The miners - strikes, scabs and conflict with the police.

The miners - strikes, scabs and conflict with the police.

The miners' strike took place from 1984-5, it was a major industrial action to shut down the British coal industry as an attempt to prevent colliery closures.

Arthur Scargill and the National Union of Mineworkers against the National Coal Board - government agency - led this strike. When Margaret Thatcher came into power, the conservative government wanted to move Britain forward, which involved ridding the country of industries that were not efficient and making much money. This included; car manufacturing, ship building and coal mining.

In 1984, the National Coal Board announced that 20 coal mines would close, this would lead to an excess of 20,000 jobs being lost. As many times were built around mines and this was the main source of employment for the town; if the mine closes then the entire town would be affected and every business within the town would be affected, too. Miners worried about possible closures in the areas that went on strike - over 187,000 miners went on strike in an attempt to prevent this.

Scargill declared that the strikes in various coal fields were to be a national strike and called for strike action from National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members in all coal fields on 12th March 1984. 

Scabs were workers who do not go on strike with their colleagues, this was because when workers go on strike they are not paid. Therefore, scabs decided to stay in work and not strike in order to continue receiving an income. This resulted in violence as it angered those of the miners who were striking, they felt as though the scabs were betraying them to a certain degree. The scabs were helping to destroy the mining industry, they did not fully understand what the strikers were trying to achieve. 

The Battle of Orgreave - 18 June 1984 - involved striking miners attempting to blockade the Orgreave Coking Plant near Rotherham. Approximately 5,000 miners and 5,000 police broke into violence, after police on horseback charged with truncheons drawn 51 pickets and 72 policemen were injured. other less well known, but blood, battles between pickets and police took place. For example, in Maltby, south Yorkshire.

During the strike, 11291 people were arrested, mostly for breach of the peace or obstructing roads whilst picketing, of whom 8,392 were charged and between 150-200 were imprisoned. At least 9,000 mineworkers were dismissed after being arrested whilst picketing even when no charges were brought.

The strike ended on 3 March 1985, nearly a year after it had begun. The South Wales area called for a return to work on condition that men sacked during the strike would be reinstated, but the NCB rejected the proposal when its bargaining position was improved by miners returning to work. Only the Yorkshire and Kent regions voted against ending the strike. One of the few concessions made by the NCB was to postpone the closure of the five pits: Cortonwood, Bullcliffe Wood, Herrington, Polmaise and Snowdown.

                                        Representation of poverty in Slumdog millioner
                                       

Slumdog Millioner is a rag to riches story, following a boy called Jamal Malik who is raised in the slums and goes onto a game show to find his lost love. From the beginning you can see that poverty is a key theme constantly being represented though out the movie. This can  be shown in the first scene of the movie when Jamal and his friend are getting chased by the police through the slums.

The scene is fast and upbeat. The police chase them through the alleys of the slums. The children laugh and high five as though its game. The children are UN aware of the danger of what they are doing and the consequences if they got caught. Poverty is represented through these actions because it shows how UN educated the children are, as they see this ''game'' as a fun way to pass time. However, if they where in school at this time instead of playing games they may have not been put in this dangers situation. As well, the police have no sympathy toward children, they would treat them all the same as they only see them as children from the slums. In contrast to how they would treat people people with more wealth. This is shown in chase scence also, when the police officer run into the local drug dealers car while chasing the the children ,he apears apologetic to the man for bumping into his car, then returns on chasing the children. Awell, throw how they are dressed and presented in the scence shows how they would only have a limted amount of money, there clothes are dirty and own know shoes show that they have no desiare for material goods. When they are playing cricket they use sticks as bats

