Rihannas new post modern video S&M

Rhianna's new controversial music video S&M toys with the idea of sadism and masochism, which implies sexual gratification gained through pain or the degradation of others. The music video has been cencorsed and altered by many music channels and radio station. This exposes the hypocrisy of the industry as many music videos and songs show the exploitation of woman sexually, and lyrics include a variety of degrading terms, yet a issue such as this is attempted to be hidden away.

The video Rhianna has produced is a post modern parody of other music videos consisting of many typical conventions, for example the common use of phallic imagery such as the banana is a spoof of the overall sexual aesthetic that is so common is music videos today.

The videos hyperbolic editing is mocking at the extent of previous video's by making the edits so insanely quick it is almost vertiginous. This creates a serial, distorted effect altering reality echoed by the by de-focusing effects which makes the audience aware that they are watching a music video. This is re-uttered by the predominate close up shot using the effect of a fish bowl, which is a convention of many music videos. Throughout the video many effects are used such pulsing of the camera and the tilting in sync with the beat of the music, giving again the feel of a changing reality in a unconventional way, just like the music industry is.

In conjunction with this overly vibrant colours are used within the mise-en-scene to emphasize the reduced realism of the location, in doing this it also increases the hyper realism ideologies presented in the erratic and controversial issues in the narrative that are so exaggerated that’s its mocking how far music videos are pushing boundaries, such as lady gaga who has show issues such a mass murder, rape and prostitution. Here Rhianna is provoking the question as to how far they can go with these shocking and ‘original’ videos.

Finally the extreme costumes used signify a huge part of the video, here the director has taken costumes again to a hyperbolic level making them hyper real almost as if she is mocking other extremely creative artists such as Lady Gaga, she uses such influences such as the bondage aesthetic that echos that of lady gaga that portrays the postmodern resonance of the entire video. 

shooting update

This was our is first attempt at shooting and editing are video, however since reviewing the footage we have decided to take this as a first try preliminary task, and redo shooting with better costume, lighting and styling, all of which I will post screen shots of. However despite our first attempt not being as professional as we have hope it has enabled us to practise further camera skills, working on a variety of shots that are interesting, engaging and convey affectively the message we wish it to.

I think the effect of editing the lips from close up to extream close up on the chorus is a good idea however lips syncing needed to be tighter and edited on the beat , additionally the locations used were slightly limited so when shooting a second time we had changed to more locations such as outdoor again so that when editing the fast passed shots that are conventional of music videos today will be more appealing.

When we filmed again last week we had planned styling, makeup and props in greater detail, thinking of what each look would convey and shooting went much smoother. I will update with actual footage when uploaded and as had a rough edit.

How I created my artwork using Photoshop

Firstly I started out with the provocative image which connotes obsession with money, glamour, perfection and sexuality, but also the symbolism of a generation of passive woman who are mearly dolls at the control of the media and social expectations. I think this image is extremely striking and would appeal to an audience who desire ground breaking music that deals with such issues in a post modern yet humorous way. 

 To enhance the quality of the image I adjusted the auto levels in photoshop.

I then edited the colour levels to give the image a hyperbolic, serial aesthetic and also darken the edges of the image to create a mysterious, gothic effect to echo the darkness that can come with such ideologies.

I continued this theme by using the blur and smudge tool to distort the money around the doll, again creating the effect of an altered reality.

To tie in with conventions of an album cover I have changed the lip colour using the zoom and brush tool to a deep red, this is due to the recurring symbol of red lips to induce sexual connection's used though out music videos and album artwork.

I then added text to synchronise with the colour scheme however this is a temporary name till we come up with better more suitable options for the song and genre. Additionally I have added a parent advisory label, also conventional of controversial music.

Designing my own album art work

Before embarking on creating my own final album art work for my artist I have decided to first create preliminary covers in order to practise photo-shop techniques and play around with ideas and influences from currant inspirations that come from my industry research. I have used  pictures I have sourced from photography and music websites however for my finally piece will be using my own original images.

