Building my first homepage using wordpress

To use wordpress I needed a main artist to base my website and website themes around and this was eminem. Before creating my website I looked at his current website and other artists website that belong to a similar music genre like his, this being rap.

To create the website we had a tutorial process in which we learnt how to create 'pages' and 'sections' named 'home', 'about' and 'music', which is the average page layout headers on any artists website. To create themes I chose a more modern but basic template. This image shows the basic template that I used. I picked this template (the Hemingway Rewritten) because it allows e to make his website more graphic. By using this template it allows me to have a large background photograph of Eminem, preferably a close up as this introduces the artist and the features to his face to allow the viewer to understand the artist and build a relationship with Eminem. Although this is the template that i chose i was able to change the font type face and colour and make it more bold and keep it simple with a white heading and the rest of the pages in a light blue colour. This is an important aspect to gender of the artist and stereotypically blue is associated as a male colour, therefore relating to the gender and personal background of the artist.

Although my website was not finished or made to perfection for the artist it allowed me to at least understand word press and gain the conventions of a website for a rap artist. For the 'music' section of the artist i embedded many videos from youtube of Eminem's most recent music video such as 'headlights' and 'monster' as this is something that his audience are anticipating and it also works well as a advertising campaign. This is because by using a website that has Eminem's latest music on it on the exact website that has his tour dates on it will entice them to purchase tickets to see him live as they will see how talented the artist is.

With these videos I also embedded a video that shows live footage of Eminem at his most recent tour date. This not only is important as it shows he actually is as talented live as he is on the music in his album but it also shows the atmosphere of his tours and appeals to his target audience as the dark background and the bright lights and just him on the stage appeals to his target audience as rap is not know for having back up dancers and coloured lights as these in themselves are conventions of pop.

 artists.

I was able to add information on the 'about' page by inserting this page and adding text within the text box. This is important as this is introducing personal information about the artist to his fan base so that they can create a relationship with Eminem but also it introduces the artist to new audience members that might not have known him before. From a marketing and advertisement point of view it introduces and gains audience members to Eminem's fan base and globally intrigues newcomers.

Another graphic aspect that modernised the page was the 'photo gallery' tool that allowed you to insert images of the artist on to a page. With this tool I inserted images from his recent and old album to show the journey and range of album artwork he has produced and how it has gradually changed his image. The artwork for the albums that I decided to chose were picked specifically to go with the website page 'music' as the album artwork as you can see in the image below all exhibit black and dark as well as gothic colours and themes. This is important as it goes with the theme of the page and his target audience will be able clearly recognise his music and work.

The 'home page' as shown below was the most important to design as this is the first page and the first thing that the viewer will see to recognise the artist, it represents the artists look and genre of music. Although this is modern and does not show the classic impression of rap, this being grungy and almost spray paint textured themes to recognise the background and ghetto lifestyle that Eminem and other rap artists lived in. However this home page is very bold and the image in itself shows an attitude and anger that is also linked and expressed throughout his lyrics within his music. This is something that his audience can understand as they are aware of his anger and feelings towards certain ideological views in which they probably share as well. This image and the font still keeps within the use of only black and white colours that are always used in his font on his album artwork for his name and is simple. Where as if there was a use of colours in this image or in the font then it wouldn't show the conventions of a rap artist it would show conventions of a pop artist

This is the link to the website that I made on word press:

https://eminemmonsters.wordpress.com/music/

Conventions of a website in the rap genre PART 1

Negus - organic and synthetic acts in the music industry

Negus theory is all about the way artists are represented and constructed within the music industry and for the public eye of the audience.Negus wrote a book 'producing pop' in which explains how artists are shaped to either be synthetic artists or organic artists. An organic act would be acts such as the 'Foo fighters' and the '1975' in which they are allowed time to grow as an artist, they have lots of money invested in the belief that they will make a lot and last a long time within the music industry. This can easily be shown through images of them writing their own music and be natural when around a camera to show that they are actually talented artists rather then falsely made to look as if they are. Organic acts like these are aimed at a target audience of more mature audience members, so more like adults rather then teenagers. These organic artists are useful for their record labels as they are more likely to last longer in the music industry, so they are ensuring the label a larger amount of income for years to come, artists that you can rely on and trust to always make money for the label.

Where as a synthetic act is a band or artists that has been man made to look perfect and talented but are often known as a 'one hit wonder'. Some examples of this are Carley Rae Jepson, spice girls and one direction. This is because they have been constructed and they have their music written for them rather then writing it themselves. Their music stereotypically tends to be songs that are catchy and that make a lot of money but are forgotten fast and they never end up selling a whole body of work like their albums. Synthetic artists have a target audience of of younger year like 16 year old teenagers and this is because they are only shown what makes the artists look most desirable. The function that synthetic artists fulfil for record labels is a quick flow of money from one of their catchy songs that audience members are craving. The record labels don't have to spend much on production or investments on the artists because they are almost ensured to get fast cash but this never appears to last.

In class we all analysed the album cover of the artist 'Amy Mcdonald' which definitely showed that an organic image like hers can still be constructed synthetcially. This is because in the music industry nothing is completely real or natural.

Another organic artists album to look at is Ed Sheeran's 'X' album. This is an interesting album cover because it subverts any stereotypical album cover because is doesn't even show his face. This album cover doesn't show any detail to Sheeran's face or facial expression this shows that he is a generally real artist because it intrigues the audience to find out more about him as an artist and if they wish to do so they will have to listen to his lyrics and music. This makes his music and songs the most important feature of his album and artist appeal, showing he is talented and all about his music, bringing the traditional vies of music back into the updated music industry. However even organic artists can be synthetcially constructed and it is of no coincidence that he has used a similar mathmatical symbol, which was previously used in his first album cover when Sheeran used a '+' as his album cover name, this is so that audience members can follow the artists latest music and follow him.

