Assignment 2 - Analysis

Introduction: Jon Bellion is an American singer that was raised in Long Island New York. He has released one top charted album and four mix-tapes. The album, that i will be analysing, "The Human Condition" was released June 10th 2016. Jon is currently signed to Visionary Music Group and Capitol Records. 

Visionary Music Group and Capitol Records have played a big role in promoting Jon Bellion as they have helped him get to many different high class platforms. They have marketed him by putting his songs on the radio they are associated with multiple times so that Jon could be recognised.

In this essay i shall be analysing the music video simple and sweet by Jon Bellion and the his album cover that comes along with it. Before anything, i feel that the target audience for this type of music videos would be for young teenagers as it really the lyric really talks about Jon's endeavour and struggle when it comes to love, and how now a days teenagers can relate to this type of music as this is usually the stage when they fall in love with someone. 

Music video:

Mise-En-Scene: 

Setting - this music video is set in an a variety of different exquisite locations, one of them being over a calm pool on the outskirts off New York to connote his life away from the buzzing city, his life away from his thoughts and feelings towards the girl he is singing about. His attempt to seek meditation and Independence from himself. The second location is in a snow coated forest to show the way he is feeling towards the girl, how she had once filled him up with emotions but now he is completely blank, lost and colourless like the snow. how the calm and sincere emotions Jon is feeling towards the girl he is singing about. Also the white snow connotes a gentle yet lost individual who is trying to get back the girl of his dreams.  Finally the last scene shows him over a fiery and this suggest finally him opening up and emitting all which he was confining about the girl he was talking about. 

 Costume - The costume that Jon is wearing is a  subtle white coloured shirt that blends in with the  background to connote his attachment towards  the girl he is singing to, and the blending in of the  shirt with the background shows the audience how Jon feels empty and unnoticed in front of the girl he is talking about.  Although, the use of the white shirt shows how the artist can be represented as someone who is open. In this case it shows Jon as being a character who is lost and is still trying to aspire to get noticed by this girl he is talking about.

NVC - The NVC of this video shows Jon giving a direct address to the camera so he can really show his emotions and facial expressions that are felt towards the girl. This represents him as someone who is really caring. However during the end of the video when he finally lets out all his emotions he looks away from the camera and looks as if he is in pain, as if he cant take keeping all of his emotions in anymore. The indirect address at the end shows how hurt he truly is without the girl. 

Lighting - The lighting of this whole video is very well lit through out to show the facial expressions of Jon and to show what he truly feels towards the girl he is singing about. Furthermore, even though the whole video is quite, quite showing Jon not expressing any real outcome of emotions, during the end when the music video takes a drastic turn and the beat becomes fast, the setting shows Jon behind a blazing fire, in a shadowing effect where no light hits his face but more of all the light being behind him. This reveals how Jon truly feels, there's a uncontrollable fire of emotions behind him yet he is still covered by his thoughts (the shadow) and cannot speak freely the girl he is thinking about. he is almost saying through imagery that he is letting all the emotions he is feeling out towards the girl. 

Props - the props that are used in this video in a samurai sword held by the female model in this music video with blood smeared on it to show what the girl he is thinking about is doing to him, she is hurting him when she is not around as she missed him so much.  For example the fact that she isn’t with Jon how Jon isn't expressing his emotions towards her is slowly killing him. (The producer is trying to show how when Jon keeps his emotions in is worse than bleeding how keeping his emotions in is hurting him)

Camera Shots - The video begins as a mid shot as Jon is floating above the cityscape in a meditative stance as he sings the song. The mid shot suggests how Jon is at one with his thoughts in this scene it suggest how the girl is playing with his thoughts as in the video the girl stands about him while walking around, as if she has control over him. However towards the end when the beat drops and Jon releases his emotions the shot changes to a low angle shot to show Jon in power, how finally he can now emit his emotions he felt towards the girl without being in control. 

