Secondary Sources and Points for my Research Investigation

How male alternative underground artist create much more different and maybe negative representation of themselves because of the freedom they have.

Source: http://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/mm/subscribers/downloads/archive_mm/mmagpast/mm42_hiphop.html


How mainstream artist create music videos for promotion and the artist are represented as stars.
Source: Studying popular music culture - Tim Wall 2003, chapter ten, representation, Stars as individuals.


How underground artist go mainstream to promote themselves, gain money and a bigger audiences and then change back to creating underground music.
Source: Media, Gender and Identity - David Gauntlett 2002, Music for boys chapter, Eminem: Role Model. 

Stereotypical representations of men in mainstream music.
Source: Angela McRobbies feminist theory
Source: Media, Gender and Identity - David Gauntlett 2002, Music for boys chapter, page 221.

Targets

Targets:

• Complete all independent learning to deadline
• Complete all work to full potential and not just half finished on blog

Target to complete by end of this week:

• Catch Up on all work not completed: TV and Genre Lesson 2  

            

Sherlock Holmes

'How similar are the genre conventions used in the 1968 episode of 'A Study in Scarlet' to the 2010 'A Study in Pink'.

 
  The episode 'A Study in pink' was first broadcasted in 2010 and is a reboot loosely based on the 1968 episode 'A Study in Scarlet'. When watching the 1968 episode and comparing it to the 2010 episode I noticed key parts in the narrative that were rebooted and changed to fit the narrative in the 2010 episode. Firstly the setting and some of the main characters names, personalities and appearances stayed similar, E.g. Sherlock's character dresses very similar in the 2010 episode by wearing a smart suit but however looses the detective cap, the waistcoat, the tie and the pipe. However some of these props and parts from the old Sherlock in 1968 get replaced/ modernised, such as the pipe gets changed for nicotine patches when Sherlock is thinking and the tie gets replaced with a scarf. Sherlock's characters personality and overall persona stays very similar as well with him being very smart and quite confident with his information, also the way Sherlock in both the episodes gets quick angry with himself or really happy when he or someone else such as the killer makes a mistake. However I do feel that the have changed the 2010 Sherlock Holmes by making Benedict Cumber batch act much more cocky and cheeky through the comments he makes. I feel they've done this in the newer reboots to add comedy aspects to the genre to appeal to a bigger audience. 


The character 'Dr. Watson' has also changed quite a bit from the 1968 episode because now he is a much bigger character in the 2010 narratives and holds much more mystery about him and his past through the way he is introduce into the episode 'A Study in Pink'. In the 1968 episode he was less of a main character and he would just follow Sherlock Holmes to keep him company and help him out a bit. However conventions of this character have also been kept such as how in both episodes he is always quite surprised in Sherlock and always wonders how he figures out and gains his information though clues etc. Also Dr Watson talks about the army past in both episodes. Mrs. Hudson has also been rebooted as a character and looks very similar as well through the costume she is wearing in both episodes. I fell her character has been change slightly to much more happy, talkative character as we see in the 2010 episode. As well as characters, we also have the setting of 'baker street' that has kept the same. Also the layout of the small flat is also very similar in both episodes.  

For the episode 'A Study In Pink' I noticed that they have taken many key elements from the episode 'A Study In Scarlet' and have changed them slightly to fit in the new narrative so that it is slightly different and unique. The word 'Rache' that was written in blood on the wall of the room meaning 'revenge' in German was changed in the newer episode and was engraved on the floor and was change so that Sherlock noticed that she missed the 'L' and was meaning to write Rachel.
In both narratives there was also a mistake by the killer that helped Sherlock complete the case in the older episode it was because of a ring and in the newer episode it was because of the phone. I feel that the narrative didn't stay the exact same because of how Mark Gatiss wanted the modernise the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Overall I felt from watching both episodes that the genre of the 1968 episode was more of a detective mystery genre and the 2010 reboot episode has shifted throughout the years and changed to a detective cop drama genre series because of the different conventions and narratives that are used. In the new series we see a lot more of cops, detectives and investigators which reminds me a lot of the crime investigation drama 'C.S.I'. We also see non linear parts of the episodes which explain more and go in depth on the past about characters such as Dr. Watson which gives a drama aspect to the narrative. However in the older episode in 1968, the narrative was very plain and linear and just focused on Sherlock Holmes finding clues to find a killer at the end of the episode.        

Doctor Who: Christmas Specials

The Runaway Bride is a Dr Who Christmas special which aired in 2006. This trailer included David Tennant as the doctor (who was also in the previous years Christmas special 'The Christmas Invasion') and Catherine Tate as donna (Dr Who's new companion). When watching this trailer, I felt that it was very similar to the 'Christmas Invasion' episode because of how it was set in London and also the same Santa villain characters were used. In the trailer we are introduced to this new companion for the doctor (Donna). In the Christmas invasion episode  we were also introduced to David Tennant who is the new doctor. Both these episode are very similar because they use these special episodes to be able to introduce new characters/actors of characters but without affecting the new series.

