Splitscreen : A Love Story

Splitscreen: A Love Story from James W Griffiths on Vimeo.

  Another really inventive use of split screen. This tells two different stories until they join together. Cleverly, it is clear from almost the first shot what location both are in, and when they travel to London, again this is immediately clear.

Blogger Case Study - Hello October

Hello October

 Suzy, who runs the blog and YouTube channel Hello October, has created a strong blog persona. Her simple logo is classic and structured just like her blog theme and photos. 

All of her social platforms have a heavy focus of Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle. She shares a large amount of information about her personal life by Daily Vlogging, including her boyfriend and occasionally friends in videos and posts, and sharing life updates, such as her getting a puppy, Nala. She works as well, in events, alongside running all of this, a rarity for large Bloggers/YouTubers these days. Due to this, it's quite amazing at the quality of her blog posts and videos, as timing must be scarce. She is definitely a quality over quantity blogger, with about 12 posts this November, and 4 videos. 

Personally, I love her style and beauty videos, which in turn makes me interested in hearing about her lifestyle. Her YouTube videos often feature crisp white walls and Pinterest style furnishings. Her most regular videos are monthly favourites, or her daily (ish) vlogs she occasionally runs in sequence (she posted for Vlogtober and is due to do Vlogmas). But she also posts make up tutorials, Lookbooks, reviews and hauls. 

Her most viewed video is this Lovebox Festival MakeUp Tutorial

Lily Vanilli Sweet Tooth & Little Scraps of Paper

Lily Vanilli Sweet Tooth from Beakus on Vimeo.

  Following on from my previous post on AnOther Magazine's interview and film with Lily Vanilli, I had a research into her to find out more. In the process, I came along this video, another clever and different video, creating a Fashion Film out of baking a cake. Really inspiring and interesting.

 
Little Scraps of Paper - Lily Vanilli from Tomas Leach on Vimeo.

I also came across this video, part of a series that explores "how creative people develop ideas and thoughts and what they keep them in." While this is a less artistic and more standard approach to documentary, it's again interesting to see the same subject shown from a different angle and presented in a different way.

Lily Vanilli - AnOther Magazine

See the full article here.

My favourite element of this video is the split screen shots showing different entities. It allows more information to be portrayed in a short period of time, and creates a diverse image. It's also very different, as its not a style that's often used, but is great for this style of documentary interview video.

I love this approach and someone sharing what they do, getting to know about someones life. I'd love to do a feature like this on my blog, sharing peoples life stories and what they do. It's always stated that not enough people are entrepreneurs this generation, and growing up there is such a focus on education as opposed to creative paths. I'd love to share creative stories and roles in a documentary format.

"Postcards from Pripyat, Chernobyl"

Postcards from Pripyat, Chernobyl from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.

This is of course an important video. Shared socially, it introduced my generation to this event. Happening 7 years prior to my birth, I was aware of Chernobyl, but not in great detail. I hadn't ever realised the extent of the problem, the scale, or the future impact. This video captures the empty city (although through research it is infact safe to inhabit and some have returned illegally), a run down place that looks similar to many cities today, with large tower blocks and apartment buildings to house many residents. It has become overgrown, of course, and it's a strange sight to see all the trees in between these buildings, when in many large cities now, tree's are generally just found on scale in parks.

The shock image comes at the end, and sent chills down my spine. A floor covered in hundreds of masks, no bodies or bones, so I get the impression these were left behind from those fleeing, or the ones removed from those who didn't survive.

In terms of the filming itself, the video is very well directed. There's a great shift between drone shots and closer ones, and a great balance of still shots and panning shots. There is a large amount of shots, footage and information in the short video.

The editing is simple but clever, with the mix between. The travelling shots create a linear feel, telling a real story of the place, and making the viewer feel like they are exploring themselves. 

"Blogsploitation"

Read the full original post here.

The whole debate of free/vs paid work is hard. People get into blogging for different reasons, personally I begun mine to express myself, while I have made money through my blog (only rarely and small amounts) I always ensure my readers are aware of that, and wouldn't give false opinions. There becomes a problem when not everyone works like this.

In my opinion, much of blogging authenticity has been lost. While interning as a blogger outreacher, I learnt that bloggers do contact PR's, some to get noticed, and others to try and get free things. A large number of bloggers will be gifted an item, put it on for 30 minutes for outfit photos (tags still on), and go on to sell the item on depop. Is this wrong? Maybe. 

This practise benefits both the brand and the blogger. The brand gets their publicity, the blogger has another post done, a growing relationship with a brand, and some pennies in their pocket. 

The reader on the other hand, is viewing a post and an outfit that the blogger may not like. Of course, they aren't being forced to buy the item, but readers put a large amount of trust into a blogger, and look up to them, so can be influenced in this way.

Many brands don't pay for this type of post, which I don't think is bad, as people share clothes that they've purchased if they like them, so not having to buy an item you like is a benefit. They also rarely force the blogger to post, the item is gifted and they hope they do, but they aren't necessarily obliged to, as there is no payment.