I have chosen this article because it talks how social realism and how it became apparent in in society. the writer of the article is Richard Armstrong, the article itself is talking about how social realism moves where first noticed in France and then was created in Britain before the war. It the goes on to talk about the development of British social realism films after the war and up until 2002.
The main points that the article is making is that British people found relief in social realism movies
 ''searching for relief from hard work, companionship, release from tension, emotional indulgence and, where they could find them, some reaffirmation of the values of humanity."- This making themselves feel more content about the social problems that where actually happening in their every day life. As well the article talks about how social realism movies know can be viewed for entertainment purposes, as he goes on to say that 'entertainment' plays at the multiplex. meaning that aspects may be added int the film only to please the audience. Armstrong also talked about how
''The 'quality film' mirrored a transforming wartime society''- so that the films would adapt to whatever social environment it finds itself in, with the quality of film improving with age.
He talks about how they ''challenging mainstream aesthetics and attitudes. Identified with their directors rather than with the industry, the New Wave films''- so that the films weren't sensored to what the mainstream industry wanted them to be, British social realism films would stay real. he goes on to say how there where ''wider social issues now explored via emotional and dramatic individual stories.''- films where starting to focus more on the person themselves that was effect by their own issues that some people could relate to, rather than a social issue.

 Revision Resource\ Genre

Dramas -

-Sherlock Homes

-My Girl

-The Replacement 

-Board church

-Prison Break 

-Eastenders

- Orange is the new black 

 

 

 music video research

- Coldplay- scientist- pop rock

Visual style/ Mise-en-scene

The music video starts off with a close up to the singes face then followed by the camera zooming outwards to show the singer lying on a matrices. The video has been edited so that it is all being played backwards, all his movements, actions and surroundings are moving backwards also. This makes it very engaging with the audience to watch. The camera is constantly on the main singer it is never shown of no one else unless he is there. The camera is used in very simply to just follow the artist around on his gurney to back where he started.

Narrative including techniques used

The story that is being told through this music video is that if only you could go back in time and change the outcome of what has happened. However, you don't truly grasp the true meaning of the music video until the very end of the video witch building suspense with the audience. As we question ourselves to why the hole video he is moving backwards. At the end of the video you see that he and someone (who was also in the car with him) that looks to be his girlfriend get into a car accident and she appears dead or unconscious lying on the flour. The fact the video is moving backward may show connotations of how he wish that time would move backwards back to a time where thing where happy and he could prevent this bad accident from happening.

Conventional/ unconventional

The aspects that make the music video unique is that the hole video is played in reverse, it is a type of editing I have not come across in over music video maybe only certain parts of the video are played backwards yes but I have never come across a hole video played backwards until know. I find it very interesting and mesmerising to watch. It also makes you question why the video is in reverse and what the end outcome is going to be.

what works/ what doesn't

The way the video is set and the editing are some of the best things that work in the video, as well as it making the video very interesting and different.
However, the camera angles are not very different or varied as such they are very much the same shot thought the music video.


Eminem- When I'm gone- Rap

Visual Style/Mise-en-scene

The equilibrium is established at the start of the video when you see the artist is an AA meeting. The room they are in is very dull and dark this may imply what the song and story is going to be like through the video.  There is shot reverse shot from the artist telling his story to the actual story being told and the artist sing the lyrics. The camera shots occasionally alternates between the artist and his daughter this may to show connotations that the song is about there relationship. Editing has been used to make some scene is slow motions and some are in reverse. There's one moment where the camera rotates around the artists face this may be to get the full effect of his emotion during this moment of the song.

Narrative including techniques used

The story of the music video seems to be about the artist and his daughters relationship, you get the impression of this because the camera alternates between the daughter and the artist showing moments and memorises of there life that they shared. The lyrics are telling a story itself of how hard there relationship has been and how it has improved towards the end of the lyrics and this is all portrayed through the music video. There also may be a hidden message behind the music video of how fame can corrupt people personal life's and make them change as a person.

Conventional/ Unconventional

The video has unique connotations because it shows a different side to rap artist, a more personal side and how fame can really effect people. The music video is very personal so it would make an emotional effect on the audience to watch. This would be good because it may connect with people who think they are going through the same problems can connect to the video and may help them.

What works/ What doesn't

The personal aspects of the video makes it work because I engages with audience and makes us feel like we are apart of that emotional journey the artist is going through.
However, some people may feel the video it to hard to follow or that it should be more light hearted.

