Sampling

Sampling within music is basically taking a slice or portion out of a different song, or element of digital audio and applying it in a different song. Samples often consist of a part of a song, for example a break, or a drum beat. For example, Kanye West used a lot of sampling in his album graduation in 2007. Sampling is also common in industrial music, with samples coming from T.V programmes or films.

However there are legal issues with sampling. Early artist used to use sections or parts from other artists without permission, however once they started making money from other peoples samples, the origional artists took action and claimed copyright infringment. For example, Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby, used a sample from a Queen song, however they did not have the legal requirements to do so, and eventually got sued a lot a money.


Sampling goes back to 1961, James Tenney used samples from the Elvis song "Blue Suede Shoes." At the same time,many other artists were experementing with sampling, such as Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs.

DJ Shadow is very commonly known for the use of sampling, as his album Endtroducing, is made up entirely of samples. Normally, the sample used within a song is very noticeable, as the artist would have chosen one that is popular already. This helps to increase the target audience, especially if the sample has come from a very popular song.

Endtroducing

DJ Shadow

KanYe West
Graduation

Pulp Fiction; Post-Modernism

We watched the film Pulp Fiction in class, and identified all the areas of post modernism within the film, below i will be showing some of the the post modern factors within the film, and the inspiration from where it came from.

One element of post modernism is the haircut of Mia, which has clearly been taken from Louise Brooks, who starred in the film Pandoras Box. At the time, to have a haircut like Louise Brooks was a daring thing to do, and was almost unheard of.




The reseraunt used in Pulp Fiction (Jack Rabbit Slim's) is another example of post modernism, as there are referances to many characters from popular culture, e.g Zorro, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean. All these people are seen within the resteraunt, here is the clip...



(sorry its in french)

Whilst in the resteraunt you also see Maraliyn Monroe doing the classic pose...



... which is a referance to the Subway Scene from "The seven year itch."

The following scene is where Butch chooses a weapon to save Marcellus...




The weapons he picks up are all references to weapons that are used in other films to kill people. For example...
First of all he picks up the hammer, which is a reference to Toolbox Murders (1978)


Then he picks up the Baseball Bat, referance to The Untouchables.





Then he picks up a chainsaw, which is a referance to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.




Until he finally decides upon a samurai sword, which has many referances. Seven Samurai (1954), The Yazuka (1975), Shogun Assasain (1980).