Unit 12
Specialist Study
Mind Map​
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Unit 12 allows us to focus on our new skills and techniques that we have learnt over the course of the two years, and encourages us to focus on them in more depth in a period of specialised study. We have learnt a vast range of skillsets throughout the course, including cinematography, Lighting, Sound, Colour, Editing, Script Writing and Documentary making to name a few. For unit 13, which will see us focus on our extended final major project, we will be advised to incorporate some of these elements within our work and focus on how we can showcase the skills that we have learnt and practised. However, before moving on to this section, it is essential for us to have identified some possible routes that we might like to take for our FMP. At this current stage, we are only surmising and formulating basic ideas and questions that can be asked when thinking about the product that we will produce. As a starting point, I have begun by creating a mind map of my own personal interests, fuelling me to think about how I can create a creative piece of work from one of these elements. I do expect my ideas to change and adapt throughout the course of this process, however, I have been able to note down some initial thoughts and ideas which I have included in my mind map below. I will continue to think about my own personal attributes and interests when filming a short 'Who am I?' video, discussing my background, passions, and ideas.
Who am I?​
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Continuing to focus on how our own passions and interests can have an influence on our creative ideas, I will now film a short video explaining more about my likes and dislikes, and my future ambitions. In order to ensure I am discussing the relevant topics that will help me determine some good ideas for my FMP, I have included a list of self-written questions below that I will answer within the video.
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'Who Am I?' Questions -
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- Who or what are the biggest influences in my life?
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- Has travelling to different places and experiencing different cultures influenced me?
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- Are there any key experiences that I feel has shaped me as a person?
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- What films and Music did I watch and listen to as a child, compared to now?
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- Who influenced my taste in film and music?
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- What are my career ambitions?
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- What skills do I currently have to achieve those ambitions?
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Possible FMP Ideas and SWOT Analysis
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Idea 1 - The Evolution of Music
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My first idea which could possibly be developed into my Final Major Project would follow the idea of exploring musical similarities and differences throughout the decades, looking in detail at how different genres of music remain relevant and whether modern day music will still have as much as an impact on us in the future. This is a topic that particularly interests me as a person and I AM KEEN TO RESEARCH INTO THIS FURTHER. I could structure this idea as a short documentary which would follow a clear structure of music through the decades and what makes the music of that particular era stand out.
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Idea 2 - How much of an impact does our family background have on who we are?
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My second idea would look in depth at family backgrounds in hopes of identifying whether our own family history can have an effect on how we behave and act. I would look into the characteristics that each person possesses, and try to look for links between different family members. As well as this, It would also be interesting to discuss objects that might hold sentimental value, and why these objects are important to us. I am particularly interested in discovering more about my own family history, however, I am aware that this content might appear irrelevant or uninteresting for some viewers, therefore I would need to carefully consider my Target Audience should I decide to move forward with this idea.
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Idea 3 - How can Nature have an effect our physical and mental health?
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For my third idea, I am interested to find out how nature can have an effect on both our physical, and mental health. This idea would allow me to discuss the science and facts behind the topic, whilst also gaining some first hand thoughts from members of the public. I personally believe that being amongst nature can have a positive effect on you feel and so I am keen to look into this further. Furthermore, I think that this idea would allow me to spread a message and put meaning behind why I am creating this short documentary. It would give me an equal balance when wanting to conduct a range of research on the topic, as well as practising and improving my camera and audio skills.
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Idea 1 - SWOT Analysis
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Idea 2 - SWOT Analysis
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Idea 3 - SWOT Analysis
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Idea Justification
After completing a SWOT analysis for each of my ideas, I think that the strongest idea to move forward with would be Idea 1, which focusses on how different eras of music have evolved and changed over the years. I originally knew that I wanted to move forward in creating a short documentary as I feel this is an area that I have particularly enjoyed studying and this project will allow me to build on and improve my documentary making skills and techniques. Furthermore, as I previously mentioned, this topic will allow me to conduct a wide variety of research on a topic which I am passionate about and keen to learn more on. I will begin my research by thinking about music throughout the decades as a whole, however, I do anticipate finding sub-questions which will lead me to think about specific music artists or musical movements that have had an important effect on the industry. In order to reflect the essence of the decade that I am covering, I aim to incorporate appropriate and relevant archived footage, as well as conducting interviews with people who have some knowledge on the topic I am discussing. I will also use the voiceover technique to communicate the facts with the viewer, informing them of my findings, whilst also following a smooth and natural structure to the Documentary. I will continue to research more into how I can produce this idea to the highest standard and what creative mediums I could use, throughout the research aspect of the unit.
