Richard Dyer's Theory

Dyer has written extensively about the role of stars in film, TV and music. Irrespective of the medium, stars have some key features in common. These are that a star is an image, not a real person, that is constructed out of a range of materials such as advertisting and magazines. Stars are also all commodities produced and consumed on the strength in their meanings. Richard Dyer suggests that stars depend upon a range of subsidiary media, being magazines, TV, radio, the internet. These help to construct an image for the artist that can be marketed to the target audiences. The start image is made up of a range of meanings which are attractive to the target audiences.

Common features of music stardom would be:

• Rebellion
• Youth
• Originality
• Sexual magnetism
• Creativity and talent
• Aggression and anger
• A disregarding attitude towards social values like sex, drugs and polite behaviour
• Large Consumption of sex, drugs and material goods
• Success against the odds

Richard Dyer said that stardom is based on two key paradoxes. Paradox 1 being that the star must be simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary for the consumer. Paradox 2 being that the star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer. Fundamentally, the star image in incoherant, that is incompleted and 'open'.

Analysis of an Album Cover

Joan As Police Woman

Expression - she is looking up to the sky, which could suggest she is religious or spiritual, as well as free spirited. The movements she is making are reminiscent or pre Raphaelite paintings of bold expressions.

Colours - The colours red have a sexual reference, this is emphasised by the place the red is on, the lips and the chest. The green trees in the background, and the foggy smoke shows a mystical side of the artist. She is also wearing clothes to make her seem celtic, with the large necklace the beading cape on her shoulders an the crown she is wearing. The tattoo on her arm meaning 'infinity', suggests she is hippy-like and free spirited.

Styled - Her hair is not heavily styled; her face is hardly recognisable in the shot. This shows that the artist is more about the music rather then herself, making her more about the music rather then herself, making her more of an organic artist. However what you can see is the red lipstick, which does show sexuality.

Lighting - The lighting in this cover is natural, which shows the deep shadows under her cape, and the lightness around her head. This could be referred back to the relgious idea that she is free spirited.

Font - The font used is quite simple. The 'J' is elongated in comparison to the other letters. The shows that Joan is her name. The album cover name is also the same writting, and the same size as her name. This could suggest that her music is more important then the way she presents herself to her. The album is also in a red colour which emphasis this.

Ive never heard of this artist and looking at the album cover im lead to believe that she is a folk indie artist that is presented in an organic way, her music coming before herself.

Negus' Theory

The Organic Ideology is a naturalistic approach to artists. This is when the 'seeds of success' are within the artists, who have to be 'nurtuted' by the record company. The image of the artist is enhanced , giving them time to evolve and progress through their career. Emphasis is given to album sales and the construction of a succesful back catalogue. Often aimed at older or more sophisticated consumer. Profits generated by this kind of act tends to be part of long-term stratergy by the record company.

The synthetic Ideology is a combined approach to artists and material. Executives attempt to construct succesful acts out of the artists and the songs at their disposal. The record company often constructs the image of the artist. The artist will be given a short time to prove their success before other combinations will be tried out. Emphasis is given to single sales and to promoting first albums. Often aimed at younger, less sophisticated audiences. Profits generated by this kind of artist tend to be part of immediate, short-term stratergy by the record company.



What To Expect In A2 Media Coursework?

This year, just like AS, A2 media is 50% coursework and 50% exam.

The coursework involves producing a main artefact, two anciliary artefacts and an accompanying blog containing your research, planning and evaluation materials.

In the coursework we have to meet the following brief:

• A promo package with the following options:
• Cover for release on CD E.g. this Kate Nash CD cover  
• Magazine advertisement for a CD E.g. this Jay Z magazine advertisement

 

I also looked at the music videos last year on the Hurtwood Media account on YouTube. This was my favourite one:

 

 

Expectations of A2

The past year was very enjoyable in media and i learnt a lot about new media terms, how to use the camera, and the different music institutions. I achieved an A grade in AS which i am extremely pleased with. This year i'd like to maintain a good grade, and to do this i think i need to be more organised with completing work on time, and to go to as many as possible extra revision sessions.  i was excited to move onto my second year of being taught media. This years syllabus has more theory in it. We are going to learn about the different types of theorist such as Negus,, aswell as Star Image. For our coursework this year, instead of looking at thrillers we are going to look more into music video. I've looked at some music videos of the previous year on Hurtwood Youtube, and found you can really see the progression from AS to A2. Im looking forward to understanding more about the presentation of artists and why they are seen to be that way to the audience, for example Lady GaGas very eccentric look.

Lady GaGa seeming to be very sexualised, covered in meat on the cover of Vogue magazine on the left, and Lady GaGa as her normal-self to the right.

Im also looking forward to learning more about the filming, new shots, and getting more experience with the camera ready to film our recreation of a songs music video.