In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge

forms and conventions and real media products?

Tyrisha Lendor-Black

The main setting of my music video was carnival. By choosing this setting it not only uses but develops the forms and conventions due to the large scale of carnival shown within my music video. I chose to include such a vast amount to challenge the conventions as most videos only show brief clips from carnival or an individual within a carnival costume to reinforce the fact that they are representing the Soca genre and trying to incorporate the conventions of the genre. Within my media product, I used Ladbroke Grove as a main location. I chose to do develop an idea from a real media product after watching "Triniboi Joocie - dutty mas". This is as he is also trying to convey the same denotations of the video expressing the enjoyment of carnival. Furthering from this, I went on to develop the forms and conventions of the genre I am representing by using Ladbroke Grove. Not only did I just use this location, I used it when the carnival was actually being held. This has also been done by other artists such as Machel Montano in order to cultivate the narrative.

Setting/Location

Throughout my music video I have used many special effects however the main one was the use of split screens. I have done this to both use and challenge the forms and conventions of my genre. I have chosen to use it as many artists within Soca use split screens to denote them enjoying themselves at different events within the season this is also the reason why I used it. On the other hand, I was able to challenge the use of spit screens by using flashing split screens within my video as when doing research I did not see any other artist which done this.

Special effects

My actress is not introduced right at the beginning of the music video as I have used text to introduce my artist as well as the song title. Therefore, this challenges real media products and diverts from the stereotypical views as usually, the artists is the first person that the viewer will see. I have chosen to do this so that the theme of carnival and enjoying yourself as able to be expressed completely before the artist appears.

How characters are introduced

My main choice of costumes through my video is the use of oil for the JabJab men and brightly coloured costumes which denote the theme of carnival. My choices of costumes and props do not challenge the conventions of videos within my genre as real media products often show participants within carnival. The use of a Trinidad flag develops the stereotypical conventions at is a flag being flown at a carnival within the UK rather than one of the major carnivals within the Caribbean.

Costumes/Props

Throughout my media product I used a variety of camera work and editing. I used a close up of a man covered in oil to elaborate on a theme within my music video which was Jouvert. By including this, it uses forms and conventions of a real media products as many videos within the genre of Soca contain videos of 'Jab-jab'. However, I then went on to develop and challenge the forms and conventions by putting the jab-jab footage in reverse.I used an extreme close shot to show a man oiling himself up preparing themselves showing that they were preparing themselves for Jouvert allowing me to use the forms and conventions. By using an extreme close shot I was able to challenge this as Jab Jab and blue devils are usually shown in close or medium shots as they are often portrayed as ‘demonised’ and ‘corrupt’.

Camera work and editing

The narrative is introduced at the beginning of my music video as I have used videos of carnival within my artists name and song title. My music video would be seen to develop the forms and conventions of my genre and real media products as many artists within the genre often have their narrative based on the name of their song whereas my narrative is based on the ‘Journey to carnival’ over the summer period likewise to ‘Blaxx – Leh go’ where we see a random actor throughout the video.

Narrative