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Research Topic / Research Question​
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After having identified our chosen idea last week, this week, we will continue with Unit 12 when thinking about the area that we will need to research and the methods that we will carry out when doing so. The basis of my idea follows a Short Documentary which would explore the different eras of Music and how it has evolved over the past few decades. Personally, I find it interesting that different decades inhabited different musical genres and how the music of that era had a large influence on peoples lifestyles and fashion choices. At this stage of the process, I am currently undecided on whether I would like to focus on one particular era of music, or whether I would like to briefly touch on a variety and compare them. In terms of research, I feel that it would be more beneficial for me to focus on one musical decade so that I can go into this in further depth. However, in order to help me determine which era I would like to cover in my final Documentary, I will conduct some research on each possible era to help me decide which has the most potential to discuss in depth and be informative and entertaining for the viewer. I will need to ensure that I am using relevant sources, such as archived footage and news articles, which will back up my research and the points that I am making. I am particularly curious to find out more about each era and the cultural shift that occurred from decade to decade in terms of music that was popular at that time. The reason that I am researching this particular topic is because I am personally interested to find out more about how different decades produced different genres and categories of music and why they were popular at the time. In order to briefly narrow down the topics that I will research, I have decided that I will look into music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, as I feel that these eras already have some prominent similarities and differences in terms of the music that was produced and the differing genres.
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Research Question - How is music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s similar or different?
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In order to conduct some initial research on the similarities and differences between music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, I will carefully watch and analyse a music video from each era, and hopefully uncover how they were created, and the impact that they had on people at that particular time. Whilst doing so, I will also think about how each video technically differs and identify how the technology and creative planning has adapted and evolved over the years.
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Related Media Product 1 – ‘Daydream Believer’ Music Video (The Monkees, 1967)
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Music Video Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvqeSJlgaNk
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In 1967, The Monkees, a popular American pop-rock band, released their single, ‘Daydream Believer’ which rocketed to the Number 1 spot on the US Billboard Chart where it remained for four weeks. Shortly after the song was released to the public, The Monkees recorded and filmed a simplistic music video which showcased their new single, however, it is important to note, that music videos were not entirely common at this time, and so it was a bold and pioneering move for the band. Yet, with this being said, the band originated through their own television sitcom, titled the same as their band name, and so they were therefore familiar with performing in front of a camera meaning that this process would have felt natural to them. When analysing the music video in further depth, it is clear to see that very limited special effects have been used and that it simply portrays the band playing their music in an uncomplicated environment; an aspect that would have been expected for a production of this time period. Although perhaps not as extremely as we see in modern day music videos, we are still able to identify that some artistic and creative choices have been made when staging the set for this piece, particularly through the backdrop and costume choices. Bold coloured strips, featuring elements of red, blue and yellow can all be seen in the background of the video, which also compliment the clothes of the band members. For example, Davy Jones, the lead singer of the band, can be seen wearing a red shirt, whereas other members of the group wear different shades of blue and green, whilst Michael Nesmith is playing a yellow guitar. Through these few simple creative decisions, it provides an aesthetically pleasing and uplifting scene for the viewer which helps to reflect the nature of the music and lyrics within the song.
Continuing to look in depth at the music video for ‘Daydream Believer’, I was intrigued to identify the genre of the song as Psychedelic Pop. Admittedly, I hadn’t previously heard of this genre and so conducted some further research to discover more about the characteristics that it possessed. According to RYM, Psychedelic Pop is a genre that combines the elements of ‘Pop, Rock, and Folk music’. I also uncovered that songs that are produced using this genre are often created to ‘emulate the way music sounds while under the effects of psychedelic drugs’; a point that I found particularly interesting and can now understand having listened to several songs that include those tones of music. As well as The Monkees, other similar bands of this period, such as The Beach Boys and The Beatles, also produced music under this genre. The online article by RYM also states that the genre is often used to reflect ‘surrealism and convey abstract elements’ through the lyrics of a song. It is also interesting to note that the genre saw its climax in 1968, when around 830 psychedelic pop songs were released, and has since remained on a constant decline. This could be due to the shift in how people live their lives in the modern day, compared to the common lifestyle in the 1960s. Overall, in their pleasantly simple music video, The Monkees present their single, Daydream Believer, to the viewer in a way that feels performative and should be watched and enjoyed. I am intrigued to identify how music videos from the decades that follow were created, and whether they hold similar attributes and characteristics.
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Related Media Product 2 – Bohemian Rhapsody Music Video (Queen, 1975)
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Music Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ
In 1975, Queen, one of the all-time most popular rock bands, released their single, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, of which followed, possibly one of the most well known music videos of all time. Whilst Queen had many hit songs over the course of their career, which spanned from 1970 to 1991, Bohemian Rhapsody was, and still is regarded as their most popular and signature song. After the song was released in 1975, it held the top spot in the UK Charts for nine weeks, crowning Bohemian Rhapsody as Christmas Number 1 of that year. In comparison to the Daydream Believer music video, the video for Bohemian Rhapsody immediately has a creative advantage in terms of the way in which the video has been shot, and the effects that have been used. The video opens with four silhouettes, each representing a group member, with the camera slowly moving closer in on them. After a few lines of the song, the lighting shifts to reveal only the faces of the band, with the rest of their bodies in shadows. At this point, it is important to remember that Bohemian Rhapsody included a variety of different musical genres within the one song, beginning with an operatic section. With this in mind, the creative decision to open the video in this way clearly matches the mood of the song. As the song continues, tones of progressive pop and rock can be heard, at which point the feel of the music video shifts once more. The song is regarded as progressive as it represents changes in tones, symphonies, and styles, all of which are therefore reflected in the music video. As the operatic section draws to a close and the progressive rock segment begins, the video instantly expresses elements that you would expect to see in a Pop or Rock music video of this era. Some of these aspects include coloured lighting, bright costumes, and the visual playing of instruments. Throughout the song, the music video reverts back to the operatic section, depending on the mood of the song at each varying point. This was clearly a cleverly thought out creative decision that was made to represent the fact that the song incorporated a range of genres.
