CREATIVE CRITICAL REFLECTION

 Creative Critical Reflection: Representation of Social groups and issues in our music video

Our music video serves as an exploration of the struggles faced by individuals (mainly teenagers) dealing with mental health issues including selfloathing and insecurity linked to eating disorders (we portrayed eating disorder in the scene where she steps on the weight scale and the word 'fat' pops up), this links to feelings of low confidence and low self esteem, depression and social anxiety. In mainstream media, these themes are often romanticised or overlooked, leaving many individuals particularly the youth feeling unheard. Our project aims to challenge this by representing the emotional turmoil experienced by young people who battle with their sense of self.One of the ways our music video represents these issues is through visual storytelling. The protagonist's journey trapped within her home (also a symbol of entrapment in one's own mind constantly struggling with negative thoughts) reflects the internal state of self doubt and low self esteem, common experiences among individuals welcoming the coming of age. Through red and yellow hues and low, depressive lighting along with symbolic imagery like mirrors, the scene where she contemplates with suicidal thoughts with a knife in her hand, and isolation, we have illustrated the suffocating cycle of negative self perception. These visual elements reinforce the emotional weight of struggling with self worth, making this music video deeply relatable for viewers who have felt unseen or unheard.Moreover, our music video highlights the impact of societal expectations on mental health. Many teenagers feel pressured to conform to unrealistic beauty standards and social norms, leading to feelings of insecurity and social anxiety. By showing scenes where the protagonist battles with distorted self image, staring at reflections with dissatisfaction and notes of reinforcing her thoughts of self hate. This is how we capture the struggle between self acceptance and the pressure to meet external expectations. These scenes symbolise the daily battles faced by those suffering from eating disorders and depression.Another aspect of our project is the representation of the process of self discovery. Towards the end of the video, we have depicted a moment of self acceptance (scene where she writes 'it'll be okay') showing that healing is possible. The protagonist's gradual change in body language and a final scene of growing hope hint at the journey towards self love. This representation serves as a hopeful message to viewers who may see themselves in our character's struggles. Hence our music video sheds light on the experiences of teenagers who feel disconnected from mainstream portrayals of youth. By addressing issues such as self-loathing, insecurity and depression, we aim to give a voice to those who feel silenced, fostering a sense of understanding and representation in media.

Branding Through Production Elements

Branding plays a crucial role in making an artist and their work feel cohesive, recognizable, and impactful. In our music video project, we ensured that all elements of our production worked together to create a strong and consistent brand identity. From the color choices in our Digipak to the typography in our music video, we maintained a unified aesthetic that reinforced the themes of our project and made our artist’s branding visually distinctive.

One of the key ways we established branding was through our color palette. We deliberately incorporated red and yellow hues in our Digipak to evoke specific emotions that align with the themes of our music video. Red often symbolizes intense emotions—passion, struggle, and inner conflict—which directly ties into the themes of self-loathing, insecurity, and depression that we explored. At the same time, the use of yellow provides contrast, signifying moments of self-discovery and warmth, hinting at the possibility of healing. This interplay of colors created a visual identity that not only complemented the music video’s mood but also made our promotional materials instantly recognizable.Furthermore, we extended this branding into the typography and text elements of our project. The red and burgundy tones used in the labeling and credits of the music video were carefully chosen to match the color scheme of our Digipak. This consistency ensured that the video and its promotional materials felt interconnected rather than like separate pieces of work. The bold red text stood out against darker backdrops, reinforcing a sense of intensity and emotional weight, while also making sure that the branding remained visually striking.Beyond just visuals, our branding also worked on a deeper, emotional level. The consistency in color and design choices allowed us to craft a narrative that felt immersive. Whether a viewer was watching the music video or looking at the Digipak, they were met with the same emotional atmosphere, making the artist’s image feel more authentic and thoughtfully constructed. This approach not only strengthened the visual identity of our project but also ensured that our audience could recognize and connect with the themes even outside of the music video itself.The elements of our production worked together to establish a cohesive sense of branding. Through a carefully chosen color palette, consistent typography, and a unified emotional tone, we ensured that our artist’s identity was both visually and conceptually strong. This level of interconnectedness helped create a distinctive and memorable brand, reinforcing the deeper messages conveyed in our project.