In my opinion, this is where the line must be drawn on free work.

If a blogger chooses to share something written on their blog for their readers, it should be because they like the product/restaurant/brand. If a brand wants a blogger to dedicate their time to something, it is of course the individuals moral judgement as to whether it is relevant and they should, but there should be compensation for the time spent. As Joelle wrote when discussing promo posts... 

"Promo posts - this is when you get an email from a brand (new or established) and they ask you to blog about a product/campaign. You scroll to the bottom of the email looking for what you will get in return (maybe payment, or the keep the product, etc), but there's no mention of anything like that.

You then send them your blog's disclosure that states your rates for sponsored posts and they run a mile, virtually.

Basically, this is a rather rude way of telling bloggers that they are good/popular enough to promote their brand/product, but not good enough to be respected for their talent/craft."

YOU Magazine - "How we hit the Blog Time"

When YOU magazine featured this article and put Bloggers on it's front cover, it promoted blogging to a whole range of people who may have never considered it before. I often see the phrase "The most famous person you've never heard of" when people speak about bloggers, which is completely expected as it is still a relatively new phenomenon, which for different generations may seem completely alien.

The idea of being able to write/photograph the things you love, and create a living from it, is a pretty incredible option. Working from home, sharing the things you love, seems like the perfect job. Although the bloggers featured in this article do share some downsides to it. Publicising your entire personal life on the internet can obviously lead to criticism, and negative comments. 

Like the Zoella article previously discussed, there will always be an element of envy towards bloggers from those holding a 9 to 5. It may seem to some like it requires little work, but having run my own blog for a few years and not being hugely successful, I know it requires a lot of dedication.

I want to explore what makes a blogger successful, what it is about the person that people like. From my research so far I have produced a questionnaire to get feedback on the questions I have, and to learn how to progress from this point with my own blog.

Feminism is thrown around a lot lately,  a loose term used by many. It's been used against make up for years, people who wear it are criticised as not being feminist, as was Zoe in the article for the independent. Perhaps blogging is the ultimate feminist job. Working for yourself, being your own boss. Women can do it alongside another job, to fund whatever lifestyle they choose to run, alongside being a stay at home mum. Many "Fashion" jobs require full dedication and long hours, (when I interned from 9.30am -5.30pm, I was always the last in the office and the first one out), blogging allows women to maintain their career alongside making a family.

If anything, wearing make up is feminist. It allows you to experiment, present yourself however you like, express your feelings and moods. You only have one body for your entire life, but with make up you can change your appearance daily. Recreating your mood and presenting it on your face. This is another thing I want to experiment with. 

Blogger Case Study - Lily Pebbles

Lily (known as Lily Pebbles, formally What I Heart Today) is a blogger and YouTuber who blogs primarily about lifestyle, but also beauty (she now creates weekly vlogs with snippets of her life). Recently she has also begun including an element of fashion in her blog, at the request of her followers. Lily begun her blog while at uni, and continued into while working but later dedicated herself to it full time to allow it to grow. 

"I started my blog at Uni as part of my Digital Marketing module. I'd read blogs for a while so decided to give it a go myself. When it started it was mainly about lifestyle but has gradually turned into more of a beauty website as my love for all things beauty has developed. 

On here you're likely to find beauty reviews, style tips, beauty videos and random shenanigans in London. "

On Lily's blog, her photography really stands out to me, cleverly thought out images in high quality. She blogs daily, so there's always something new to read. There is a recurring post called "Wear Life Eats" where Lily features an item she's been wearing often/loving lately (for example a top), a short bit of writing about what's happened in her life that week, or a memory that's on her mind, and something she's been enjoying eating (perhaps a restaurant, or a new tea brand). It's a really personal edit with a nice combination of things to appeal to everyone.

Her YouTube channel is fast growing, she has begun putting a large amount of effort into her edits, resulting in interesting and eye-catching footage, edited in a snappy, quirky fashion. 

This is her most viewed video

Blogger Case Study - The Londoner

Thelondoner.me is one of my favourite blogs. The variety of posts, the amazing recipes, Rosie's envious lifestyle, and beautiful photography create an entire blog of posts I could read time and time again. Her posts are simple, well written but casual and friendly, and it's very relatable (who wouldn't love slutty chocolate brownies, or guilt free No-Carb Pasta). Rosie's lifestyle is also envious, travelling to beautiful locations and sharing the images with us. 

Portugese Chicken

"Boozy Lemon Frosties"

Just a simple recipe is photographed in such a directed and personalised way, with simple props to create a beautiful photo. I like relatable blogs, and when I met Rosie at LFW she definitely didn't let me down, with a lovely friendly conversation. She asked all about my internship and made me feel appreciated as a long-term reader of her blog. I also found out that her photos aren't even taken with an expensive DSLR, showing she has a real talent for beautiful images.