Thinking in further depth about the genres that were used in Bohemian Rhapsody, I decided to conduct some more research into how this originally frowned upon song became one of the greatest selling singles of all time. The exact genres that the song includes are Pop, Rock, Indie, Operatic, and Hard Rock. Songs that incorporated all of these genres had previously not been thought of, or, alternatively, had not been successful and so Queen were taking a risk when composing this piece, which clearly paid off. Another unique element to this song is its six-minute length – commonly, songs of this era would have had a duration of two to three minutes. Therefore, with all of this in mind, I think that Bohemian Rhapsody is regarded as one of the greatest Rock song of all time due to the fact that it is boldly different and produces a piece of music that had never been done before.
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Related Media Product 3 – Take On Me Music Video (A-ha, 1984)
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Music Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914
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Finally, in 1985, A-ha, a Norwegian Synth Pop band released their single, ‘Take On Me’, which quickly became one of their most popular hits. In the same year as the songs release, A-ha recorded an interesting and compelling music video which verged on what modern day music videos could look like in the years to come. Unlike the other two music videos that I have analysed from the 1960s and 1970s, the Take On Me video follows a narrative structure, with clear beginning, middle, and end points, taking the viewer on a journey throughout the song. The video begins with a series of sketches, which are later revealed to be a part of a comic in a newspaper. Perhaps also in contrast to the previous two music videos, this video focusses more on the lyrical meaning behind the song and takes that into consideration when thinking about the narrative that is being portrayed. When looking at the songs lyrics, it appears to present the idea that if two people are truly in love, then they are able to remain strong and connected, no matter what obstacles they face. This idea is portrayed within the music video as it follows a theme of unlikely romance between the lady and the character within the newspaper, highlighting the crossover between reality and fiction with a symbolical meaning that love can defy all odds. One of the most interesting aspects of this music video is the fact that incorporates a variety of different creative mediums, in terms of how realistic footage and sketched footage are used conjointly. As the video progresses, each medium can been seen to have been used in a single shot – a technicality of which would have been impressive during this era. Furthermore, it amplifies the idea of being able to transport into another world as an act of escapism and freedom, a theme of which is conveyed through the lyrics of the song.
One aspect of this music video that particularly stood out to me was how it had been constructed in a way that separates the viewer from feeling immersed in the performative element of the song. The first two music videos that I analysed clearly showcased the two bands singing and playing their instruments as the main subject of the video, however, in the Take On Me video, the viewer becomes much more of an audience member who is watching a story unfold. Of course, the video has been created to demonstrate and exhibit the bands song, however, it has been done in a way so that it accompanies a greater, visual motion picture. It becomes clear through the video that the viewer is merely an observer of the music video and to enjoy the piece in its own right. The idea of producing narrative lead music videos became extremely popular during the 1980s and can be seen in music videos such as Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ and Billy Joels, ‘Uptown Girl’. This would have been done to ensure that the viewer remained engaged with the video throughout, whilst also establishing a clear image in the viewers mind, encouraging them to remember and revisit the song on multiple occasions.
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How has my research on the related media products influenced my initial Research Question?
Overall, I have found this research task to be extremely beneficial as I feel I have been able to identify some clear differences and similarities between music videos from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, whilst also carefully considering their creative aspects and why they have been constructed in a particular way to engage the viewer. Whilst conducting the research, I have found that I am especially interested in the different genres that gained and lost popularity depending on the decade. This is definitely an aspect that I would like to research further and possibly highlight and discuss within my final end product. As well as this, I am really keen to look into further depth at how music from each decade was primarily consumed by the listener. This could be through Radio, Music videos, or, when thinking about more recent music, through streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. These are all sub topics that I am now able to research more into through conducting this Research exercise. When thinking about whether this task has had an influence on my original research topic, I think that it has made me more confident in moving forward with my initial idea as I now feel more informed and feel as though it is a topic that I will enjoy researching and creating a product from that research. I will continue to study this research topic in the hope of uncovering more information that can be used in my Final Major Project.
Research Methods and Research Activities
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After This week, we continued to look at the research element of unit 12 when thinking about the research methods and activities that we could conduct in order to gain a wider understanding on our chosen topic. To begin with, we were tasked with creating a mind map of ideas that will help us when forming a research plan. Within the mind map, I included different areas of social, historical, and cultural context that I could explore further throughout my research. I have included a copy of my mind map below.
