Gabrielle Aplin Cover Artwork Analysis

What makes this single artwork so significant is the location of the image - the artist is standing in a forest that is not featured at all in the song 'Panic Chord' or the music video that accompanies it and was clearly chosen because it is striking rather than relevance to the single. In regards to mise-en-scene her clothing is intriguing as she looks out of place against her green surroundings wearing nothing but a over-sized red jumper. The artist is clutching a large, bright yellow helium balloon that is out of place, but draws attention at a glance - though this could symbolise a recurring theme of changing and happiness in her music.
The use of natural, bright lighting is consistent with the style of her music videos - and a slightly grainy vintage filter has been placed over the artwork. The white font is simple and stands out against the cover artwork, making it easy to read.

The entire cover is very desaturated, making the brightly cloloured umbrella the artist is holding stand out. This album cover resembles the artwork for her single 'Panic Chord' in that the artist stands alone, barefoot, against a very natural, almost surreal background clutching a brightly coloured object above her head. However, the umbrella in this image is a clear link to the title of her album ' English Rain'. The same font is used for the artist's name and album title as in her previous cover, maintaining a house style that makes her work recognisable to her audience.

Application of Uses and Gratification Theory

Information
 
• finding out about relevant events and conditions in immediate surroundings, society and the world
• seeking advice on practical matters or opinion and decision choices
• satisfying curiosity and general interest
• learning; self-education
• gaining a sense of security through knowledge
  
  
  Personal Identity
   
• finding reinforcement for personal values
• finding models of behaviour
• identifying with valued other (in the media) 
• gaining insight into one's self
  
  
  
  Integration and Social Interaction
   
• gaining insight into circumstances of others; social empathy
• identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging
• finding a basis for conversation and social interaction
• having a substitute for real-life companionship
• helping to carry out social roles
• enabling one to connect with family, friends and society
  
  
  
  Entertainment
   
• escaping, or being diverted, from problems
• relaxing
• getting intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment
• filling time
• emotional release
• sexual arousal

Audience members are likely to watch our music video generally for personal identity and entertainment purposes. Whereas audiences are likely to watch Miley Cyrus' video for her new no. 1 'Can't Stop' because it is a topic that is currently talked about within the media because of how controversial it is and the varied responses it has gained, most people will have watched this video because everyone is talking about it and therefore it meets their social interaction needs. Our music video is focused on the emotional narrative which, because of the sensitive topic, will allow audience members to find reinforcement for personal values, provides emotional release, escaping their own problems and gaining insight into one's self. The narrative centers around a relationship - which is something the audience will be familiar with and therefore allows them to relate to.

Analysis of 'What to expect when you're expecting' clip

This scene evokes emotion from the audience almost immediately with the combination of the slow minor chords and establishing straight away that something is wrong by showing a clock with the time 1:47. The audience knows that something bad is about to happen - as the characters wake abruptly in the middle of the night. This then fades to shots that have been slowed down of the male character helping his girlfriend out the house and down the stairs to the car - which portrays her as weak and vulnerable.
The camera focuses on her face in a close up shot to show the audience her sadness and fear, as they drive through empty streets in the middle of the night. The street lights that flicker across the shots as they drive in the dark contribute to the emotional atmosphere - casting different shadows across the character's faces. The transitions between each scene are gradual fades and everything has been slowed down - an automatic indicator that something dramatic is happening. This makes the scene of the female protagonist crying even more emotional and heartbreaking for the audience.
As they drive back home, rain lashes down on the windscreen. Here the weather and lighting reflect the tone of the scene, which has become sad and miserable.

We have decided that this clip uses effective methods to convey what is happening without the need for dialogue, which is useful for shooting a similar scene in our own music video. We intend to adapt the shot of the clock, panning to the couple in bed so that our male protagonist is the one to sit up in the middle of the night, clutching his side in pain. His girlfriend will then help him to the car as she drives them to the hospital. We then plan to cut to a scene in a doctors office where their reactions to the doctor's words indicate that they have received bad news. We intend to use gradual fades to transition these scenes, and slow the pace of the video down to further show the change in atmosphere.