Music Video Conventions - Media Studies

1. Music Video Conventions

2. Camera Shots and Camera Movement.
• Music videos often include a variety of different camera shots, but the majority
of shots they use are often; long shots, mid shots and close ups. This is to create
emphasis on the artist (mid shot as you can see their face and body), location
(long shot) and the emotions (close up shots would focus on the artists face
emphasising their facial expressions to show their emotions clearly, however
they can also be used to reflect the words of the song with the movement of the
lips of the artist).
• The movement of the camera is used to follow and trace the artist or band
around the video, this would emphasise the fact that they're going on an
emotional, physical or metaphorical journey. Camera movements include tilts,
pans, tracking and crane shots.
Mid Shot example:
Close up Shot example:
Long Shot example:

3. Mise – en – scene:
• Mise-en-scene refers to the arrangement of
performers and props and props on stage or in a
scene for a production of a music video or any other
media text. Mise-en-scene for a production of a music
video or any other form of media such as TV or Film.
• Mise-en-scene puts importance on the representation
of something. An example is ‘Mad’ by Neo. The mise-
en-scene involves him walking down a road all alone
and also there are shots of him in a isolated room.
This reflects the isolation from his significant other,
also, the props include hats and dark clothes which
represent the down mood of the song. Similarly, the
lighting is kept very dark as it is black and white; this
reinforces his angry and depressed mood.

4. Mise-en-scene
Lighting:
• Lighting can be used to emphasise a particular emotion, for example a in happy video bright or colourful
lighting would be used to represent the up lifting mood, on the contrary in a sad music video dark
lighting would be used to reinforce the sad emotion. Lighting has also become part of a genre convention
for example often in indie rock music videos dark lighting is used or a black and white effect is used. In
pop videos brighter lighting can be used as often pop videos are up beat, the use of bright colourful
lighting reinforces this.
Sound:
• Sound in music videos are mainly the tack, but in some cases such as in Michael Jackson’s Thriller music
videos can show acting and have dialogue in order to create the storyline or introduce the story line to
the video.
Props:
• Props are vital in aiding to add to the scene and create significance on particular objects or people.
Costume:
• Costume is used to create the artists look and values fro example, an artist who hold values of being
extravagant in fashion would wear an extravagant costume. However an artist who holds ‘real’ values and
doesn’t care about money or the fame would wear a regular costume of a regular outfit.
Colour:
• Colours tend to set the mood of the song through creating an atmosphere. For example, dark colours are
used more in rock songs such as in the 1975’s ‘Robbers’ video and bright colours are seen to be used in
more hip hop and pop videos such as Katy Perry’s ‘Birthday’ video.

5. Editing
• The use of jump cuts are a
predominant editing technique in
music videos, as they allow a sudden
change from one scene to another.
Transitions such as fade and dissolve
are also very common in music
videos as they are used to represent
that time has passed. For videos
which show a characters emotional
journey, or them growing up these
transitions would be used.