Monday, 12 July 2010

Wordle - Development of Initial Ideas

Magazine Advertisement Deconstruction - Seasick Steve



Seasick steve was born in 1941 and writes his own songs which are usually about his earlier, casual life. The style of the poster is appropriate to the title of the album 'Man From Another Time'. The poster has an image of Seasick Steve framed by the black images and has the look of old, discoloured paper with black ink print showing old decoration with the swirls and detail of the black ink images. Also there is a pocket watch, which also links to far back into the past and there is an image of a gramophone which indicates another time when only records existed. Also there is an image of an old telephone linking back to 'another time'.
The font is an old style font which matches the music Seasick Steve creates because his music is old style country and blues. The text and images work together because they are both of the old style, same as Seasick Steve.
We can learn from the poster that the target audience who Seasick steve aims his music at is the older generation and we know in particular guitarists, but there's a lot of evidence that children enjoy his music, but seniors also enjoy his music. Seasick Steve has mastered how to reach to all age groups with his music.
The poster also advertises Seasick Steve's Concerts, providing the date and venue information.

Friday, 9 July 2010

9 Frame Analysis - Lady Gaga, Alejandro.


Shot 1 (0.33)- Is setting the scene and all we can see is the silhouettes of people standing on a ramp with bright lights behind them. It may be meant to look like a dark, mysterious place unlike earth, above them in this shot looks like one dark breakthrough in the clouds. The camera is centered and at the same level at the people beginning to descend down the ramp. The lighting is casting long thin shadows of the people and the place is very dark. The figures look mysterious, almost inhuman because of the shape of their head-wear.

Shot 2 (0.46) - In this frame it almost seems like the people are decent to a world, down the ramp of some UFO, spaceship style technology. The bodies of the peoples are now visible highlighting their toned shape, like their own personal armour. However, their faces are still dark and unrecognizable. We can see now that above them is what looks like metal framework and we can see the surrounding lights. The shot goes into a second of slow-motion, adding to the effect and the drums in the music slow to emphasize these peoples powerful presence.

Shot 3 (1.10) - This frame shows Gaga carrying a frozen, broken heart nailed together, and she is carrying it as though worshiping it, on its own little cushion, throne. Its as if the heart has been injured in war, in a battle. The camera is raised, looking down on the heart and the heart is a candy red, whilst the rest of the hot is dim and mostly black and grey, this makes the heart the focus of the shot.

Shot 4 (1.24) - There are men stood with guns to protect Gaga who is sat in a chair surrounded by, looking down on, her army or worshippers. Looking out into the snow, crowds can be heard on the track. Possibly Gaga is being portrayed as a God or ruler. The shot is very dark and the only light is shining through a window far in the shot.

Shot 5 (1.44) - This frame shows soldiers carrying a coffin, whilst Gaga walks in-front with the heart. It could be Gaga's love in the coffin and she is carrying his heart, or it could be Gaga's body in the coffin and she is in the afterlife, carrying her own, broken heart. Also it could be Gaga's 'old' body and she has been reborn, and she is now going to protect her heart from being broken again.

Shot 6 (2.03) - Gaga is making a speech which we hear in the music; 'I know that we are young and I know that you may love me, but I just can't be with you like this anymore, Alejandro.' As she makes this speech she is surrounded by her guards who are protecting her. This speech could mean anything. It seems to mean that her relationship with 'Alejandro' just cannot continue, that its not working out. Maybe he keeps her prisoner, and now she has an army to protect her and her heart against him from now on. The frame again is very dark with Gaga seeming to be the light of the picture. Also the coffin is in the being still being supported by her guards so this frame could also mean that she has killed Alejandro for the greater good, and that she is better off without him now. Or its her speech in her newborn life, maybe she took her own life to escape the one she had with Alejandro.

Shot 7 (2.31) - This frame shows Gaga sat in a chair smoking, looking down on what could be her army of slaves, or worshippers standing before her, framed by the arch of rock, or structure of the building. As in previous frames, Gaga is in the darkness and we see from behind her what she is looking at. Maybe the audience are getting a point of view from one of her guards.It is snowing, as it is in most of the video, possibly symbolising a cold, cruel, empty and harsh world. Even brutal as the video shows her army being beat and thrown to the floor.

Shot 8 (3.45) - Gaga is seen clutching prayer beads wearing a nuns habit and a wimple, this frame shows the strong religion in this video and Gaga is praying, begging as we hear her ask in the music, 'Stop, Please, Just let me go. Alejandro.' Could Alejandro be keeping her prisoner? Gaga is the light and focus of the video, with the bright white wimple.

Shot 9 - (8.23) - Gaga is laid on the bed with a man (assumingly Alejandro) sat up with a gun. Has he murdered Gaga? possibly because she didn't want him anymore? We saw in shot 8 that she was praying and begging, maybe she was begging for her life? Or maybe the coffin seen in shot 5 contains Alejandros body, and he has shot himself. Or it could be Gagas old body in the coffin after she has been murdered and she is then in another world, another life. Safe from Alejandro. Either way shot 9 shows an end to some life. Also in this shot, they are on strings like puppets being controlled from someone greater. Maybe Gaga was seen praying in shot 8 to the higher person controlling them, asking the puppet master not to have Alejandro shoot her.


The song contains mexican words and phrases and translated they mean:
Alejandro - Alexander
Roberto - Robert
En Su Bolsillo - In Your Pocket