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AY13 Media - CSPs > Music Video - Ghost Town, The Specials > Flashcards

Music Video - Ghost Town, The Specials Flashcards

1
Q

Representations - what does the aesthetic of the video, along with the lyrics, represent?

A

Unease about the state of the UK (Thatcherism), transcending specific political ideology that has remained politically & culturally resonant.

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2
Q

Representations - what are the representations presented in the video?

A

Racially diverse.

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3
Q

Representations - what do the racially diverse representations presented in the video reflect?

A

Musical genre of ska, a style read politically in the context of a racially divided country.

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4
Q

Representations - representations of Britain’s emerging multiculturalism are reinforced through an _______ mix of ____________ in the ______ & _____.

A

a) eclectic
b) stylistic influences
c) music
d) video

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5
Q

Context - what is ska music?

A

A fusion of Jamaica reggae with American R&B in the 1960s.

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6
Q

Context - how was ska music brought to the UK?

A

By Caribbean immigrants.

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7
Q

Context - despite _______ songs reaching Top __ in the ___ frequently, it was still often ________.

A

a) reggae
b) 10
c) UK
d) criticised

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8
Q

Context - what did reggae music become known as?

A

An ‘underground code of defiance’.

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9
Q

Industry - who was the director?

A

Barney Bubbles

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10
Q

Representations - the video combines _____ shots of a ________ East End of _______ with the band in a 19__ _______ Cresta lip syncing.

A

a) eerie
b) deserted
c) London
d) 1962 Vauxhall Cresta

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11
Q

Language - what does the mise-en-scene and cinematography of the video seem to refer to?

A

A range of film styles including British social realism, thriller and horror genres.

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12
Q

Language - what does the expressionist lighting of the video draw attention to?

A

The different meanings of the lyric ‘ghost town’.

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13
Q

Representations - what is the strong political message of the video a challenge to?

A

The audience with a direct mode of address which is both angry and plaintive

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14
Q

Representations - how was the video unusual for its time?

How might people have reacted to this?

A

It conveys a strong social message (in contrast to the dominant style of pop music in the charts at the time).

People might have been shocked by it.

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15
Q

Context - how did cultural critic Dorian Lynskey describe it as?

A

‘A remarkable pop cultural moment’, one that ‘defined an era’.

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16
Q

Context - there was _________ social ______ in the UK at the __________ of the 19__s.

A

a) increasing
b) tensions
c) beginning
d) 1980s

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17
Q

Context - the song was number ___ in the charts post _______ and during the __________ and ______ riots.

A

a) one
b) Brixton
c) Handsworth
d) Toxteth

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18
Q

Economic context - how were opportunities for revenue directly from music videos in 1981?

A

Very limited

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19
Q

Economic context - where was the economic value in music videos in 1981?

A

A marketing tool to advertise the single.

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20
Q

Economic context - why was using music videos as a marketing tool in 1981 particularly important?

A

Broadcast shows were popular, eg Top of the Pops

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21
Q

Economic context - how can the Ghost Town music video make money now, in 2021?
(2)

A

On YouTube with revenue opportunities through viewing & advertising.
Provides a link to The Specials YouTube channel with opportunities to purchase material.

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22
Q

Economic context - what are ways music videos can make money on Youtube in 2021?
(3)

A

Monetisation
Sponsorship
Merch annotations

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23
Q

Industry - what did the director of Ghost Town (Barney Bubbles) say about the power of music videos?

A

It can sell a record that may not have done so well.

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24
Q

What does Andrew Goodwin outline music videos contain?

5

A

Links between visuals & lyrics.

Genre characteristics.

Intertextual references.

Objectification of females.

Demands of the record label.

25
Q

Who outlines music videos contains certain aspects, such as intertextual references and the objectification of women?

A

Andrew Goodwin

26
Q

Paul Gilroy - how are The Specials evident of Black Atlantic diasporic identity theory?

A

Representative of ska - an international hybrid music genre

27
Q

Postmodernism - what are the 5 main features of current pop culture that reflect postmodern influences, as outlined by Dominic Strinati (1995)?

A

Breakdown of the distinction between culture & society.

