Music Video – Codes & Conventions

What are Codes & Conventions?Codes and Conventions are a way of constructing meaning in media texts.They can be divided into 2 separate categories: Technical and Symbolic.

• Technical: How equipment and technology are used to construct meaning. Camera – different angles, shots etc. Editing – pace, style etc. Sound – Diegetic/Non-diegetic, genre etc. • Symbolic: Meaning created beyond what is obvious to see (e.g. facial

expressions). Mise-en-scene.

Styles of Music Video:• Performance – Band/artist playing

• Narrative – Includes story

• Mixture – Both performance and narrative based

• Cameo – Band/artist features in the narrative but doesn’t perform

• Animation – Digitally (flash) / Stop frame

Camera• All music videos use a variety of camera angles & shots E.G…• CRANE SHOT: Used usually when the music video contains the band

performing usually on stage so that the audience gets to see the band from different angles• CLOSE UPS: We often see close-ups of the artists faces to reveal their

emotion especially when the music video contains a narrative. Also so that the audience can see them singing the lyrics, it also keeps the fan base high by showing the artist which helps the record label• LOW ANGLES: Used as a way to make the artist or band look

dominating.

Camera Movement• The camera moves to follow the artist or to show the performance of

the artist e.g. panning and tracking. A director may choose to move action along by telling the story as a series of cuts, going from one shot to another, or they may decide to move the camera with the action. E.G:• Pans – Where the camera scans a scene horizontally. The camera is

placed on a tripod, which operates as a stationary axis point as the camera is turned, often to follow a moving object, which is kept in the middle of the frame. • Dolly/Tracking – This is where the camera is mounted on a cart which

travels along tracks for a very smooth movement.

Editing • Each shot needs to be selected individually so that the music is

playing at the same time as the artist is singing and the correct emotions are being portrayed to the audience. • Editing is the process that concludes the making of the music video.

When you edit, scenes cut down and you can add special effects to the track of the music videos etc.

Sound• Sound consists of two main forms: • Diegetic sound which is already present in the film and Non-Diegetic sound

which can be edited in. Sound is essential in any music video as this is the main reason for why people watch and listen to them to gain a sense of art via different artists. Like footage, sound can be edited to create different effects and variations to the normal vocals that we hear.• Sound Parallel is when the music matches the mood of the video. E.G. If the song

was slow then the video would also be slow to match the mood. If it was a sad song, the music video would be also sad. Some music videos have diegetic sound, where they include sound from the surroundings such as polic, birds etc. which makes the video seem more realistic. Yet, the music itself is non-diegetic sound.

Mise-en-scene• Mise-en-scene plays a large part as it’s a symbolic way of creating meaning beyond what

is obvious to the audience, most music videos will use a lot of props and the producer will also think deep into the particular location and set of the music video. • The Mise-en-scene for music videos focuses on the lighting, props, costume, hair,

makeup, location and colour these elements usually depend on the genre of the music video and the style. They are used to convey the importance of people within music videos. They are also used to represent certain characters in different ways.• Lighting – how the scene is lit/artificial lights/side lights etc.• Props – performance equipment, band merchandise etc.• Costume – certain outfits• Hair and makeup – style of the artist/feelings• Location – studios, concert halls, streets etc.• Colour – specific colours to represent a certain mood/vibe

Pop Music Videos• Bright, ‘girly’ colours • Artists usually look happy &

cheerful• Don’t tend to wear much

clothing, show off a lot of skin• Trendy, mainstream clothing• Fun & lively to represent a

teenagers life (target audience)• Backdrops

Rock Music Videos• Usually dark, bold colours• Tends to feature the band and

instruments• Use of special effects e.g. smoke,

strobe lighting etc• Settings = Alleyways, studios etc• Dark clothing and makeup• Mysterious, edgy vibe created• Performance based, fast pace

R’n’B Music Videos• Similar to Pop videos, bright

colours• Tends to feature ‘pimps’ • Provocative clothing, show off flesh

(usually females)• Original artists performing in a

narrative setting (club, pub etc.)• Props to display wealth such as

expensive cars, mansions, jewellery etc. • Dancers/strippers featured