Shawn Mendes- Mercy- Pop

visual style/mise-en-scene

There is a shot revers shot of the singer playing his guitar and then to him in a sinking car. There are close ups to the singer under water. There is slow motion shots witch allow the audience to establish the scene. The seep of the song is important because it effects the speed of the music video and because this song is intense at times it begins to speed up and so dose the music video and the setting and actions also follow that speed.

Narrative including techniques used

The point of the story may be ambiguous it could have different interpretations, the story of the music video is the artist in a sinking car mostly throw the video and towards the end he escapes and gets out. When comparing the music video and the lyrics together you gat a feeling that the meaning of the video my be about heartbreak or an unhealthy relationship. The sinking car may be a metaphor for there sinking relationship , and how the artist may feel trapped in this point in his life.

 Conventional/Unconventional

It is not very unique as there is nothing that makes this music video memorable for me. It seems like a stereo typical pop heartbreak/relationship music video. Very much like a typical artist goes through some form of stress or disorder in the video which represent the stress and disorder In their current relationship.  This has its good aspects because there will be certain people expecting this type of music video from this type of artist however is also makes it feel as though there no point in watching it because you've seen others so similar there's no point.

what works/what doesn't

The artist drowning with the car is very intense which makes the music video interesting to watch at times and will make people pay more attention to the video.
However, their is not much happening in the video it is mostly just the same camera shot throughout the video there was nothing that makes the video extremely interesting to watch.


Red Hot Chilli Peppers- by the way- Rock

visual style/Mise-en-scene

The editing in this music video is speeded up a lot as the video itself is very fast pace so the editing and actions in the video itself has to be speeded up to match the rhythm of the song. When the camera is just on the band performing it is very dull lighting, you can hardly see them as it is that dark. Multiple shots of the band are shown singing at different angles and cross cuted with the actual story of the music video.

Narrative including techniques used

The equilibrium is set at the beginning of the video when you can see the story they are telling is set out in LA, you can tell this through the setting and street sighs. The story itself is about a taxi driver that takes one of the band remembers for a rides when he realises who the artist is and kidnaps him and takes him on a crazy taxi ride where in the end the band members end up having to go and save him. There isn't any true meaning to this video it is just a story the band thought would go along side there song.

conventional/unconventional

The video is unique because it is very chaotic and intense which makes the video eye catching to watch. As well the video itself keeps up to the tempo of the song so it leave the audience feeling the same as the song up beat and energised. It seems to have a different feel to rock video instead of a overwhelming video its a quite easy to follow video but also with a lot of energy.

what works/what doesn't

 The best apart would be when the artist realised he has been kidnapped because that it when the song and video tempo pick up and you really feel apart of all the action like your there. However, some people my disagree and think that it is to chaotic.

Rhianna- need me - R&B

visual style/mise-en-scene

The artist is in a revaluing outfit which is very common in the R&B music videos.
The speed of the video is very slow, it is all played in a slow motion momevnts throughout the video.
The video contains the common objects and items related to R&B videos. For example, like guns, drugs, violence, stripper and alcohol. The camera hardly ever dose close up shots which may show the artist does not have much emotion in this video.

Narrative including technique used

The story seems very simple, the artist is owed money by some man so she recruits some men goes to a strip club finds him and kills him. It seems to be a very violent and dangerous video as though its showing the dangers side of the artist. The story is being told through acting of character and the artist.

conventional/unconventional.

The video isn't unique in my eyes as it seems s though this type of R&B video has been repeated before it is not something that surprises me when  I watched it, its something I would have guessed the artist would create for a music video. This video is memorable and that's a bad thing.

what works/what doesn't

The story isn't very interesting However the artist herself is interesting to watch as she extremely famous so when she plays the type of character it can be interesting to watch.

Catfish and the bottlemen- Twice- indie

visual style/mise-en-scene

 The camera is constantly moving, it rotates around the band and moves closer and further away from them. The whole of the video is edited to be in black and white.