As I am particularly influenced by controversial and aesthetically provoking images on album covers that convey the synergy with grunge and glamour, encompassing the hybrid between destruction and desire i have chosen images to reflect this.

I came up with the idea of toying with the conventional idea of female glamour and beauty in a playful way which also makes a statement about the extreme that sex, beauty and destruction are taken too and how they are all interlinked. The lyrics to the song we have chosen include ' don't do love don't do friends I'm only after sucess'  ' i know exactly why i walk and talk like a machience' and 'tv taught me how to feel now real life has no appeal' this revels how from a young age girls are conditioned to think and feel that they have to aspire to be a embodiment of idealised perfection, conforming to to sociological boundaries and restrictions. The most commonly used motif for this is 'barbie' in which encompass's all that aspirational beauty, and the bases of most glamours ideals from which notorious pop artist such as Madonna, Britney, and currant such as Cheryl Cole and Pixie Lott stem from. However these image have a modern twist to expose what this obsession with perfection and the the media has, and its effect of young woman and artists. This theme can clearly been seen though the recurrence of drugs, money and most commonly sex in young female artist of today. Kesha for example consistently used lyrics such as ' love is my drug' ' lose your mind, lose your clothes' and 'boys trying to touch my junk' while dressed provocatively, yet still appear glamours, to younger audience this has the same idealistic effect as barbie does from a young age. I believe an album cover with such controversial pictures would highlight the extremities young artist are going to these days, almost spoofing them in a postmodern way to expose the hypocrisy of these 'feminist artists' and conveying my artist as ground breaking and innovative.

Here is a first draft of what the album cover would like,I have edited the picture my self in photo shop.
I believe the motif of the Barbie doll combined with American money symbolises the obsession, an intern destruction that idealised fame and beauty brings.

 I have been inspired by Nicki Minnajs 'pink Friday' cover which presents her as a armless Barbie conveys that the media engulfs woman, especially celebrity's in this ideal which they have no control or power over, they are just lifeless dolls which are passive to social and media expectations and demands.



My album artwork

Insperational Album Covers

I believe that it is predominately the synchronisation of a dominate, visually appealing image that provokes interest and intrigue into the artist and there ideologies, and well as a powerful and memorable album title that may comment politically, socially or sexually, conveying ideas behind the music and inspiration of the artist. These elements are key in gaining fan base, intern sales, and in standing out in an industry where, in the 21st century can appear to be extremely monotonous and  repetitive.

Here I have looked into currant albums covers which have a striking impact on the industry today, and effectinety portray their music message innovatively , which is defiantly my aim in producing a album for my group and I's artist.

The central message behind Lady Gagas 'The Fame' here is a clear statement about the facade of a fame obsessed capitalist culture, and the desires for wealth, perfection, and most certainly fame.
The motifs used in this image such as the glass's reveling the reflection of diamonds portrays the mask of glamour that society puts on in order to change their identity to idealized pure beauty. Additional sexuality is implemented here also with the recurring glossy open lips, a common symbol used increasingly in music advertisements which highlights the underlying sexual connotations in music through out the media.

The darkness used in the background, and the fact that the majority of the artists face is covered also presents mystery and ambiguity and to what the artist is about, raising questions, and gaining interest, again a devise used to draws further fan base.

I believe that  this combination of such a strong message in-conjunction with conventions such as a large domineering image of the artist is extremely powerful in terms of visual and intellectual attraction something I wish to embody when producing my album cover.

The paradoxically nature of this album cover from Kesha demonstrated by techniques of the juxtaposition of destruction with desire. The symbolism of sexuality, again shown by conventions of young female artist with pouted open lips, here highlighted in blue to draw attention, reemphasised by dark sultry eyes conveys provocative lust and danger. The use of the effect of the tear down the middle suggest that this erratic, rebel lifestyle that is present by this image is literally 'tearing her life apart' , echoed by the symbolism in the confusion of colours mixed in with black and white to infer instability and an anti conformist attitude. This is extremely intriguing and invites audience to gain interest in the story behind the cover.