Ill Manors music video

Media Forms
How is it typical of a music video? 

This ill Manors music video can be seen as a typical music video. It's seen as a typical music video due to many factors. For example it lasts around three minutes, and in these three minutes, there's a clear narrative, with a mix of a live performance. Furthermore, the music video consists of regular transitions from one setting to another, which is common in the hip hop industry. In addition, the use of fast paced editing to match the beat and pace of the music video, helps make this video a typical music video. In addition, music videos are set in unusual locations, such as rooftops, fields etc. Therefore, in the music video Plan B is smoking on top of a rooftop, and he may have used this idea to convey to the audience the rebellious society they live in. Most music videos have a message behind them. For example, Plan B's message of a "concrete jungle" and how the society they live in is uncivilised and rebellious, can be reinforced with the lyrics  'let's all go on an urban safari' portrays a jungle and it being wild, which mirrors the society they live in. 

Furthermore, throughout most music videos there's a use of direct address and plan be does this in a sort of sarcastic way, as it contrasts the lyrics as they have a lot of meaning to them. In addition, the use of direct address helps keep the audience captivated and engaged throughout the video. Also, it helps the audience understand the actual meanings of the lyrics and what the artist is talking about. 

The use of loads of quick cuts and loads of shots helps make this video seem like a typical music video. The costumes ( track suits, hoodies, trainers ) used in this music video help portray the urban society they live in. 

Media Representations

How does it represent the London riots/rioters?

There's a negative representation of London in Plan B's music video. Throughout the video, there's videos/clips of the British youth causing riots across London. This conveys a stereotype of the British youth as being reckless and rebellious. Furthermore, the real life footage of the riots emphasises the stereotype of London as being negative. 

The footage of the Police becoming violent portrays an alternative representation of the police force as we would normally see them as doing right by the law. However, the footage from the riots goes against the normal representations of the police force and challenges the stereotype.

Furthermore, the use of the actual footage of the riots emphasises towards the audience the chaos in London. In addition, most of the rioters were young and dressed in hoodies and track suits. This therefore gives a negative representation of the youth in Britain. 

Throughout Plan B's music video, London can be seen as a very grey and dull area and the setting of the music video is located around council estates, and emphasises where the lower-class people of Britain live. In addition, the use of the fire in the video connotes a negative stereotype of  danger and violence, which links to Medhurts theory as the viewers understand what the youth of Britain are like. 

Media Audiences

What audience pleasures does the music video offer?

One main of the main pleasures this music video offers, is entertainment for the audience. With the use of the music, and visual graphics keeps the audience entertained throughout the video. In addition, one key theme in this video, is violence which is another factor in keeping the audience entertained. The video itself was released to create awareness about the kids that live around council estates and how they aren't as they seem to be portrayed to the rest of British society. There's a sense of the youth wanting freedom. 

The 'Uses and Gratifications Theory' would be prominent here as the audience are active. 

This music video would mainly appeal to the younger generation as they would be able to relate to the things going on in the music video more and would be entertained in scenes where there's violence, such as the police getting attacked. However, the older generation would be completely against with the things that went on in the music video. 
In addition, some audience may just want to watch Plan B's music video because the like him as a artist and would listen to him for pleasure and not educational reasons. 


Media Institutions
How does the music video help to promote the film?

This music video helps promote the film, as Plan B directed the film himself and is also stars in the music video as his fans would be more open and intrigued in watching the film. Furthermore, throughout the video, Plan B is directly talking to the camera and this effect keeps the audience more intrigued as they feel more included. Also, the characters from the film also appear in this music video, which adds to the promotion of this film. In addition, as Plan B is well known and therefore would have more ways to promote the film. For example, the could promote both the music video and film through social media, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc. This way the film and music would get more exposure. 

Due to the music video and film being liked together also helps in trying to promote this film, as this synergy helps promote the actual film itself through the music video. 

iLL Manors Track and Soundtrack Album Research:

iLL Manors (album) is a soundtrack recorded by Ben Drew, who his also known as Plan B. The album was released in 2012, under the label Warner Bros UK. The album was written and produced by Plan B himself. The style/genre of this album is mainly rap/hip pop. iLL Manors reached number on the UK album charts and was also nominated for the Mercury Prize. The iLL Manors track was the most popular track on the album; it sold nearly 38,000 copies in the first week of release. This single was based upon the 2011 London riots. 

Both the film and album received positive reviews.