Editing - The cuts in this music video are relatively smooth, meaning that if you were not paying attention you wouldn’t realise them. Moreover the smooth cuts show how Jon is feeling at the moment about the girl (not opening up), but then during the end when the cuts become more frequent and more unexpected it connotes chaos of his emotions. To show because he was holing all his emotions in they have now subsequently all streamed out. 

Colour - The colours used in this music video are typical pop colours, in a sense that they are bright white colours to show off the positive vibe that Jon is trying to show the girl. And then during the end the colour scheme changes drastically into dark red and black colours to represent what Jon is actually feeling. The use of black for sadness, and the use of red to show pain for love. So this music video has a contrast of colours, starting from simple militaristic white colours to darker colours to show how in the light when in the moment Jon cant emit his emotions but when he's more confined and hidden he can.

Album cover analysis-

Setting- the setting in this album cover is very lively, because we see a range of fluorescent coloured flowers and grass as well as, dreamy milky sky, to represent how Jon is in a happy place with no worries and no problems. He is in a place where everything is perfect. Furthermore if you look in the background you can see how people falling into the pit behind him, to show how his success has not come easy, to show how at one point he was back there with all those people trying to make it out, and now that he is out his life is complete and struggle free. Moreover the stars that make the signs on the top of the album cover are actually Greek mythology for signs of power honesty care and respect, showing the audience that he is someone who a genuine guy with no faults in him.

Costume - The clothes that Jon is wearing in this album cover are simple plain clothes to appeals to the audience, to show them that he is not an artist who is not into richness and ‘bling’ like most artists now a days he’s more into producing great music rather that producing music for the money.

Props - The first thing we realise is Jon holding that drum machine, the piece of musical instrument that sums up most of his songs. It is very significant that Jon put this piece of equipment her as this shows that no matter where he is he is always thinking of way to produce music. Furthermore, the tattoo of the music tab on his chest shows how Jon is so attached to his music he has it impaled onto his chest to display how touched and how much music means to his heart.

NVC - in this album cover it shows Jon looking off into the distance to peruse something else. As if he is showing his audience he is always thinking of new ways to improve. As if now he is made it out of the pit he wants to find a different path a path that gives his audience more. Also, the fonts used in this album cover are very gentle lights fonts that has a slightly different shade to the background to make it very subtle to the eye. To show how is music is very genuine and original. 

Synergy -  is represented between the album cover and the music video as in the music video it shows Jon as being self-confined to then eventually letting his emotions out towards the end. This is then shown through synergy in the album cover as it displays how he has fled from the stage of the pit behind him (keeping his emotions in in the music video during the start) to then showing him finally coming out and making it into the light and glory (during the end of the video where he finally talks about his emotions)

Terminology
Media production
Representation

Assignment 1 - Print advert

The target audience for this perfume advert is for middle aged men (around 20-30). This advert appeals to this audience do to the formal look given to the picture. This is shown by using a suit as the costume. However instead of having the normal footwear (dress shoes)  for the formal skateboarder I gave him skating shoes to convey that the perfume is for the stylish yet active man who doesn't follow the logistics of a stereotypical business man.

The props used in this perfume advert are the swung over coat and the skateboard. The coat is placed in this way as it gives the impression that the model is in a hurry. Plus the use of the skateboard gives the advert a feel of in-formlessness, and changes the whole models look from formal to sporty. The indirect address shows how he is too focused on what he is doing to care what is happening around him. It brings out the focus and success in you.

I would think that this advert would probably be posted in an entrepreneur's business magazine as it would not appeal to formal people, but it would also be useful for outgoing people who strive to be better in social aspects aswell

Assignment 1 - Analysis

Valentino advert:
The target audience of this advert is middle aged (35-40) men due to the potent stare and the prominent clothing the model is wearing. This not only displays him as a auspicious individual to men but more distinctively a savvy person.