Audience Engagement in Our Project

Audience engagement is a crucial aspect of any media product, as it determines how effectively the message reaches and resonates with viewers. In our project, we used various elements—such as our Digipak, social media presence, and the emotional depth of our music video—to actively engage with our audience. One of the key ways we engaged with our audience was through our Digipak. Beyond being a promotional tool, the Digipak visually and thematically reinforced the emotions and struggles depicted in our music video. The dominant use of red and yellow hues created an immediate connection with the themes of depression, self-loathing, and self-discovery. The imagery and design choices were carefully curated to evoke emotion and spark curiosity, encouraging viewers to explore the deeper meanings behind the artist’s work. This method of branding helped create an immersive experience, making the audience feel more connected to the project’s message.Additionally, we leveraged social media—particularly Instagram—as a primary platform for engagement. Since Instagram is widely used by teenagers and young adults, it was the perfect space to promote our music video and reach our target audience. By creating a social media page dedicated to the artist and the project, we were able to share behind-the-scenes content, teasers, and promotional material that kept our audience interesred and involved. Moreover, the narrative of our music video itself played a significant role in engagement. By portraying struggles that many teenagers face—such as insecurity, depression, and self-doubt—we ensured that viewers could see themselves reflected in the story. The emotional depth of the visuals and lyrics made the content relatable, allowing for a stronger emotional connection with the audience. our project engaged with the audience through a combination of visual storytelling, social media interaction, and meaningful thematic representation. By using platforms that resonate with young people and crafting a narrative that speaks to their experiences, we were able to create a compelling and immersive media product that not only captured attention but also sparked important conversations.

Research and Challenging Conventions in Our Music Video

Research played a crucial role in shaping our music video, influencing both the themes we explored and the way we used or challenged conventions. By studying common representations of mental health struggles in media, we aimed to create a product that felt authentic, emotionally impactful, and visually symbolic. Rather than simply portraying depression and self-loathing in a straightforward manner, we incorporated deeper visual metaphors—such as mirrors, sticky notes, and flowers—to add layers of meaning to our storytelling. One of the most powerful conventions we used was symbolism through mirrors. In a scene, our protagonist looks at a mirror where the words “You are not enough” are written. This moment reflects the internalized self-hatred many individuals struggling with depression and insecurity experience. The mirror serves as more than just a reflective surface—it becomes a representation of her distorted self-perception, showing how negative thoughts consume her reality. This use of symbolism challenges mainstream media’s often superficial depiction of mental health by visually externalizing the invisible battles individuals face.We further developed this theme with another mirror scene featuring sticky notes covered in self-deprecating messages. These notes act as a physical manifestation of her inner voice, reinforcing the overwhelming nature of self-hate. By placing them on the mirror—a place where one typically looks at themselves—we highlight the constant presence of these intrusive thoughts. This technique was informed by real-life experiences of people who struggle with self-worth, emphasizing the importance of showing mental health issues in a way that feels relatable rather than exaggerated or romanticized. However, we did not want our video to be entirely bleak. To subtly challenge the convention that depression is a never-ending void, we included moments that symbolized hope. A mid-video scene features the protagonist sitting in a garden, reading a book with flowers surrounding her. This moment provides a contrast to the darker imagery, hinting at a possibility of healing. Flowers, often associated with growth and renewal, serve as a visual metaphor for the idea that hope can exist even in dark times. Finally, at the end of the video, we see the protagonist return to the mirror—not to be confronted by self-hate, but to write a new message: “It will be okay.” This moment signifies a shift in perspective. Although her struggles are not magically resolved, this small action suggests a step toward self-acceptance. By concluding our video on this note, we challenge the convention that stories about mental health must always end in tragedy. Instead, we present a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging both pain and resilience.our research into mental health representation guided us in using symbolism to create a deeper, more emotionally resonant narrative. Through mirrors, sticky notes, flowers, and written affirmations, we added layers of meaning that went beyond conventional portrayals of depression. By incorporating both struggle and hope, we aimed to create a story that feels authentic, impactful, and ultimately empowering for our audience.

In our music video, we used symbolism, color, and social media to create a cohesive and engaging narrative that represents mental health struggles. By breaking the fourth wall, depicting scenes of eating disorders, and showing the protagonist running from her alter ego, we highlighted self-loathing and recovery. Ultimately, hope prevails.