Critical Reflection Essay

The evaluative essay below answers the following questions:

• How do your products represent social groups or issues?

• How do the elements of your production work together to create a sense of ‘branding’?

• How do your products engage with the audience?

• How did your research inform your products and the way they use or challenge conventions?

through our music video, we sought to elevate the message conveyed by the song through the use of intricate symbolism ,evocative colour grading, thought full mis-en-scene dynamic camerawork and skillful editing techniques.

our themes were:

pop

drama

non conformist

south Asian tradition

resistance

vulnerability

"the track used metaphors to compare society in medieval times to current day, feeding into FINNEAS'S opinion that society is moving backwards" Alyssa Clark

The protagonist's story, told through the medium of a projected videotape, serves as a poignant metaphor for the struggles faced by individuals who challenge societal norms, particularly within the context of South Asian traditions and resistance against conformity. the song describes her struggles and resistance against violence. FINNEAS makes you feel more empathetic and sadly remembering how doing the most strange thing which is defying the norms of the society turned out to be causing trouble..

the theme of Centralisation of the power, domination and revenge is also the cause of major social problems that cost those who went against them. the plot deals with somebody who refuses to accept the rules set by the society and this polluted world. our video is a story about a dead woman who is telling us the story about her life through video tapes. In her story, she talks about how she was pushed away and ignored by others because she didn't fit in with what everyone else was doing. Her story is told using pictures and symbols that represent deep ideas and feelings, showing how hard it is for people who go against what's considered normal. She suggests that once people stop finding you interesting or cool, they forget about you really quickly.

with colouring techniques we did not only create the mood or the tone of our video but they helped us symbolzse revenge, pity, hate, distress all together .the recurring imagery and props in the music video match the iconography used in the rest of the products: e.g. our digipak’s front cover. a chess board showed the fallen king or symbolized hate and the wait to see when their fame falls and i'm up next. in that one particular scene symbolized jealousy as well as our main character being aware of the jealousy and the bitter words they all said to her. The representation of the artist’s star image in association with still statues (eg. the statue post we did) also creates a sense of branding by urging the audience to think of the protagonist as an oppressed person, a person forced to be who the society appreciates and respects and they have no right to their speech and freedom. in the music video the artist is shown wearing black at all times, black symbolizing death. the drowning the water and the colour grading shifts to red shows revenge and suffer. overall the exposure was dark. our digipack , final product and social media pots colours all had to align to make sure all pour products were in place and nothing seemed out of the box. we used the font colour green representing the forest and the dark.

Moreover, the incorporation of South Asian traditions within the narrative framework adds a culturally rich layer to the storytelling, highlighting the intersectionality of identity and resistance. By depicting the protagonist's defiance within the context of her cultural background, the music video not only challenges Western-centric notions of rebellion but also emphasizes the universality of the human experience of oppression and resilience.

Furthermore, the strategic alignment of the music video with other promotional materials, such as the digipak and social media posts, underscores the importance of cohesive branding in reinforcing the narrative identity of the artist. Through consistent visual motifs and thematic imagery, the audience is encouraged to perceive the protagonist not only as a performer but also as a symbol of resistance and empowerment. This cohesive branding strategy not only enhances the audience's engagement with the artist's narrative but also reinforces the thematic cohesion of the entire creative endeavor.

In essence, the evaluative essay illuminates how the music video transcends its role as a mere promotional tool and emerges as a powerful vehicle for social commentary and artistic expression. By skillfully integrating thematic elements, visual symbolism, and branding strategies, the production succeeds in engaging the audience on multiple levels, prompting reflection on issues of identity, power, and resistance in contemporary society.