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Once I had created my mind map of initial research ideas, we now needed to remind ourselves of the different research methods that can be used when carrying out these activities. For example, when conducting research, it is important to consider whether you will use a primary or secondary method. As we have previously learnt, primary research means to gather first hand information directly from a source. This is information that has been conducted by you and has not been discovered of found from an external source. Primary research can be a useful method to use when wanting to find reliable information, or gather personal views and opinions from individuals. Furthermore, secondary research means to gather information from sources that have already been researched previously. This could be information from online articles, books, magazines or journals. Secondary research means that the information is existing and has been explored and discovered by you. This research method can be useful when wanting to uncover archived material or find out more about a past source. As well as primary and secondary research, it can also depend on whether your research will give you quantitative or qualitative information. Quantitative date often refers to numerical figures and statistical information, which can be extremely useful when conducting research on a wide scale and wanting to identify a clear difference in answers that are given. On the other hand, Qualitative information is often more heavily reliant on factual and theoretical information. This method is better suited when attempting to gain information from individuals or small groups as it can allow for a more personal approach. With this information in mind, and the initial research ideas that I have compiled in my mind map, I have constructed a research plan below of the key aspects that I wish to investigate further in hopes that It will allow me to be more informed on my chosen topic.
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After Having now created a mind map of research activities, and constructing a Research Plan, I feel ready to move ahead with my chosen research topic. I have been able to remind myself of the common research methods and will implement these into my own work when beginning my research next week.
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Research Task 1 - How was 60s, 70s, and 80s music produced to reflect lifestyles of these eras?
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Having now completed a Research Plan which consists of all of my Research Questions, I must now begin to conduct the relevant research activities that will help me uncover more information about my chosen topic. For this part of my research, I will aim to explore and discover how music from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, reflected society in each decade. I will ask questions such as, ‘Did music of these eras reflect social and political issues?’ and ‘What genres of music were commonly used in each era?’. This piece of research will mostly be contextual, looking into how and why music of this era was produced in a way to influence the listener and how musical mission statements adapted and changed over time.
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1960s-
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Viewed as one of the most influential eras in modern day music, 1960s music was placed at the forefront of a huge cultural revolution. It is a well known fact that the 1950s saw the peak of Rock and Roll music with artists such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis producing music that is still as relevant and popular today. With this in mind, it is no surprise that the early part of the 60s continued to be influenced by the Rock and Roll genre. As I had briefly discovered when researching three related media products, musical genres began to broaden throughout the 60s, consequently creating sub-genres. Some of the sub-genres that were formed from the Rock and Roll genre were, Pop Rock, Folk Rock, Soft Rock, Progressive Rock, and Psychedelic Rock. By having these sub-genres, it made it easier to categorise different music artists depending on the tones used within their music. For example, artists such as The Beach Boys and The Monkees were better known for their psychedelic melodies, whereas, music by Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Simon and Garfunkel would be considered as Folk Rock. Because of this, the 1960s was commonly known as the ‘cross-over’ era within music, as various different genres were mixed and used together in one piece of music. It could be seen that the genre experimentation within the music industry reflected other cultural experiments, such as fashion, during this time period too. The 1960s was prominently one of the biggest pivotal points within music that has influenced the genres that are used, and changed the way that music is still produced to this day.
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When conducting some further research, I was intrigued to discover that the 1950s era of music supposedly came to end in February 1959, when three musical greats, Buddy Holly, Ritche Valens, and JP Richardson died in a plane crash. After being described as ‘the day that music died’, music quickly began to evolve once more as a wave of new, younger musicians found themselves leading a revolution that would introduce the ‘swinging sixties’. Inspiring a decade of political protest, 1960s music rapidly became a ‘vehicle’ which drove social and political change, highlighting cultural issues during that era. Some of the key topics that were relevant throughout the 60s included civil rights protests, the use of psychedelic drugs and prominent fashion movements. With Blues, Jazz, and Soul music being popular genres throughout the 1960s, many African American artists who displayed these tones within their music, also had an impact on the Civil Rights Movement, which spanned from 1946 to 1968. Music during this period was often structured with a meaning of motivation, hope, and defiance behind it in an attempt to raise moral and to continue fighting for change and justice. An example of this would be the lyrical structure in Bob Dylans 1964 hit, ‘The Times They Are A Changing’. Researching this further, it became clear that Dylan does not directly address race within the song, however, simply signals that a movement was happening, and that society was changing. This is expressed in the line, “The battle outside ragin' will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls", suggesting that the protests and marches were making a notable impact and were having an effect on how the world was moving forward in terms of equality and acceptance. Some other songs of this era that inhabited a message of change and hope include Sam Cookes, 'A Change is Gonna Come', Nina Simones, 'Mississippi Goddam' and The Staple Singers, 'Freedom Highway'.
