Audience Profile

Acoustic covers: Representation of the genre.

When looking at music covers, there are certain aspects that we must consider:

• Composition- of the artist, objects or camera. Techniques such as rule of threes, cropping and vectors
• Colour and connotations
• Images of people and how they are represented through their pose, gaze and clothes
• Images of Place
• Typeface/font and the connotations
• Intertextual allusion
• Genre conventions

Acoustic Album Covers

Music Video Reflection

After screening our music video in front of an audience, we received a lot of constructive feedback and criticism. The comments consisted of: 

Favourite image and connotations:

• The focus pulls
• The bicycle close ups
• The 'spinning' camera movement
• The 'kiss'
• The reverse technique- connoting that the protagonist's heart was mending
• the leaf arrow blowing- connoting that her direction on life was fading
• The female protagonist combing her hair in the mirror

What aspects of the video promote the track:

• The heartfelt, love story, as their is a clear connection between the visuals and lyrics
• The mise-en-scene, in particular the shots of nature and the natural lighting

How does the video use musical genre conventions:

• The colour scheme, specifically light, natural colours such as pastel pink and green
• The 'couple' relationship
• The stereotypical, vulnerable female protagonist, prone to longing and heartbreak
• The constant reference to and shots of nature
• The 'happy ending' that is inevitable from the romantic, 'love and heartbreak' storyline

How does the video represent the artist:

• Single musician- playing to the heartbroken
• Heartfelt and delicate
• Upbeat and optimistic
• Vulnerable
• Natural, summery and heartfelt
• Sweet and relaxed

Aspects to consider:

• Although the mug had great symbolic meaning and connotations, it's placing within the music video could be seen as rather abrupt and out of place

Conclusion:
In general, the audience feedback focuses upon our use of nature and mise-en-scene which enhances the romantic storyline. Whilst these aspects promoted the track, they are also acoustic genre conventions, which the audience picked up on.

Elements to develop when considering the digi-pack:
As the topic of nature is such a strong aspect within our music video, and within our audience feedback, we could potentially develop ideas which heavily revolve around nature. For example, shots/locations within our music video could help to achieve a backdrop for the digi-pack. As the album has to represent the artist, considering nature within the digi-pack seems appropriate as it establishes the artist as very down to earth and organic (emotionally and stylistically). 

The audience also commented on how the heartfelt storyline promoted the track and in turn, the artist. Therefore, we could consider props when developing ideas for the digi-pack; the arrows are the enigma code within the storyline, with the 'happily ever after' arrow instantly suggesting romance. However, the mug, although arguably 'out of place' does represent the artist as vulnerable and heartfelt, promoting the track as a strong aspect within the mise-en-scene. Therefore we could possibly include the mug within the digi-pack.

When considering our romantic theme and storyline, we must not forget our intertextual references to fairy tales; the vulnerable female, the beautiful setting, the 'kiss' and the 'happy every after'. Therefore the fairytale concept is something we could consider and develop when constructing the cover.