Codes and Conventions of Music VideosJustine Mason

Camera

Long shots, mid shots and close-ups – emphasise artist/band, location and emotions.

Close-ups – when artist singing/miming – emphasise words of song – show personality of artist/band.

Hand-held – create ‘home video’ effect – typically used in indie/folk genre.

Mise en scene

Party/club/house – typically used in hip-hop/pop genre –e.g. Taylor Swift – 22.

Outside – typically used in folk/indie genre – e.g. CocosLovers – Emily.

Costume – reflects genre to appeal to viewers.

Editing

Jump-cuts – break rules of continuity editing – allows sudden change from scene to scene.

Fade/dissolve – more subtle – different effect created –typically used in a slow-paced song.

Fast-paced editing – used on upbeat songs.

Cutting – related to rhythm of music.

Intercutting – used between performance and narrative.

Lighting

Suggests mood of song.

Artificial lighting – enhances artist/band.

Black and white – create sophisticated/vintage atmosphere – typically used in indie/rock/folk genre – e.g. The Neighbourhood – Sweater weather.

Colour scheme

Sets mood of song – creates atmosphere.

Reflective of genre – e.g. rock genre such as Kings of Leon = dark colours, hip-hop/pop genre such as Katy Perry = bright colours.

Props

Alcohol/drugs – typically used in hip-hop and indie/rock genre – e.g. Arctic Monkeys – Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?

Expensive cars – typically used in hip-hop and pop genre –e.g. M.I.A. – Bad Girls.

Performance/Conceptuality

Performance from artist/band – live or staged – music videos originally developed from clips of performances.

No narrative – only follows genre – typically used in hip-hop videos.

Cameo – artist/band features but doesn’t perform – observes narrative, part of narrative or completely separate.

Narrative – relates to lyrics – could be short film with beginning, middle and end –or parts of narrative throughout video

Random Narrative – contradicts song and lyrics for effect.

Video used to promote new film - clips of film featured e.g. Bruno Mars – It Will Rain, featuring clips from Twilight.

Intertextuality with films, TV and other videos – mimic other film/TV genres – e.g. horror (Michael Jackson – Thriller), sci-fi (Katy Perry – E.T.).

Thematic

Themes depend on genre – e.g. rock/heavy metal = performance dominated, hip-hop/rap = ‘street/urban’ images.

Dance routines – typically used in pop/hip-hop genre –generally female bands/artists – e.g. Beyoncé's videos.

Spectacle

Direct mode of address – band/artist interacting with audience – creating personal relationship.

Females – typically the object of erotic gaze – Mulvey’s ‘male gaze’ theory – dressed/posed in sexual ways –typically in hip-hop/pop genre – e.g. Nicki Minaj –Anaconda.

Goodwin’s Theory

Key features of music videos – ‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’ 1992.

1.) Relationship between lyrics and visuals on screen – either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting.

2.) Relationship between music and visuals – illustrating, amplifying, contradicting or cutting visuals in time to music.

e.g. ‘Walks Like Rihanna’ by The Wanted – beats of song coordinates with strobe lighting.

3.) Music videos demonstrate particular performance styles – studio performance, stadium performance, specific location, narrative based or non-narrative based.

e.g. ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi – performing in a stadium.

4.) Close-ups of artist/band – so artist/band strongly featured in video.

5.) Artist/band develop star iconography (signature image audience identify artist/band with) – through branding, style or unique selling points.

6.) Concept of voyeurism (watching something in sexual nature) – in the form of nudity, intimate location (e.g. bathroom) or exhibitionism.

e.g. ‘Stay’ by Rihanna – artist featured naked in bath.

7.) Intertextual references to films or T.V programmes.

e.g. ‘It’s Raining Men’ by Geri Halliwell – references to film ‘Fame’ through clothing and style.