Digital Audiovisual Media Class Blog

Horror films have historically been able to create an illusion of discomfort and fear through many different genre-specific editing techniques. While Cinematic Apparatus theory has been criticised for being outdated or perhaps too straightforward in the context of modern television, there are some key principles which remain relevant in contemporary examples. Jean-Louis Baudry’s text “Ideological…

The explosion of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ is closely related to the cultural nature of the YouTube platform, and the transformation of Rick Astley’s song from a run-of-the-mill pop song to an online cultural phenomenon (“Rickrolling ‘) can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, YouTube, as the world’s largest open video sharing platform, has…

Glitch aesthetics have emerged as a powerful artistic language in modern media, as Steven Shaviro discusses in his essay “Glitch Aesthetics.” This concept thrives on the disruption of seamless digital experiences, exposing the errors and malfunctions that underpin our hyper-mediated lives. Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake masterfully incorporates these aesthetics, creating a narrative that aligns…

Mukbang — the bizarre, yet, strangely engaging YouTube viral content trend of recording yourself devouring obscene quantities of food and “interacting” with your audience — is perhaps one of the strangest and most fascinating sub-genres that emerged in the last decade. Emerging in South Korea, the Mukbang movement has thrived across the globe, drawing millions…

The “360” music video by Charli XCX offers a powerful feminist critique on what it means to be a “it girl” in the digital era, not only a visual feast. Full of cultural heavyweights including Chloë Sevigny, Julia Fox, and Emma Chamberlain, the film questions conventional ideas of feminism, stardom, and impact. The film honours…

Steven Shaviro introduces the concept of ‘post-cinematic affect’ (2010) to describe how films have evolved in the neoliberal, capitalist 21st century. Drawing on Massumi’s distinction between affect and emotion, Shaviro explains that affect is something that overwhelms us, while emotion is a structured, understandable response: ‘Emotion is affect captured by a subject’ (2010: p3). He…

Last week the discussion on the topic of music videos and their place as art or promotion was interesting, and this week it has gone further.  Music videos have the ability to combine sound, visuals, and narrative to make pointed social or political critiques. Unlike traditional film or documentary, the short amount of time a…

This music video won awards when it was released in 1985, and I believe it would have won awards if it was released today: Take on Me by A-ha (TOM).  Take on Me is a music video that transcends its promotional intent, embodying what Carol Vernallis would describe as a harmonious balance of artistic and…

“Trans TV” as a concept was difficult for me to understand, but when explained through the analysis of one of my favourite TV shows, Ms. Marvel, I adjusted: Trans TV (Goddard, 2018) highlights the importance of intersectional and inclusive representation in the contemporary television landscape. Ms. Marvel is groundbreaking in its portrayal of a Pakistani-American…

The shift in how gender identity is represented on digital platforms has marked a pivotal moment in media history. Traditional television, once limited by strict broadcasting schedules and corporate interests, now faces competition from streaming services that cater to niche audiences with diverse desires and stories. This digital transformation facilitates the emergence of non-heteronormative characters…