What do audiences 'get' out of watching music videos?

In our lesson we learnt about the beliefs from both Blumler, lazarfeld and Katz's and the 'Media effects model' during the 1950's. Both differ extensively and contradict the effects that any source of media can have on someone. For instance Blumer, Lazarfeld and Katz's 'uses and gratifications' state that media has positive effects on the audience as it makes them active, meaning it gets the audience inspired and ready to commit and do something. Where as the 'media effects model' states that audience members become passive when becoming involved in media. An example of this is that video games make audience members lazy and it is a health issue as they become consumed in the lifestyle of the game rather then their own real life.

Looking further into what audiences get out of watching music videos there are two specific and key beliefs and terms that Blumler, Lazarfeld and Katz believe in. These being:

1. Diversion- which is almost a way to escape from a 'mundane reality'. This can be used in a music video when a celebrity lifestyle is used to represent what the audience member could have, which is a more glamorous and exciting world.
2. Personal relations- describes the relationships which are built between the artist and the audience. This can be shown with the use of backstage footage to make us feel as if we are invited in and are allowed to be apart of their true self and life. 

Music videos:

OG 'you guessed it'

The artist used direct address to look into the camera, which appears as looking into the audience. This invites us into to their video and their life as we feel close to the artist with the extended use of a close-up, as this camera shot shows the detail and how close the audience member is to the artist in proxemity. This closeness makes us feel as if we are with them. This is using the 'personal relationship' theory.

The artist themselves and the song is quite emotional, they represent the emotions of anger, which show them as being rebellious, which many people can relate to, therefore they can relate to the artist. This rebellious emotion also allows the audience to escape and become angry as well, to be expressive of their emotions, this links to the diversion theory of escapism.

The backstage footage use of the hotel room and the elevator creates this lifestyle that people can relate to, as the elevator itself is not glamorous therefore many people are witnessing their real life and personal life, which is creating a relationship between the artist and viewer. 

The use of the handheld camera and the setting of the hotel room creates this theme of action, excitement and a glamorous lifestyle that the artist has, this allows the audience to enjoy the narrative of the video and become involved and escape to this amazing lifestyle. It creates a narrative of an after party that the viewer is invited to, they feel as if they have the inside scoop of the artists lifestyle outside the life that we see in pictures, which makes us feel special.

Disclosure 'grab her'

In this video it carefully depicts the comedy that the viewer can enjoy, which in itself makes the music video more fun and interesting for them to watch. The use of mise- en- scene and props and more importantly the car and the work place environment is something that any audience member an relate to. In fact in the video they almost 'mock' the stereotypical workplace and make it funny, they are initially doing what every worker wants to do but can't. So there is a relationship that has formed through this as the the viewer can relate to wanting to do the things that are done in the music video and they are also invited to escape into the more exciting world that they wish to do.

The technical aspects used in this video create something different, not a 'normal' video. By being creative, innovative and making something surreal the audience can be inspired to do the same after watching the video and it will carry on to interest them. This rebellious behaviour that is shown actually in the video and within the process of making the video makes it interesting to watch and creates a shared value between the viewer and artist.

Hyuna 'Red' 

The use of Mise-en-scene and lights flashing creates this almost 'celebrity' and 'hollywood' themed life which is again using diversion to allow the viewer to escape to a better life then they have. 

A reoccurring theme used in this video is the 'female sensuality' of the artist. This is created through the use of close ups on the artists breasts and crotch and the use of the banana as a prop would symbolise the male anatomy. This interests the male perspective within the artists audience as it objectifies her as a sex object.

The use of the revealing costumes and sexual choreography also has an effect on the interest of the male audience members. However it also interests the female audience members as they will be interested, stereotypically, in comparing their body with the artists which creates a different relationship with the artist then a male would with the artist.

The slow motion has this similar effect within the video as the video begins to include this technical aspect when she bends down or dances, emphasising her female figure and body. These different technical aspects used all show the same theme of a 'sex symbol' and this is used because stereotypically teens are interested in sexual discovery, girls will aspire to be like her and men will aspire to be with her.

Taylor swift 'Blank space'

The first noticeable thing is that the male actor picked to play Taylor Swifts love interest is attractive therefore this is enjoyable to watch from a female perspective because its a man that they enjoy the look of and could relate to Taylor Swifts wants and needs to be in a relationship with this man.

This video definitely fits within Swift's target audience of 'teens' as the video is all about relationships. For instance Taylor swift appears to be crying in one particular scene, which is something that any viewer can relate to and it also makes us feel sympathy towards her as an artist and we build a relationship with her within the music video because she appears weak and human, which is likeable and we feel sympathy for her.

The technical aspect of Mise-en-scene and props is used drastically in the video to create a celebrity and wealthy setting. For instance the mansion, cars and horses show her expensive and extraordinary lifestyle which as a viewer exemplifies this belief in 'diversion' as we are interested in living like this artist appears to live like in this video, therefore we are immersed and fully concentrated on this video.

The use of the horses almost acquires a 'fairytale' theme that her teen audience members can relate to and be interested in a world that is adventurous and unreal. Where as the older audience member will be able to understand the narrative and belief that Swift is trying to tell the older audience members about love and romance. Which is that sometimes relationships don't always end up like a fairytale. By using this Swift is passing her knowledge onto others and sharing her beliefs which creates a relationship between the viewer and artist.