Voyage of the Damned is the third Christmas special of the new rebooted doctor who series. This episode aired in 2007 and was one of the most watched doctor who episodes of all time. This episode is very different compared to the last two because of how it is a extended episode from the narrative "last of the time lords" and is also based around the historic event of titanic. In this trailer we also don't get shown many props, costumes or location to do with Christmas.

The Next Doctor is the fourth doctor who Christmas special which aired in 2008 of the rebooted series. In the trailer we see a montage of different doctors from the new rebooted series and also the old series. This trailer involves a few clips with dialogue of old doctors talking about regeneration and also change that happens. In the trailer we also don't see much of the Christmas theme throughout and I feel this episode is more to do with character development and inform new audiences more about the regeneration process that happens in doctor who.      

The End Of Time episode Is very different to the other trailers that I have seen because it feel like more of a dramatic episode and from the dialogue we hear in the trailer and the music it almost feel like quite a horror/sad episode. In the trailer we also see a different side to the doctor because he is less humorous and much more serious in the way he speaks. Near the end of the episode we also get close ups of the doctor and hear him say "I'm going to die". 

A Christmas carol is the first Doctor who special with the doctor being played as a new actor (Matt Smith) in the new rebooted series. The narrative for this episode is inspired by the Charles Dickens novel 'A Christmas Carol'. In this episode we see the doctor go back in time to save a falling spaceship and make a character called Karsan. Throughout the episode we see a christmas theme throughout shown through props, weather (snowing), dialogue, costumes etc.

'The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe' is a episode very similar to 'A Christmas Carol' and 'Voyage of the Damned', because of how the narrative plays on a older film/ historic event or book (The lion, the witch and the wardrobe). This episode is Christmas themed because of how straight away in the trailer we get told in the dialogue and see a christmas tree. I feel that they have focused less on using sic-fi conventions because of how its set in the past and included much more action and horror throughout because of how there are many scenes of fire and destruction and we are also scared for the boy.

'The Snowmen' christmas episode is a episode that is very similar to 'The runaway bride' because of how we are introduced to the doctors new companion (Klara). Its a very christmas themed episode because how it is based around snowmen and christmas overall. 

Doctor Who: Love & Monsters

Doctor Who Love and Monsters (2006)

Theory 1 - Robert Warshow from 'The Gangster as Tragic Hero' 1948: 'One goes to any individual example of the type with very definite expectations and originality is to be welcomed only in the degree that it intensifies the expected experience without fundamentally altering it' 

The episode 'Love & Monsters' can be applied to the this theory by Robert Warshow because of how this doctor who episode includes much more originality and balances out the episode by using less sci-fi conventions and including much more comedy and romance conventions than the doctor who series normally would through the use of characters and overall narrative. This episode I feel has included to much originality to the point were we see less of our expectations of the sci-fi series. Comparing this episode to other Doctor Who episodes I felt that many sci-fi elements of the series were not included and felt that in other episodes the balance between sci-fi and other genres tended to shift much more to sci-fi. I felt this episode was more balanced because even though there was a lot of comedy and romance, the overall narrative did include a lot of sci-fi conventions as well by still using the main series iconography, such as the 'Tardis', the 'Sonic Screwdriver' and the use of an alien villain.    

Theory 2 - Rick Altman from 'Film/Genre 1996: 'Not all films engage spectators' generic knowledge in the same way and to the same extent. While some films simply borrow devices from established genres, others foreground their generic characteristics to the point where the genre concept itself plays a major role in the film. 

The episode also reflects Rick Altmans theory because of how conventions of comedy and romance have been included through the characters they have used and the overall narrative. In this episode the comedian Peter Kay was playing the main alien villain (The Abzorboloff). Rick Altmans Theory talks about how different audiences interpret differently. In this episode many fans (Whovians) of the Doctor Who series felt that because using the comedian Peter Kay in a comical way by playing a northern alien character, they felt that it was a parody episode/spoof. Digital Spy's Dek Hogan criticised Kay's performance, calling the Abzorbaloff "a marvellous idea and it's a pity his creativity was absorbed by a turn from a visiting comedian". Stephen Brook of The Guardian stated that he "hated" the episode, describing it as a "parody of Doctor Who fans". However other public viewers/ non hardcore fans of the series, including myself, might interpreted this differently because of how if they don't watch doctor who a lot or never they wouldn't know the original narrative structures, the amount of sci-fi conventions used and the use of iconography or characters used in the narrative. Romance elements were also used through the use of the group in the narrative called 'LINDA'. The group 'LINDA' was also interpreted as a parody by a lot of fans, because they felt it was a negative representation of them. Romance was shown throughout the narrative with the characters Elton and Ursala. Adult humour was also included at the end of the narrative when Ursala's face was on a slab and Elton was talking about how they still have a sexual relationship which audiences will interpret differently according to there age.      