Emphasis on style at the expense of substance.

Breakdown of the distinction between high & popular culture.

Confusion over time & space.

Decline of ‘meta-narratives’ such as religion.

28
Q

Postmodern - who outlines 5 main features of current pop culture that reflect postmodern influences, such as the decline of meta-narratives?

A

Dominic Strinati (1995)

29
Q

Postmodern - how can the Ghost Town video be read through a postmodern approach with references to intertextuality and hybridity?

A

Hybrid mix of references & music video forms is an experimental combination of narrative, performance & concept.

30
Q

Postmodern - how is there examples of bricolage and pastiche in the Ghost Town video?

A

Merging of British film genres (social realism & hammer horror) creates something new.

31
Q

Postmodern - how does the Ghost Town music video offer examples of intertextual references?

A

Lighting, colour & camerawork reference social realism & hammer horror film genres.

32
Q

Postmodern - how is Strinati’s definition of Postmodern in pop culture relevant in the music video?

A

Combination of arthouse film-style with popular music genre = blurring art & popular culture.

33
Q

Genre - The Specials played a type of ___ music known as ______ - named after their _______ _______.

A

a) ska
b) 2-Tone
c) record company

34
Q

Genre - The Specials was ______ for having both ______ and _____ members, standing against _______ at a time of ______ tension in the ___.

A

a) notable
b) black and white
c) racism
d) racial
e) UK

35
Q

Genre - ________ _______ had been elected in 19__ with the warning that Britain was being “_______” by _________ people.

In contrast, ___ and _______ was prominent in ________ campaigns in the 19__.

A

a) Margaret Thatcher
b) 1979
c) ‘‘swamped’’
d) non-white

e) ska and 2-Tone
f) anti-racism
g) 1980s

36
Q

Genre - how can Steve Neale’s genre theory be applied?

2

A

Music video was new media form in 1981 so difficult to find ‘repetition & difference’.

Recognisable film genre conventions create familiarity whilst still being different as it was a music video.

37
Q

How does the song reflect anxiety?

A

Beginning is attuned to ‘mood music’ with nods to cinematic soundtracks & music hall tradition.

38
Q

What subcultures did 2-Tone emerge from in the late 1970s?

A

Mod & punk.

39
Q

Social contexts - England was in _________ and _____ riots were breaking out in ______ areas, with _______ and ________ youth fighting the ______.

A

a) recession
b) race
c) urban
d) skinheads
e) troubled
f) police

40
Q

Social contexts - what had happened in the home city of The Specials (Coventry)?

A

The murder of a teenager called Satnam Gill in a racist attack.

41
Q

Narrative - what stages of Todorov’s narrative theory can be applied?

A

Equilibrium
Disruption
New equilibrium

42
Q

Narrative - what is the equilibrium of the Ghost Town music video?

(2)

A

Deserted ghost town - unnatural & unnerving.

The start of a journey is signified with the band through the deserted streets.

43
Q

Narrative - the equilibrium of the Ghost Town video is established using __________ winds and a _________ view shows menacing ________ & __________ tower blocks.

Highlights _______ vs __________ from POV of the ______ → metaphor for the ________.

Dutch tilt = ___________.

__________ colours & _______ hue connotes a _______, uninviting __________.

______ light signifies the start of a journey.

Lyrics focus on ______ and government ______ to their ______. _____ landscape represented in _______ and __________ tone reflects this.

Capital city - streets should be ________ but there’s little evidence of _____ and instead _____ ‘ghost town’.

A

a) synthesised winds & worm’s eye view shows monolith & oppressive tower blocks.
b) power vs helplessness from POV of the people → metaphor for the system.
c) disorientating.
d) unsaturated colours & greyish hue connotes a sombre, uninviting atmosphere.
e) green
f) youth & government blind to needs. Urban landscape represented in desolate and intimidating tone reflects this.
g) thriving but little evidence of life and instead eerie ‘ghost town’.

44
Q

Narrative - what is the disequilibrium of the Ghost Town music video?

A

Video becomes manic and frantic, with emotional, not physical representations.

