There is no one “correct” way to deconstruct a media message – each of us interprets media differently, based on our own knowledge, beliefs, experiences, and values. Just be prepared to explain your interpretation.


You should at this stage be able to deconstruct any text that you are shown.

Here is a list of questions you should be asking:


1. Who created this media message?  Why?  
All media messages are created. The creator could be an individual writer, photographer or blogger. In the case of a Hollywood movie, the scriptwriter, director, producer, and movie studio all play a role in creating the message. Ads are usually put together by ad agencies, but the “creator” is really the client – the company or organization that’s paying for the ad. The key point is: Whose message is this? Who has control over the content?
2. Who is the target audience?  What text, images or sounds suggest this?  
Media messages are intended to reach audiences. Some are designed to reach millions of people. Others may be intended only for one person. Most media messages are designed to reach specific groups of people – defined by age, gender, class, interests, and other factors – called the “target audience.”
3. What is the text (literal meaning) of the message?    Denotation.
We often use the word “text” to mean “written words.” But in media literacy, “text” has a very different meaning. The text of any piece of media is what you actually see and/or hear. It can include written or spoken words, pictures, graphics, moving images, sounds, and the arrangement or sequence of all of these elements. Sometimes the text is called the “story” or “manifest text.” For most of us, the text of a piece of media is always the same.
4. What is the subtext (unstated or hidden message)?  Connotation
The “subtext” is an individual interpretation of a media message. It is sometimes called the “latent text.” The subtext is not actually heard or seen; it is the meaning we create from the text in our own minds. While media makers often create texts that suggest certain subtexts, each person creates their own subtext (interpretation) based on their previous experiences, knowledge, opinions, attitudes, and values. Thus, two people interpreting the same text can produce two very different subtexts.
5. What tools of persuasion are used? 
See "The language of persuasion"
Media messages use a number of techniques to try to persuade us to believe or do something. If we can spot the techniques being used, we’re less likely to be persuaded, and more likely to think for ourselves.
6. What healthy messages are communicated? What unhealthy messages are communicated?  
Are there any messages that could be damaging to a section of society? Messages to do with healthy eating, eating disorders, are the consumers being encouraged to do anything that would be beneficial to them or is a behavior being encouraged that could damage a person or group?
7. What part of the story is not being told?
No one tells the whole story. Everyone tells part of the story from their point of view. Deconstructing a media message can expose the values and biases of the media maker, and uncover powerful messages.

You also know what codes to look out for. These are your starting point. 
At A2 level you really need to take your answers as far as you can.
What can you see? What are the connotations? Consider the target audience. What is the ideology to consider? 
Use the list above to develop your answers.

Task 1:
Use the list above to analyse Olly Murs' website


Consider:
  • Convergance/Social media
  • Mode of address/ Language of persuasion
  • Graphics
  • Interactivity
  • Information (think audiences)

Textual analysis of 'Busy'


Olly Murs the runner up in the Sixth Series of X-factor is arguably one of the competitions massive success stories, charting with hits such as "Please Don't let me go" and "Busy". 
In an analysis of Murs music video Busy we can see the regular conventions of a music video. The video portrays Olly in a backdated time around what could be guessed as the 1950's by going about his day to day events with his "girlfriend", while he performs.

The video is a hybrid between a performance and narrative. An interesting thing is that his girlfriend is a doll, so when Murs goes about his day to day life with her he isn't doing anything particularly exciting with her, which relates to the lyrics of the song too; 'BUsy doing nothing'. This can relate to Andrew Goodwin's theory of illustration.
At the end of the video she is also brought to life using a real actress to portray her closing the curtains, this is key to the lyrics of the video too, as it could make the artist look strange, and distorted.
The video briefly experiments with the notion of looking when there are close ups of an eye being paintied, as well as looking out the window at other couples, and what would be considered a normal relationship. 
The Mise-en-Scene is key in this video too, as it sets the scene of the time 1950's,  Murs, is very concious of his working class background and gives himself an "average joe" type image.





Task 2: 
Deconstruct the narrative of this video by Olly:





Consider: 





Task 3:

Discuss representation of gender on the following CD covers by Olly.
Consider:
  • Signifiers
  • Conventions
  • Iconography







Olly Murs 'Right Place Right Time' has a simple design to it; effective as it makes the picture itself bright making the title of the album and artist stand out. The facial expression of Olly is very much neutral and he is looking directly at the audience, this could suggest his confidence and the seriousness of his music. At the same time he has his hands in his pockets which has laid back connotations, he is carefree yet may have fun at times with his music.












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