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Another leading issue of the 1960s included the amplified use of psychedelic drugs, which, as previously mentioned, was highlighted in the Psychedelic Rock genre. The genre was introduced to inspire and mimic the feeling of using psychedelic drugs, therefore, included dream-like sounds that loosely represented the motion of hallucinations. The increased use of these drugs also coincided with the ‘hippie’ movements during this era, and so reflected the way that society dressed and behaved. As the genre began to grow, it is thought that some artists explicitly referred to the use of psychedelic drugs in order to accurately implement the given feelings and emotions within their music. Continuing to expand in popularity, elements of psychedelic sounds could also be heard in some forms of Pop and Folk music, pushing the genre into mainstream music. However, before long, in 1966, the use of psychedelic drugs was declared illegal in both the UK and USA, meaning that the related genre of music saw a rapid decline. Some key events in the 60s, such as a series of multiple murders committed under the influence of drugs, meant that many people became opposed to the use of drugs, and so the music that incorporated these elements became less popular. Although psychedelic music is still listened to in the modern day, it never made a full comeback and so ultimately remains one of the most significant sounds of the 1960s.
​Also, as I previously touched on, the 1960s saw various fashion trends, for example, the legendary Hippie movement. As various cultural events progressed throughout the decade, many people used their clothing as a form of statement or protest, allowing them a medium to express their own views. The major, overriding theme of the 60s saw a variety of actions being taken to challenge those of a higher power, and to break down boundaries and restrictions that prevented the public from living their lives in a way that they wanted. This can clearly be seen within hippie clothing as it promotes and celebrates themes such as freedom, empowerment, and the refusal to conform to social norms. As well as the Hippie Movement, the early 60s also saw the introduction of the ‘Mod’ sub-culture. The term derived from the word ‘modernist’, implying that both fashion and music were evolving and growing simultaneously. The Mod culture was widely represented within Jazz, Blues, Rhythm, and Soul music, with many of the culture’s followers dressing in tailor made suits and smart dresses. It is also well known that another important aspect of the 1960s included the notable rivalry between the ’Mods’ and the ‘Rockers’. The two subcultures often clashed over their different views and tastes and would participate in riots that were noticed around the world. Similarly to the use of psychedelic music, the Mod culture is not as relevant today as it was then, but still remains as a key figure which represented the 1960s era.
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1970s
Building on the popular genres of the 1960s, the 1970s saw an increase in popularity for all genres, each in their own right. Although Rock and Roll once again dominated the early 70s, a variety of genres were used throughout the decade, equally rising and falling in following. Soul, Rock, Pop, and Jazz were all sounds of the 60s that persisted throughout the following decade, with Funk and Disco also beginning to infiltrate into the mainstream of musical genres, with the latter going on to define the music of that era. After The Beatles, one of the most prominent bands of the 1960s, dissolved and both Louis Armstrong and Jimi Hendrix passed away in the early 1970s, the music industry began to pave the way for new artists, who brought with them new musical styles. Some of these included artists such as Billy Joel, who predominantly produced piano ballads, and Queen, who often incorporated orchestral elements within their music. As previously mentioned, it was the introduction of Disco music which would go on to delineate the 1970s, as nightclubs and discos became a place of sanctuary and relaxation following the frustrations which were felt throughout the turbulent political issues of the 60s. Whilst, as always, music continued to be used as a tool to address social and political issues, the 70s could be viewed as a more calmer and light-hearted period of music production, preparing for the amplified popularity of Disco music that would soon follow in the 1980s. Some of the leading Disco artists of the 1970s include, ABBA, The Bee Gees, Kool and The Gang, Earth, Wind and Fire, Chic, and KC and The Sunshine Band.
When conducting some further research, I uncovered that the 1970s was an era of experimentation, both within music and culturally. As I previously mentioned, the 70s saw a wave of much broader and diverse genres moving to the forefront of the music industry. Similarly, to the 60s, many of the social, political and cultural advances were once again influenced and addressed through music. Some of the key events that took place in the 1970s included the Punk Movement, an increase in Hippie, Punk and Disco clothing, and ABBAs 1974 Eurovision victory. It was during the mid-70s that Punk Rock popularity began to rise and influence the Punk Movement which saw many lower-class youths partake in the subculture which aimed to tackle conformality and to allow free expression. The overriding slogan of the Punk Movement, ‘No Future’ was used to highlight feelings towards government officials, and how punks felt controlled and lacking in freedom. Although only having a music career that lasted two and a half years, the Sex Pistols could be viewed as one of the most popular Punk Rock bands of that era. They produced well known hits such as, ‘God Save The Queen’, ‘Anarchy In The U.K.’, and ‘No Feelings’. Many of their song lyrics included themes such as rebellion, revolt, and civil disorder. Other Punk Rock bands that highlighted similar issues through their music included, The Clash, the Buzzcocks, and the Misfits. Ultimately, the Punk subculture began in an attempt to refuse the music, fashion, and culture of the 1960s, and to introduce a new generation of youths, although both Punks and Hippies fought for similar political issues across the two decades.
