Mood board
In allocated groups we researched the genre of Hip Hop, and gathered this information by creating a mood board on Padlet with different images that are represented with the genre. We looked at how an artist from our genre could be presented by their:
- Hair
- Facial expression
- Make-up
- Costume
- Props
- Body language
From the research we found, I now have a greater understanding on the genre of Hip Hop and how each aspect of it is important for portraying the Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop can commonly be described as violent, rebellious, masculine, urban and edgy. By attempting to incorporate each feature of Mise-en-Scene in our images, I now have wider understanding of how to have more successful photoshoots in the future, eg for the music magazine, because I understand how each aspect of MES plays a very vital role in order to be succesful and relate to the audiences values and beliefs.
Post-it note task
In our allocated groups, we then put our information into action and dressed up one person based around the genre of Hip Hop. We included a range of props such as; chains, sunglasses, a backwards cap and a microphone. Our costume involved a white vest and a bright, baggy orange prison outfit tied at the waist. We made sure to include all the elements from our mood board to emphasise the genre and encode (Hall) the genre to the audience. One we were happy with how we dressed our model we wrote down some adjectives that best interpreted our star:
- Edgy
- Masculine
- Wealth
- Rebellious
- Violence
This was an adequate decoding (hall) of our artist and we were pleased with the outcome as we believe people were able to acknowledge our genre of music quite comfortably. This task will really help me when it comes to dressing up my own model individually when it comes to creating my music magazine because it conveyed to me the importance of each aspect of MES.
Photos
Here is our photos from our photoshoot of our star
We decided to dress up our star in a white vest and a bright, baggy prison outfit which was tied at the waist because we thought it signified our genre quite well. This is because it portrayed to the audience the type of clothing that is typically worn by most hip hop artists and why they might wear it. It signified (De Saussure) this because it gives a sense of rebellion as they don’t play by the rules to fit in with the trend. For our choice of props we chose a wide range as a signifier to help identify our genre of music. We chose, a microphone, multiple chains, sunglasses and a backwards cap. We thought it signified (De Saussure) Hip Hop in a high standard because it presented the adjectives very well which were used to portray Hip Hop. Especially the chains because it shows that our star seems quite edgy and not afraid to rebel, as well as it having a masculine nature as males seem to wear more chains then females do.
Body language is also a key component on portraying the Hip Hop culture. We decided to do some laid-back body language with the occasional pose, such as “gang signs”. The “gang signs” signified (De Saussure) the genre very well because you can identify the rebellious nature as well as a sense of violence too because they seem dangerous and possibly quite threatening.
My chosen photo
This is the photo I decided on which represented the genre of Hip Hop
The laid-back body language, direct eye contact and the microphone pointed at its side at the front of the camera. These elements of the chosen photo all represent Hip Hop in a positive way. The laid-back body language states they aren’t uptight/serious by the way they dance, sing, dress etc. The direct eye contact and lack of emotion presents that there isn’t much emotionally meanings within their songs. The microphone tilted at its side is different to how you would normally hold a microphone which could hint they like to do things their own way and fade away from normality.
Reflection
This task has positively impacted my understanding and importance of Mise-En-Scene to present meanings within media. I discovered that all aspects of MES are vital when it comes to presenting media because it helps create a meaning and allows the audience’s values and beliefs come into consideration.
By completing this task I know what to do when doing my own research for my music magazine because I have learnt the details you have to put into consideration to portray your star and the aspects of MES which can be used to display a narrative.