45
Q

Narrative - the disequilibrium of the Ghost Town video is established using the cars _______ to ________ the walls.

__________ shows _________ elements of film _____; ________ of youth ________ with lyrics “why must the ______ fight against __________”.

_______ lighting ______-shots create __________ sense of _____ on band’s ________ faces. ____ angle adds to ______ - techniques typical of ______ films of ___________ cinema.

Could represent ___________ impact of __________, representing __________ - not ______.

A

a) shadows to darken
b) mise-en-scene shows crime-drama elements of film noir; shadows of youth fighting with lyrics “why must the youth fight against themselves”.
c) low-key lighting interior-shots create melodramatic fear on band’s distorted faces. Low angle adds to threat - typical of horror films of expressionistic cinema.
d) physcological impact of Thatcherism, representing ideology not mood.

46
Q

Narrative - the new equilibrium of the Ghost Town video is established using ________ ______ & synthesised _____ return.

_____ shot of band _________ stones in the ______.

_______ - (like ______), the band has no real _________ in the _______.

A

a) diegetic sirens & synthesised winds return
b) long shot of band throwing stones in the river
c) ethereal - (ghosts), the band has no real existence in the present

47
Q

Narrative - what is the new equilibrium of the Ghost Town music video?

A

Return to ghost town as scenes relax and become less chaotic.

48
Q

Narrative - what are the 2 important structural elements to the Ghost Town music video?

A

The unnerving performance intercut with shots of bleak, urban landscape.

Narrative seems straightforward.

49
Q

Narrative - what is the basic concept of the narrative?

A

The band is dressed for the weekend but drive aimlessly through the streets, looking for somewhere to go.
→ Futility of their journey is confirmed by closing shots of the group throwing stones into the Thames.

50
Q

Language - how is direct address used in the Ghost Town music video?
What does it represent?

A

Band looks into camera lens while performing.

Hypnotic chanting of lyrics “this town is like a ghost town” expresses nightmarish vision of the world and wailing chorus suggests fear & dystopia.

51
Q

Language - how is a tone of despair present in the Ghost Town music video?
What does it represent?

A

“Can’t go on no more” - sombre.
Tone supported by band’s car performance - stiff body language and lifeless facial expressions in 1st verse.

Nightclubs are meant to be places for young people to have fun, but “all the clubs are closed down” so their lives are muted.

52
Q

Language - what is the purpose for the madness in the band’s facial expressions during the chaotic chorus?

A

It’s an appropriate signifier for the anger and insanity felt by young people who were abandoned by the uncaring elite, linking to Thatcherism.

53
Q

Language - the mise-en-scene shows the band uncomfortably crammed in the car.
What does this connote?

(2)

A

The struggle to find a place a place in society beyond the confines of the vehicle.

Towards the end of the chorus, a member of the band is thrown from the car. If the car signifies through life in the 1980s, not everyone will survive.

54
Q

Context - what did The Specials provide?

A

A soundtrack for disenfranchised youth as well as echoing the pain felt by the nation.

55
Q

Narrative - list the binary oppositions evident.

3

A

People v institutions

Boomtown v ghost town

Vibrancy v dull

56
Q

Narrative - one of the binary oppositions evident is people v institutions.

Explain where this is created (2).
What does this suggest? (3)

A

People in car & monolith, oppressive white-collar buildings.
Thrown out from party in car to ghost town.

Powerlessness from youth, ignorance from ‘elite’.
People will always be abandoned by society.
Juxtaposition of globalised progress vs progress of society.

57
Q

Narrative - one of the binary oppositions evident is boomtown v ghost town.

Explain where this is created (3).
What does this suggest? (3)

A

Chaos & silence
Ghost town & party in car.
Singing & dancing in car to “do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?”

Loss of youth.
Capitalist oppression.
Social tensions.

58
Q

Narrative - one of the binary oppositions evident is vibrancy v dull.

Explain where this is created (2).
What does this suggest? (1)

A

Grey overtones outside & colour on band in car.
Day & night.

Reflects different nature of boomtown and ghost town and how they’ve been forced to change.

AY13 Media - CSPs (5 decks)

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