The way the brand name is displayed is very effective in the image because it is shown in a vintage method. By vintage I mean each individual letter is distinctive and neat. Not to mention the small wording underneath the brand name in the image, "UOMO" which means mankind and humanity in Italian. This not only shows that this product is fitting for whomever uses it, but also shows the diversity inside you. As 'mankind and humanity' implies the feeling of well-being and peace with all religions and cultures.

Mise-En-Scene: the setting of this picture appears to be an old picturesque city to show off the classy vibe that emits from the vintage housing in the back. The costume that has been used is a traditional slim fitted suit to give the impression of the model to be a rising entrepreneur. This connotes that the perfume is for the successful man due to the formal line of clothing being displayed. NVC is shown as if the man is in deep thought, yet still fully aware of his surroundings. I say this as if you look at his intense stare you can see that he is thinking or paying attention to something whilst still giving off a look as if he is in full awareness. The lighting in this photo is high key. I say this because even though the whole picture is in black and white (to project the vintage feel of the whole photo) the model's face and key features are still clearly shown in the general photo; this almost isolates the model so that the audience can clearly see each and every detail as well as the emotions that the model is producing. This represents him as someone who works alone. How his success comes within.

The shot used is a mid shot, as it shows the model from waist to the top of his head. The indirect address is used because of the direction the model is looking. He isn't looking directly into the camera hes looking more towards the side to show him in thought. Moreover, there is a shallow depth of field, as the model is the only one in the whole picture that is in sharp focus whilst the background is out of focus to distinguish the man objects in the picture. The colours used in this photograph are not varied at all, Its just black and white; however, this does not only give an antique feel to the whole picture but gives the perfume a classy look to it, as that is the only object that is in full colour.

Heat perfume advert:

This perfume advert shows Beyonce as tempting proactive female due to the NVC that she is exhibiting. The target audience for this advert seems to be for young women (20-25) because of the model's youthful complexion; from her clear skin to her symmetrical like face.

The way the brand name is displayed is appealing due to the simplistic style of the font being a distinctive capital red colour. This makes it stand out and gives the advert a whole feel of lust as red usually connotes the desire for love. The slogan here is very effective, it reads 'catching fire' this shows Beyonce (the model) as a influential women as usually women generally wouldn't be the ones who get out of their comfort zone and 'catching fire' shows Beyonce as a inspirational role model. This also subverts the stereotype that women are usually the ones who keep to themselves as Beyonce is shown here as a women who is open to anything as if she isn't weak she can do anything a man can do.

Mise-en-scene: the way the dress is exhibited is successful as it shows the dress to be very revealing. Moreover the silk almost gives the model a alluring look as it beams and reflects in the high key lighting to exhibit off the charming feel. This almost is again the opposite of the stereotype as women are mostly asked to cover up. This connotes that the perfume is for the confident independent women, a women who doesn't go by the rules. This almost shows how the perfume opens up the senses you never knew you had.

The NVC of this picture shows Beyonce as remarkable and brave due to the direct address that is being displayed. This once again subverts the stereotype of women to be shy and not confident. As usually women would give an indirect address, (to show they are shy and not confident) whereas Beyonce over her is looking straight into the camera with a powerful stare.

Moreover, because Beyonce is a talented, famous and beautiful celebrity, it has a huge impact on the ad as one of the greatest elements that produce interest in a product is the model that is being shown. And because of this the ad effects the target audience by using a well-known celebrity to endorse it. (celebrity endorsement)

The shot used in this advert is a long shot to show all of Beyonce's features and to show how she is in the perfect shape. This connotes her to be an ideal and faultless role model for women-however, to some audiences this may be "over glamorizing" due to the unrealistic beauty standards set by her.

Beyonce and the perfume are in hard focus, and they are clear and visible, whilst contrasting the blurry background. This outlines Beyonce and the perfume as the subject of the advert. The colours used in this advert are elegant chrisom shades, this shows Beyonce as an irresistible women, as red usually connotes love and lust and the use of different shades of red display her as tempting, due to the way she is posed.

Terminology
Media language
Audience