Music Video Research Proposal

For my research investigation I have chosen to research into how men are represented differently in mainstream music 'Vs' Alternative 'underground' music. This will help me to be able to know ways in which I should represent male character(s) in my music video production. I have chosen to look at the hip-hop and rap genre and look at big well-known artists creating mainstream music and comparing the representations in their music videos with alternative underground artists music videos. I chose to look at the hip/ hop rap genre as a reference in my research investigation because of how it is a very male dominated genre and also the controversy that is caused between artist and their audiences. Many UK rap artist that get signed and start to create much more mainstream music often get called 'sell outs' because of how their overall representation might change through their appearance, lyrics and in their music videos because of how the money and their record label has changed them to appeal to the mainstream audiences.

These are the hunches that I feel I am likely to find out about my investigation due to experience of listening to mainstream and alternative music and also watching the music videos: I feel that Mainstream male artist will have more structured music videos that will include all aspects such as narrative, performance, use of lighting & camera affects, etc. Lyrics and hook/chorus will be very catchy. They will be represented in a positive way by rapping/ singing less about negative problems and involve less or no swearing so that their song will be appealing to a wide audience including young children. However a lot in hip hop/ rap videos, especially American hip hop, women get sexualised by wearing revealing clothing and seductively dance around the men. The chorus/ hook of the song will probably match with the music video by repeating clips. Also the music videos will have a much higher budget and look more visual impressive than underground alternative artists videos. Underground alternative male artists are going to be represented in their videos as much more honest about themselves and their music. The subjects they will rap/ sing about will probably be about crime, poverty, fame, money, drugs, girls, cars, guns etc. Will have more freedom in what they do, wear and say in their music video because they are not trying to please mainstream audiences.

Tarzan 2.5 Versace (cover) came out late September and is by a rapper and singer called Dappy, who used to be a very mainstream artist when he was in a very successful group called N-Dubz. Since Dappy has split with the group he has released one track that became mainstream back in 2011 called, No Regrets. Since then Dappy has focused more on creating underground alternative Rap that has been published on the leading youth broadcaster 'SBTV'. Music videos have been released such as 'F**k them', 'Tarzan 1,2 and 2.5', 'Intro' etc.

I chose to analyse this track (Tarzan 2.5) because of the controversy that happened when it got released. About a week after this video was released it got removed from YouTube because of the news clips at the start of the video showing Dappy getting harassed by paparazzi as he entered court. In this video Dappy is represented as a very rebellious, dominant male because of how throwing this party and he's got all these girls and guys surrounding him as he raps. The main setting for this video is in this posh, expensive mansion (supposedly Dappy's house), Different locations also are used throughout the video such as outside his garage, on his bed, in his house and outside by the pool. The people we see in this video are mostly women and there are about 4-5 men that are normally around Dappy, dancing and drinking. The other men are also represented as dominant, powerful, rich characters because of how they all have gold chains and women surrounding them dancing seductively. However even though the other male characters are shown as powerful characters, Dappy is the main focus and is represented as the most 'stereotypical man' in the video because of how he is shown as masculine (girls stroking his body), powerful, aggressive and rebellious (Raps about not agreeing with his neighbour). These are stereotypical manners of men which Angela McRobbies's talks about in her feminist theory. The women in the video are also represented as being seductive and various close ups are shown in the video of the women which is talked about in Laura Mulvey's 'Male Gaze' Theory. In Dappy's lyrics he also refers to women as 'hoes' and 'bitches' whilst they are stroking and hugging him, this is also talked about in the feminist theory as women being weak and subservient to men. These theories also apply to mainstream music, E.g girls are dancing around Jason Derulo in his new music video called Talk Dirty To me. 

Angela McRobbies's feminist theory is about the stereotypical gender roles in the media. Men being shown as masculine, powerful and aggressive. Women being stereotyped as weak, subservient to men and playing traditional roles in society. Also could use Laura Mulvey's 'Male Gaze' Theory which explains how women are sexualised in the media, especially film and music videos, are used to 'gaze' at making men or the gazer superior. Jonathan Schroeder who is another theorist in 1998 also talked about his view on this 'male gaze' theory, "to gaze implies more than to look at - it signifies a psychological relationship of power, in which gazer is superior to the object of the gaze". These theories I feel will be very useful because I will be able to apply them to other genre of music as well and use them further for how I will represent males in my further production.  

I chosen to also use an article from 'Media Magazine' called 'Odd Future, Stranger Past – Issues of Representation in Contemporary Hip-Hop' which Phil Dyas talks about and explores the issues of representation in Hip-Hop music. He talks about the history of hip hop and how its change and also talks about a American rapper called 'Tyler The Creator who is part of an American rap/hip hop music group which just sits outside of mainstream rap, however still have a massive fan base. Phil Dyas talks about tradition of the 'thuggishness’ stereotype and how other artist such as Tyler The Creator, jay z etc. represent themselves.

I feel for my primary research that I am going to include the use of observation by watching a lot of music videos to see how men are represented in more genres and other types of music videos and I am also going to create questionnaires so that I can find out other peoples opinions on the matter of how men are represented in music videos. I will be looking for qualitative information and distribute the questionnaires to a variety of people from different backgrounds, ages and genders.