Continuing with the Punk theme, this aggressive movement had a key impact on the fashion of the 70s. Punk clothing commonly consisted of ripped jeans, tartan trousers, statement t-shirts, leather jackets, and Dr Marten style shoes. It is worth noting that whilst many Punks wore usual, everyday clothing, it was often customised with paint, tape, and safety pins. This added an extra element to the punk style and symbolically represented their standpoints of nonconformity. As well as this, many punks would also make a stand by dying their hair and sporting mohawk haircuts. This was another form of challenging social norms and taking a stance in protest for individuality. Moving away from the Punk subculture, 1970s fashion continued to grow and adapt, especially when building on inspirations from the Hippie movement in the 60s. I am now aware that the 70s was a decade of freedom and expression and this was also the case when it came to fashion, as many people used it to showcase their own originality and uniqueness. Unsurprisingly, the early 70s continued to be widely influenced by the Hippie Movement of the 60s, with popular items of clothing including tie-dye shirts, miniskirts, maxi dresses, and frayed jeans. Hippie clothing clearly represented the relaxed way of living throughout the 70s, when the fashion style reached its peak. As the 70s progressed, so did the fashion, with the Disco genre taking a more prominent place in the decades culture. Some of the 70s Disco fashion included flared trousers, sequined shirts and dresses, and bright blazers. Disco clothing was tailored to shine under the lights on the dance floor and to reflect the themes behind disco music. Variations of each style of clothing can still be seen in today’s fashion and is clearly beginning to make a comeback in the style of modern day youths.
As I previously touched on, one of the key social events that took place in the 1970s was the renowned Eurovision win for Swedish pop group, ABBA. Formed in 1972 and comprised of members, Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, ABBA performed their newly released song, ‘Waterloo’ at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest which was held in Brighton, in the UK. The song reached the Number 1 Spot in several European countries and remained there for a number of weeks. Going on to win the competition, ABBA consequently formed a career long relationship with the UK, and the rest of Europe, resulting in a variety of European and World tours, as well as multiple television appearances. Their music went on to dominate the 1970s with themes of Disco, Pop, and Synth-Pop. The band would continue to endure success throughout the late 70s with hits such as ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘SOS’ and ‘Fernando’. The overriding success of ABBA can still be felt across the globe today as they remain one of the most popular musical bands of all time. Overall, the 1970s was clearly an era of experimentation, reform, and cultural change, building on the issues and movements that were originally initiated in the 1960s. As well as this, it was also a time for adaptation and preparation for the future, hinting at what the 1980s could look like.
1980s
When entering the early 1980s, Disco music began to retract in popularity and, as seen with each new decade, various other musical genres started to emerge. However, having reached this point, I am now aware of how music genres blended and mixed together, and the 80s were no exception. Although the Disco theme was starting to decline, other genres, such as New Wave, Modern Rock, and Dance Pop all incorporated elements of its ancestral genre. The New Wave genre included themes such as pop and dance, as well as including fragments of Punk music. Some popular New Wave songs of the 80s include, ‘Tainted Love’, ‘Don’t You Want Me’, and ‘Our House’. The complex structure of how these songs were produced clearly demonstrate the mixture of genres that were particularly popular during that era. Furthermore, Modern Rock was a term used in the 80s to describe the rock that was being created during that era, encompassing elements of punk and alternate rock. Some Modern Rock songs included, ‘Forever Young’, ‘Love Shack’, and ‘A Little Respect’. Finally, perhaps one of the most popular genres of the 80s, with hundreds of long-lasting hits being created during this era, was Dance Pop. Having directly derived from Disco music, this genre produced songs such as ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Fame’, ‘Material Girl’, and ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’. It was music of this genre that went on to define 1980s music and many of its iconic songs are still as relevant today. The original intention behind this genre was to be used in nightclubs or at parties, and so understandably, many of the songs that were created during this period have remained timeless.
When conducting some further research on the music of the 1980s, many musical genres had already been tried and tested, and so many artists knew the type of music that their listeners would enjoy. Looking back at the 1960s, I can now identify a clear journey that music went on throughout the three decades, and the genres and artists that were able to last the course of time and adapt accordingly. Once again, like the 60s and 70s, the 1980s was another decade of change, however, music was at the forefront of highlighting fewer social and political issues, as well as modern advances. A few of the key events that took place in the 80s were the dilating movements surrounding social change, the vast shift in fashion, and the technological advances that would introduce the world to a whole new age of music and technology. The 60s and 70s were a time of great social and political protest, however, when the 80s arrived, the anger and aggression that had previously been felt during the past few decades, began to die down. Throughout the late 70s, it had become clear that many people wanted to lead happier and more relaxed lives with a sense of freedom, hence the rise of Disco music. This feeling was only amplified through the 80s when artists began to refrain from using their music to address social, political, and cultural topics. Instead, their music began to focus more so on their own chosen subject matters, and was used to promote themselves as artists. As I had previously discovered when analysing the music video for the 80s hit, ‘Take On Me’, music of this era was produced to follow more of a narrative than songs of a previous era. This is a technique that has continued to grow and has become the norm within modern day music, with many artists using their songs to convey a lyrical narrative.
