plan B- Mest 1

The record companies that helped with the song were 679 artists and Atlantic records which is part of the warner music group. Plan B sold over 267,000 copies in the first week of sales which shows that his song had been a great success. critics had a positive response to ill manors.

Music reviewers' response?

Media Representations: How is gender/ethnicity/age represented in the video?

The video is an alternative representation of the music industry, plan B is showing an alternative representation of street life. Plan be uses black people and white people and a few people from other backgrounds this suggests that plan B is trying to go against stereo types and this suggests that people from all background can be part of crime not just one race. The use of using Asian character who was Riz Ahmed, was also shown taking part in the crime taking a Nike box of a black child. This suggests that plan B is going against stereo types and that all people of all races can be involved in crime. The use of stereotypes has been used in as a short hand for audiences to be able to establish what is taking place which is medhurst’s theory. The use of shorthand allows audiences to understand what is going on the use of young black, white and Asian people and the way they dress suggests that they are dangerous and can be considered as a folk devil which is part of the theory of chosen or moral panic. Plan be talks about believe what you read in the newspaper which suggests that plan B is going again the Cohen theory of moral panic. This suggests that plan B is trying to change the way people think and that not to “believe” everything in the newspapers.  Another theory that can be linked to youth being seen as folk devil is the hypodermic needle model theory has been used by news papered the word “believe” in the lyrics suggests that the media are injecting people with false information. The 2-step flow is very closely linked with plan B video plan B in the video is getting his point across and at the same time is educating people about what the government is doing, it can be said that he is starting a revolution and helping the youth been seen in a different light and in a more positive way.

• Media Institutions: In what ways is the video typical of music videos and what values does it promote?

Plan B’s music video is very diverse and different to the typical music videos that are out there currently. Plan B does not use bright high key lighting but use low key lighting and natural lighting in his videos. This shows that he is standing out of the typical music video styles and starting his own way of doing things which is out of the norm. In some ways it is typical of a music video such as showing gangs and showing the street life but Plan B presents it showing the truth of the streets but not promoting it as a glamour life styles like in other music videos. This also the theory this can be linked to is the hypodermic needle model theory by Katz, the reason for this because Plan B believe that the media are brain washing people and only giving information that is false but also one sided on the youth. Plan B in his lyrics says that “to keep on believing what you read in the papers” this suggests that the media are injecting people with false information, the word “believing” suggests that Plan B is saying that it is not true. Another lyric that plan B used was “Think you know how life on a council estate is, from everything you’ve ever read about it or heard” this suggests that he is saying to his audience if you have not experience it then u cannot judge. The music video go against stereo types but all paints a bigger for the audience, he uses campaigns from the politics in his lyrics and talks about the Hug a hoody campaign in a sarcastic way all the video presents the politicians in a negative way. This is different to typical music video his present the singer in a positive way such as nice cars , nice house having lots of money and so on whereas as Plan B shows it how it really is where he grew up and the truth that goes on.

• Media Audiences: Who does this text/artist appeal to and why?

I believe that the audience is not only for teenagers but also for a range of audiences, this is because I feel that although the video portrays the youth as being violent and in a negative way the lyrics have more of an impact but also portrays a different and deeper message. The video can be seen to educate people rather than just to entertain its audiences. I believe that the audiences for this music video are based on social demographics are E, D , C2 , C1 and B the reasons for this is because people in the B category are willing to learn and be educated where as people in A have very strict and tunnel vision view on the youth. Based on the lifestyle classification model by young and Rubican the groups I feel it will appeal to are strugglers because teenagers can be considered to be struggler and the video can be seen to educate people so that help can be provided. Another group I believe is reformers because they are people who like to have social awareness and have value for time and judgment.