Layout makes it easy to navigate

"Knee Deep in Fashion Week"

In my opinion, one of the ways Rosie entertains her readers is through her Puns. "Knee Deep in Fashion Week" is the title of a post from fashion week where she is wearing knee high boots. (She's reposted this a few times on her Facebook, as the dress came back in stock, and then the boots in different colours, a way to get return readers and keep promoting herself). Possibly my favourite of her puns has been this one...

"Of course, teenage girls need role models - but not like beauty blogger Zoella" - My view

When this article first appeared on The Independent, it was immediately plastered all over my twitter feed. Journalism should be journalism, a professional opinion, it can be biased, but requires a balance. The phrase "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" was used by many when referencing the article. Of course the writer is entitled to her own opinion, but she crosses the line by criticising Zoe's appearance, putting down her achievements, and failing to research her argument.

The article opens with the statement "Her eyes are enormous." Writing later about how her belief of that girls should not worry about how they look is discredited by her "tutors her young prodigies on how to beauty and fashion right". This criticism of her eye size should therefore discredit this view of Chloe's, as it is a complete contradiction in it's own right.  

Chloe goes on to write; "She looks like a startled bird; albeit a bird with the gorgeous, flowing locks of Rapunzel, the high-pitched giggle of Tinkerbell, and a name so irritatingly Disney-fied it makes my stomach churn: Zoella."

The article angered me mostly as it was an on the surface opinion, it's clear that Chloe hasn't taken the time to research Zoe and what she actually speaks about. Chloe states "Zoella is a beauty and fashion vlogger – the latest creation spat out by the YouTube machine to instruct young girls how to paint on the perfect smoky eye or red lip." With this comment, she suggests that Zoe begun by giving out beauty advice, whilst as a Subscriber I am fully aware that she didn't produce a Beauty Tutorial until 2011 (two years after she begun her channel). This "tutorial" was titled "Spiffing Makeup Tutorials (i.e Look Your Worst)", therefore a comedy video, not a genuine 'wear your make-up like this'. Zoe didn't produce a genuine make-up tutorial on her channel until two years later in 2013, four years after beginning her Channel. Chloe's main criticism of Zoe centres around her beauty advice, the simple fact that this is a minor focus of Zoe's Channel renders the article useless. 

Blogger Case Study - Zoella

Zoe Sugg began her blog in 2009, it focused on Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle and quickly launched into her YouTube channel. It is a regular stream of Fashion, Beauty and Favourites videos, and runs alongside her second channel "More Zoella" which involves vlogs showing snippets of her daily life, giving a very personal view into her lifestyle, home and friends.

Her YouTube channel now sits at over 6 Million Subscribers, with her having launched her own beauty line, signing a 2-book deal with penguin and currently having won a BBC teen choice award for Best Vlogger two years in a row. Zoe has also been featured in the British November issue of Vogue, merging two worlds, designer with a relatable girl.

Images from Zoella's Beauty range launch party sourced from her Blog (Zoella.com) 

"She is not a pop singer, actress or television star. Instead, Zoella is one of a new breed of YouTube celebrities. She is famous simply for being herself.

Her online video channels, filmed in her Brighton bedroom and offering tips on anything from make-up to dealing with anxiety attacks, have made her a global sensation with over six million YouTube subscribers.

She inspires extraordinary devotion among her fans, with young girls regarding her as a big sister and teenage girls wishing she was their best friend....

Her quirky, approachable style quickly won her a legion of fans. And while the overtly sexual performances of today’s pop stars send chills down the spine of many a parent – Rihanna and Miley Cyrus being the main offenders – Zoella is a reassuringly clean-cut role model, who doesn’t drink and is so anti-drugs that she doesn’t even touch paracetamol." - The Telegraph (read full article here)

Blogger Case Study - Style Rookie

Tavi Gevinson began her blog Style Rookie in 2008. The blog, which featured photos of the eleven-year-old and her individual style, DIY posts to recreate designer looks, and commentary on the latest fashion trends, began drawing up to 30,000 readers daily. She became one of the first fashion bloggers to grace their presence at Fashion Week's, and receive recognition for their blog. She begun travelling the world funded by companies, and writing commissioned pieces for Harper's Bazaar and Barneys.com. She received a large amount of criticism from those in the fashion industry, due to both her age and the unknown nature of Fashion Blogs. (INSERT QUOTE FROM DISSERTATION)

By the age of fifteen, her blog took a backseat, and her focus became pop culture and feminist discussion. She launched her own magazine, Rookie Magazine, of which she is the founder and editor-in-chief. It is currently in it's 3rd copy, and 38th edition. The website is updated daily, mainly contributed to by teenage girls, the primary target audience. 

Tavi has become a well known character, having appeared on the cover of many of the most celebrated fashion magazines, such as Nylon. She is also a regular on the front row of Fashion Shows, and has become a celebrity in her own right.