Narrative including techniques used

There is no story to this music video it simply just films the band constantly through out the video.
The band may have had there own reasons for this maybe because they wanted the video to simply focus on their music or maybe the constant moveing camera may simrleblis how there bad is constantly moveing and changing. This would be good for the audience if they interested in just watching the band like they may do if they where at one of there concerts or gigs.

convectional/unconventional 

There is nothing that I find very unique or special about this video, it would many be good for there fans because its as though its a close and personal way to feel close to band by just watching them play. This may not be very good because others who are not fans may find the video boring.

what works/what doesn't 

The fact of how simple the video is can be its up fall and its downfall.It makes the video easy to watch however it may be to easy to watch.

text that changed my life

 Different types of media that has changed my life are;


Film- The Breakfast Club.

The Breakfast Club was the first movie I watched that really made me understand how much I love 80's and 90's movies. The hole setting and layout of the movie really interests me because it showed me an American High School from the 80's, where as I'm use to seeing modern day High School. As well, the non-diegetic music that was played throughout the movie was something that I really thought added to movie itself. The feel  you get from the beginning of the movie is that it is your generic high school movie however as the movie continues you begin to see a change in the story line. And you come to the conclusion that every character in this movie is different in their own way. I really love the meaning behind the hole movie and it made me as a person really understand how you should never judge people from how others may stereotype or perceive them from there point of view. It makes you understand how you should get to know a person before making a judgment on them as a person.

Documentary's - The Oj Simpson Case

The Oj Simpson case was one of the most famous cases to have happened in America, and I enjoy watching documentary's so I thought the Oj Simpson Case would be something that I would take an interest in. And it was. I have watched numerous documentary's on this case and I do believe it is something that has changed my life. It has changed my opinion of the American Justice system  and the treatment of higher class people. It made me be less naïve of how money and popularity have an effect on the world we live in. That a man with multiple evidences against him can get away with murder all on the account of that '' the glove dose not fit,'' his money and fame are not over looked, he was an icon in the public and medias eyes and that's how the American Justice system wanted him to stay. And I believe that if the case happened again in recent time that nothing would change.

Tv show- Skins
Skins was created around 2007 or 2008 and is based around a group of college students. It explores there friendships, family relationships as well as school life. This was one of the first shows where I found myself watching episodes repeatedly and never getting bored. I felt like it showed a side of teenagers lives that no one really thought to much about; how much family dynamic can effect you as a person. It showed teenagers struggling through depression, family separation and drug use. It made me understand that it was normal for people lives to not be perfect and you don't know what happened behind close doors. As well as helping me understand what depression really is how much of a struggle it is for people to deal with it every day.

News paper- The Sun
The Sun is now a well known paper but for all the wrong reasons. It is know for its untrue, disrespectful comments of the Hillsborough disaster. It has now been marked by the people of Liverpool and many other as a paper that lies and cant be trusted. Hillsborough is something that effects me and my family strongly and even though I was not even born at the time it will still be a news paper that has effected my life. It shows the true colours of media and how horrific it really is. How a front cover story is more important than the lies being told and the effect it can cause on grieving people. The most ''eye catching'' news paper cover is the only thing The Sun cared about that day. Popularity can blind people. However it never blinded anyone else we could all see the truth and always will.

Album- By the way- Red Hot Chilli Peppers
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers in my eyes will always be one of the best rock bands. When I first listened to them it was just instant realisation that this was forever going to be my favourite band. They have now set my music taste to indie/rock and how led me to listen to different types of bands. This genre of music is so different for me to the 'UK top 40' the music gives me an actually thrill of adrenalin and excitement when it listen to them, the vocals are so different to any other artist. The guitar and drums in the music just creates the hole 'goose bump' feeling for me when u can hear them building up it feels like the music is rising up inside you, its just a completely different leave to any other type of music out there.   

  

'test' post

This is a music video of the band Catfish and the bottlemen
The hole video is in black and white and is in the same setting throughout the hole video.
 The camera is constantly rotating around all the band member throughout the video and gives close up shots of their face.
This video may not seem very interesting however the calm video leaves all the attention to the song witch shows how good the music really is, so much so they don't need a entertaining music video to make the song seem interesting.