Exam Questions

1. How are the elements of the theoretical framework interpreted by audiences?

The theoretical framework in Little Mix's 'Black Magic' (BM) and The Vamp's 'Somebody to you' (STY) can be interpreted by audiences in various ways.

In BM they use mise-en-scene to impress their audience. For example, when they become cool and popular, the outifts they are wearing are pretty and cool. The colours are red and white which connotes love, romance and an angelic image. We see the girls when they are walking confidently together in a line in a wide shot, and then we see each indivdual girl in a close up. This all allows the audience to attract to the main girls.

In STY they use mise-en-scene to show the audience that what they wear shows they are cool teens who are having fun on the beach. They show interested in girls, however, the main focus isn't on the girls and their figure, but on the music and the group. This may make the audience not be intimidated by appearance and just focus on the music.

2. Is the way the artist is portrayed in the video really how that person dresses and acts in real life?

In BM when they were represented as 'geeks' they wore dull coloured clothes such as purple, brown and green. This was a very stereotypical geeky outfit and is quite unlikely to be worn in real life. When they became 'popular' they acted extremely powerful and they used magic to make the other 'cool' girl fart. This is highly unlikely to happen in real life as magic doesn't exist and it seems quite unrealistic.

In VM they are seen to be playing ball games and having fun which shows a sense of realism and that they are still ordinary teenage boys. They wear normal clothes which further emphaises the sense of realism

4. Consider the setting - why did the director choose this location or setting?

In BM they may have chosen to film it in a school as it shows the reality of most teenagers and the target audience, girls aged 12-16. It also allows them to use a wide range of characters. For example, the school location can allow them to use a typical 'geek' and the typical jock who all the boys want. 

In STY they may have chosen to film it on a beach as it sets the positive tone. Beaches usually symbolise happiness and fun and using it as their setting will also make the audience happy. It shows the audience that the band wants to have fun and spread positive vibes to their audience.

2. Does the video portray people in stereotypical ways? Are these reflections of real people or are they just one-sided characters?

In BM the main girls are firstly represented as stereotypical 'geeks' as they wore clothes with dull colours and wasn't ignoliged by the 'cool' people. They then use magic to turn themselves 'cool'. They are then in power and much more confident.  People in the audience who may not be as 'cool' or 'popular' could then feel upset as they may feel like the only way to be excepted in society is through the use of 'magic'. However, some may take this video in a positive way and may follow the outfits and actions of the girls to make themselves more confident.

In VM the band are portrayed at sweet, cool and fun. The use of clips of them playing with the ball shows they are still ordinary teenage boys who don't let the fame get to them. They don't show a major reaction when they see the girls in bikinis whch can lead them away from the typical teenage boys stereotype nowever days.