Artist representation - T.I

The rap artist T.I is known for his skill in rapping and his music videos. Songs such as 'Dead and gone', 'Live your life', 'Rubberband man', 'What you know', 'Whatever you like' and many more. Each music video will have a different representation of the artist, there may be many representations in one single video, but each will tell a story about him.

http://www.wat.tv/video/i-feat-rihanna-live-your-life-hq-136j6_9moe_.html

For example, in this video above, T.I ft Rihanna - Live your life, the artist is first represented as a someone who has been beaten up by thugs, someone who possibly is with the wrong kind of people and has upset someone. He is then shown as the rich, upper class character, with the suit, with the white tie, that he was before he went to this 'meeting'. The story is represented in reverse, in order to make the viewer wonder why he is initially bleeding and by the looks of his motions and body, in pain.













If we were to compare this with T.I - What you know, we would see a comparison in the representation made here.

http://vodpod.com/watch/289024-t-i-what-you-know-about-that-video

He is now represented as the 'thug' that were his enemies in the other video. We know this through the mise en scene and editing. He wears black clothing, with includes hoodies, balaclavas over the mouth,, and also wearing sunglasses to hide his identity. He then dresses up with this 'upper class' figure again, creating a comparison to his original appearance, but also showing how he hides his real identity to others when he meets them, as he wears a suit when he goes to a show.

Editing has also been used ot represent him as this 'thug' figure. As he is shown in motion punching, the screen shakes, as if he is a powerful figure and also dangerous. Slow motion is used as he turns his head, creating a suspicion about him, as it creates the appearence of being ghost-like. Also like every rap artist, his record label is advertised alot within the video, to show it off and get noticed.

Looking at music videos and video directors influences

We were given two different music videos, which we were only allowed to listen to the music, and then in groups consider what WE would think of making for the video for it.

The first video was by Rancid, called Timebomb, which itself sounds like a modern song which could be by someone like The Ordinary Boys or someone similar, but infact in the video the band is represented as rebellious 'punks' playing in an abandoned building.

In my group this is what we came up with for ideas to make the video for this;

Mood:
Cheerful, crazy, upbeat

Actions:
Bouncy castle, circus, trampoline, candy/sweets, quick cuts, circus dancers, pier, unsteady camera, party, performing on the bouncy castle.

But in fact, we were completely wrong in our idea compared ot the one which was made. This does not mean that our idea is a bad one, just that we have a completely different imagination in comparion to the actual video director to the song. This is what the real music video looks like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwIbb3McVW4


The second video we listened to was called We know something you don't know, by DJ Format. Our initial ideas were really different to what was made, but some of our ideas were there.
Here is what we came up with;

Mood:
Floating, relaxed, authority, urban

Actions:
Driving/cruising, polics, cocktails, lilos, New York, women, bling

The actual video contained people in animal suits hip hop dancing and rapping, which was very random, but very effective with the song itself. This gave me a great insight on the kind of ideas people can have which will differ from eachother, from listening to just one song.

Looking at the Beastie boys

A music video by these artists that breaks the rules of music videos is 'sabotage'


Although this may just look like an old fashioned spoof of a 70's style police programme, it is infact a music video, which contains a story within it and although it may not be illustrative with the song, it does work will with the video, as it is therefore disjunctive, representing the artists as rebellious and somewhat with authority and power, which with the use of mise en scene for the clothing and sunglasses, with the adventurous camerashots such as fish-eye lens, zooms and constant unsteady-cam, you begin to aspire to them.

Looking at Spike Jonze

One of his most well known creations for a music artist, is the video Björk - It's oh so quiet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1A_uSEjTIQ

Here is a list of the notes written down during a screening of the music video, thinking how to deconstruct a music video, compared to film clips that we were used to.

• Lighting effects match tempo and structure of song
  
• Synchronous
  
• Borrows from musical and form of intertextuality
  
• Centrally framed for singer
  
• Distinctive orange dress, contrast to others
  
• Represented as energetic, bubbly, qwerky, despite the fact that she is pregnant
  
• Contrast in opening, to catch the viewer's eye and create a complete comparison to the character
  
• Horror, dirty, run down bath room, water and light sounds
  
• Slow tracking, synchronous/illustrative with music
  
• Whizz pan, sense of energy
  
• Borrows from musicals - Tin man
  
• Vulnerable, wind slow motion clip
  
• Pace in music, camera faster
  
• Continuity editing, stunt double
  
• Birds eye view, umbrella theme (singing in the rain)
  
• Crane/symbolism, star, happy, in love.