Although the music industry wasn’t prominent in highlight political issues in the 80s, it was largely responsible for having an impact on the identifiable fashion of that decade. The early 80s continued to take inspiration from fashion of the late 60s and 70s, however, as the decade developed, it would see a massive shift in clothing choices which would change the way that people dressed moving forward. As I previously uncovered, dance music was a mainstream genre of the 1980s and this was certainly represented in selected items of clothing. Society in the 1980s were not afraid to experiment and continue to express individuality and freedom through the clothing as many people sported bold hairstyles, bright colours, and tight, neon clothing. This could include leather jackets, coloured leg warmers, slogan shirts, latex trousers, and the introduction of preppy fashion. Most of these fashion choices were first introduced by 80s household musicians such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and David Bowie. Furthermore, as well as having upbeat tempos and rhythmic tones, 80s music also promoted health and wellbeing with songs such as, ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’, and ‘Eye Of The Tiger’, therefore this had a huge impact on the way that people dressed and how they took inspiration from their favourite artists of that time. Even though 80s clothing mostly went out of fashion with the music at the end of the decade, it still remains a prominent vision of what that era looked like, and fondly reminds those of the musical hits that were produced and enjoyed around that era.
As I previously touched on, the 1980s saw many technological advances which would have an obvious impact on the way that music was produced, and the new sounds that could be heard. Having discovered that the 1970s was the decade that introduced the world to electronic dance music, it would be true to say that the 1980s was the decade that defined the way it was used. Music was now beginning to incorporate new creative techniques that would change the way that lyrics and instruments were received. Technology could now add effects such as synthesis, echoes, reverbs, and delays, which added a whole new layer to 80s music and would inspire the way that music would be produced in the years to come. Some of the songs from the 80s that included technological elements were, ‘Relax’, ‘What A Feeling’, and ‘Together In Electric Dreams’. All of these songs have distinct, technological sounds that can be related to the 1980s music era. In addition to this, the 1980s also introduced music fans to a new way of consuming their favourite songs with the launch of MTV (Music Television), a brand new television channel which was used to promote new and established artists. It was ultimately during this period that music videos rose in popularity and became a new medium for artists to share their music with their fans. I was able to previously familiarise myself with this when analysing music videos from the 60s, 70s and 80s. It was clear to me when analysing this that music videos of the 1980s were the most advanced and followed more of a narrative structure in comparison to those from the earlier two decades. Undoubtedly, the 1980s was the era that would change the music industry for the rest of time in terms of the instruments and technological equipment that was used when producing new music.
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Unit 12 Research Report –
When beginning Unit 12, we were tasked with formulating three initial ideas that could possibly be developed into our Final Major Project for Unit 13. In order to initiate this process, I started to compose a Mind Map which detailed some of my interests and passions. Having completed this college course over the last two years, I am now aware of the importance of enjoying the project that you are working on. I am more likely to be successful within my work if I am focussing on a topic that I have a genuine interest in, therefore, I considered the subjects that I enjoy, and that would also make an intriguing end product. My three initial ideas included focussing on ‘The Evolution Of Music’, ‘How our own family history has an influence on us’, and ‘How nature can effect our mental health’. These were all topics that I would have been interested in developing further and learning more about, however, in order to determine which one I would choose, I filmed a short ‘Who Am I?’ video in which I answered questions that were personal to me. Some of those questions included, ‘Who or what are the biggest influences in my life?’, ‘Who influenced my taste in film and music?’, and ‘Are there any key experiences that I feel has shaped me as a person?’, all of which encouraged me to think further about my passions. After doing this, I then completed a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis on each idea, prompting me to consider which idea would be the most viable to explore further. Once I had completed this task, I finally discussed my three ideas with my peers and lecturers and gained their personal feedback, before deciding that I would move forward with the idea on ‘The Evolution Of Music’. I chose this idea because it interested me the most and I knew that I would enjoy researching the topic in further depth throughout the unit.
When beginning my research, I needed to first identify my research topic and key question. The first thing that I needed to find out was, ‘How is music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s similar of different?’. I intended to keep this question broad as I not only wanted to research the music of each era, but also the fashion, political issues, and the way that society lived. I would then uncover how these topics were represented through the music of the decade and identify how music had an effect on society. Our first research task was to select and analyse three existing media products which would relate to our project. With this in mind, I chose to watch and discuss a music video from each decade and pinpoint how they differed. The music videos that I selected were ‘Daydream Believer’ by The Monkees, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen, and ‘Take On Me’ by A-ha. By completing this task, I was able to clearly identify how the production of music videos advanced throughout the years and how the narrative behind song lyrics developed. Following on from this, I wanted to research each era in further depth and so, for my next piece of research, I thought about how 60s, 70s and 80s music was produced in a way to reflect society and lifestyles of each era. I did this by researching each era in depth, with the premise of music evolution at the forefront of my research. I continuously ensured that I referred back to how music influenced fashion choices that I was discussing, or how it was used as a tool to represent social and political issues. I found this piece of secondary research incredibly informative and now feel I have a greater knowledge on the music of each era, placing me in a good position to research this topic further throughout Unit 13.
