2. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Codes and convention specifically in music videos are the different
techniques used to send out different types of emotion
The two types of codes and conventions can be technical and symbolic.
Technical techniques is conveyed using technical equipment e.g.
different types of shot, camera angles, diegetic and non- diegetic audio
and editing. Symbolic on the other hand is way of showing meaning
through expression, mis en scene and poses.

3. COMMON CODES AND CONVENTIONS
The conventions in music videos vary but that will depend on the genre of
the music video for example the simple conventions are
•
The style
•
The camera
•
The editing techniques
•
The sound whether diegetic or non-diegetic
•
Mis en scene – props, lighting, costumes, location etc.

4. THE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC VIDEOS
•
Performance- when the artist performs the song that is being sung , this
means that there is no narrative at all video wise. A good example of a
music video is “Single Ladies – Beyoncé” in where the video is all just
about dancing and singing. For this specific artist this type of music
video is common but overall it is not always chosen because it doesn’t
targeted audience that can relate to the video but the video remains
interesting because of the lighting, editing and the performance she
gives.

5. NARRATIVE
A music video with a narrative simply means a music video that has a story
line that is consistent through the song. There are two types of
narrative a linear and a fragmented. The difference being is that a linear
has a story that start at the beginning and finishes at the end of the
music video, whereas a fragmented is the exact opposite. A good
example of a linear music video is “Dilemma – Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland”
in where the protagonist stays in character all through the video and
follows the narrative.

6. THE CLASH OF THE PERFORMANCE AND
NARRATIVE
When a music video has both features combined including performance
and a narrative makes the music video much more interesting because
its like having best of both worlds and it can target a much wider range
of audience. A example of a music video that contains both features is
“Perfect – Pink”

7. CAMEO
This is where the artist or in most cases artists are playing the main roles
in the music video but do not perform. An example of this would be
“Last Friday Night – Katy Perry” but does not perform on stage

8. CAMERA SHOTS
Camera angles are very important in every type of mediated visual text but
in music video to feel. The different types of shots in a music video are
there to create an emotional attachment to the viewer which help them
better understand what the song is about.
Very Wide & Wide shots
This is done mainly to show the audience the scene and setting not all of
these shot contain a artist or a person in the shot but can help to
include a person in order to emphasis the horizon.
Very
Wide
Wide

9. Mid shot
Typically this shot show the artist from head to the waist as well as giving
an idea of location and setting of the video. Although there are many
types of mid shot you can have such as

10. Close Ups
Many close up focus on a object or on a artist there are 3 main types of
close ups for example
Medium close up
Showing the face and possible the shoulders
Close ups
Just showing the face
Extreme Close up
Where its is showing a section of for example the artist face like the eyes or
the nose
Medium
Close up
Extreme

11. Other common shots …
Over shoulder shots
This is a good shot and is mostly used in narrative to for conversations or
to see exactly what the character is looking at in order for the viewer to
feel more included
Cut In
Is a shot that can relate to the lyrics at that specific time for example the
shot below is the artist driving getting into a Mercedes Benz and the
line is “think I wanna drive your Benz”

12. CAMERA ANGLES
Eye level – This shot is added to make the
viewer feel as though they are taken a
role in the music video because the
audience will them shot as they would
in real life
High Angles - This shot shows the
character from above and normally
show vulnerability
Low Angles – This shot does the opposite
of a high angle and is used to show the
artist in more control with more power.

13. Birds Eye – This shot can help add a
dramatic effect or showing an
unnatural point of view showing
someone else’s perspective. These
shot shots are directly above the
object or artist/character.
Slanted – This is an angle when the
camera is at angle which can also
be identified as a Dutch angle where
the camera is purposely tilted
adding again a dramatic effect.
Both camera shots and angle play a huge part in creating emotion and
expressions and can really help a music video come together to help
implant that video and song into the viewers mind.

14. MORE …. ?
Some other camera shots that are used in not only music video can add a
great and powerful effect on the video. For example some of these
movements will include panning or tracking. A director may choose to
follow a character through the eyes of someone else for this it would be
convenient to use a dolly or a tracking mat this is where the camera is
mounted on top of tracks or place onto a dolly with wheels in order to
create a soft movement.
Another common movement is a pan in where the camera can be placed on
a dolly or tracking in order to film on object or character round pass
and it will allow them easy and a profession movement.

15. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Beside from camera shots and camera angles which are important to think about and
consider there are also many other codes that can help bring a music video
together.
Editing techniques – editing plays a huge role in the making of all music videos. When
editing you are able cut down scenes, add special effect to the visual or audio you
can also play scene in slow or fast motion or change coloring. There is now also
CGI which is very popular in music videos. CGI consist of a green screen behind
the shot and hen it is edited to whatever is needed/wanted. An example in which
CGI is used is “ET- Katy Perry”

16. Sound When thinking of the storyboard to match the song it is important to think
of the tempo and the mood the song sets off at different times of the
song so that the music video also follows the same sort of flow
throughout the video in order to keep the viewer interested. There are to
types of sound diegetic and non diegetic. Non diegetic is sound that
has been edited in to the video such as voiceovers and Diegetic sound
is created while filming such as a phone.
A good example of a music video in where the song is at the same tempo
and speed as the song is “OMG – Usher ft. Will.i.am” this is because
the cuts of the shot are precise to the beat and the lyrics of the song.

17. MIS EN SCENE
The mis en scene simply means the background in music video this can be
anything from; lighting, prop, costumes, hair and makeup, location and
colouring. Of course that these technique will depend on the genre of
the song.
Lighting –
Depending on the genre of the music will depend on the lighting used in
the music video for example if the song is feature in a night the lights
will be dark with flashing lights like the song “Club can’t handle me –
David Guetta ft. Flo Rida” or a love song it will have more bright scenes
like “California King Bed – Rihanna”

18. PROPS
Props are a good clear way to link the lyrics with a visual and they are
mostly used in narrative music video. The props in a music video adds
to the entertainment side but can still be used in a imaginative way to
give a clue towards what will happen in the music video. A great
example in where the props have played a major role in the music video
is in “Irreplacable – Beyonce” where the props from the beggingin show
the audience that the song is about a break up

19. COSTUME AND HAIR AND MAKE UP
Costumes, make up and hair
is important to create a
personal background for
the character in a 4 min
music video. The costume
and the way they look
overall is a way of
portraying the role.
For example in “Right There –
Ariana Grande ft. Big
Sean” the video is set in
the past which is why the
costumes for men are
suits and the woman
dressing gowns, the song
follows a Romeo and
Juliet theme
Make up and hair is important
to a music video like
“I am not a Robot – Marina &
the
Dimonds”

20. LOCATION
The location is not only to show
the audience the scenary of
the music video but it can
also help to better decide on
what the genre is. For
example “DJ got us fallin’ in
love – Usher” is a song that
would be expected to play in
a club and for that reseaon is
set in one.
Where as if the song was about
reminising about a
relationship for example then
a happy location would be
perfect for example a beach
or a fun fair, an example
would be “Who knew – Pink”

21. COLOUR
There are a lot of colour shown in most music videos but that distracts the
audience more than if the music video were in black and white. Having a
all black and white music video will create more focus on the video
which is why its best when the storyboard of the music video has a
narrative. Some music videos have some scene in black and white and
this could be don’t to so time in the past or a dream. A good example of
a video would be “Back to Black – Amy Winehouse” which is about a
funeral so a black and white them allows the audience to be in the same
mood as the characters.