Overall, through completing these initial research tasks in preparation for my FMP, I now feel confident when moving forward with my chosen idea. I used this research opportunity to learn more and to educate myself in further depth on my chosen subject and have discovered many aspects that I hadn’t previously considered. I am now more aware of the music genres that were either common or uncommon throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s, as well as having some contextual background on each era, which will undoubtably prove useful when constructing my FMP. When thinking about the research that I conducted, I am pleased that I chose to follow a route of Secondary and Qualitative research as it allowed me to feel confident in the true facts that I was learning, however, when moving forward, I will need to also conduct some Primary research when learning more about my target audience. To conclude, the next steps that I will take when beginning Unit 13 will be to ensure that I am aware of the context of my project, and to continue researching my chosen area of study.
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Unit 12 Research References -
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Top Musical Genres of the 1960s | Mental Itch mentalitch.com. (2022). Top Musical Genres of the 1960s | Mental Itch. [online] Available at: https://mentalitch.com/top-musical-genres-of-the-1960s/#:~:text=Top%20Musical%20Genres%20of%20the%201960s%201%20Beat.
1960s Music History including Sixties Styles, Bands And Artists (thepeoplehistory.com) The People History (2022). 1960s Music History including Sixties Styles, Bands And Artists. [online] www.thepeoplehistory.com. Available at: https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/60smusic.html.
The evolution of music: The music revolution of the 1960s - Reader's Digest (readersdigest.co.uk) Goodier, M. (2017). The evolution of music: The music revolution of the 1960s. [online] Readersdigest.co.uk. Available at: https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/culture/music/the-evolution-of-music-the-music-revolution-of-the-1960s.
25 songs for Black History Month: James Brown, Billie Holiday and more (azcentral.com) Masley, E. (n.d.). 25 songs of social justice, freedom, civil rights and hope to honor Black History Month. [online] The Arizona Republic. Available at: https://eu.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/01/12/best-civil-rights-protest-songs/6602985002/.
Psychedelic era - Wikipedia Wikipedia. (2019). Psychedelic era. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_era.
www.wob.com. (n.d.). Sounds Of The Sixties By Phil Swern | Used | 9781911346821 | World of Books. [online] Available at: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/phil-swern/sounds-of-the-sixties/9781911346821?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=18082217234&cq_con=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gclid=CjwKCAjw5pShBhB_EiwAvmnNV4MpmyGUP2p4KqB-ZgQajqAerl9ws7u7_NKJTs-rV0LdDXMzWCi9JhoC0TEQAvD_BwE#GOR009221363 [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].
1970s in music - Wikipedia Wikipedia Contributors (2019). 1970s in music. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970s_in_music.
The Evolution Of Music: How Have The 70s Changed The Way We Play Music » IDIOTEQ.COM KamiÅ„ski, K. (2021). The Evolution Of Music: How Have The 70s Changed The Way We Play Music. [online] IDIOTEQ.com. Available at: https://idioteq.com/the-evolution-of-music-how-have-the-70s-changed-the-way-we-play-music/.
Music in the 1970s | History, Artists, Songs and Equipment (retrowaste.com) RetroWaste (2014). Music in the 1970s | History, Artists, Songs and Equipment. [online] Retrowaste.com. Available at: https://www.retrowaste.com/1970s/music-in-the-1970s/.
1970s Music History including Seventies Styles, Bands And Artists (thepeoplehistory.com) www.thepeoplehistory.com. (n.d.). 1970s Music History including Seventies Styles, Bands And Artists. [online] Available at: https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/70smusic.html.
Wikipedia. (2020). ABBA. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABBA.
Gola (2019). The key trends of the 1970s that influenced today | Gola Classics. [online] Gola Blog. Available at: https://www.gola.co.uk/borninbritain/the-key-trends-of-the-1970s-gola/#:~:text=The%201970s%20was%20all%20about.
Wikipedia. (2023). Eurovision Song Contest 1974. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_1974#:~:text=The%20winner%20was%20Sweden%20with [Accessed 28 Mar. 2023].
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editorialteam (2022). How Did 80s Music Influence Society? [online] AnswerCatch. Available at: https://answercatch.com/how-did-80s-music-influence-society/.
HISTORY.com EDITORS (2018). The 1980s. [online] HISTORY. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/1980s.
Happy Mag. (2019). The 80s Part I: experimentation, cutting edge tech and breaking into the mainstream. [online] Available at: https://happymag.tv/the-80s-part-i-experimentation-cutting-edge-tech-and-breaking-into-the-mainstream/.
www.growthinktank.org. (n.d.). The PUNK movement - Grow Think Tank. [online] Available at: https://www.growthinktank.org/en/the-punk-movement/#:~:text=The%20punk%20movement%2C%20which%20took.
Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Dance-pop. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance-pop.
www.wob.com. (n.d.). Great Band Of The 80’S | Used | 9780711973176 | World of Books. [online] Available at: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/great-band-of-the-80-s/9780711973176?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=18059580451&cq_con=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gclid=CjwKCAjw5pShBhB_EiwAvmnNV_msp-K6pxpTbQ9e9vgK42YlojdRrhNHHzs16rblI5nTBD1jG5djKhoCI2IQAvD_BwE#GOR003952197 [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].
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