Codes and conventions of music videos

CODES AND CONVENTIONS IN MUSIC VIDEOS

The codes and conventions in a music video are the methods and techniques employed to produce the video and give it a meaning and a coherence. These techniques can be split into two areas, technical techniques and symbolic techniques.

Technical techniques refers to the way in which the meaning of the video is made clear using the technical equipment, and would include camera angles, variety of shot, sound editing and genre.

Symbolic techniques talk of ways in which the meaning of the video is conveyed using gestures, facial expressions, props, poses and attitudes, and mise-en-scene.

Each genre of music has its own codes and conventions, and an audience becomes familiar with the different conventions within the genre. The conventions also give a sense of structure to the video helping the audience to understand what the video is trying to say. They also help the lyrics to fit well with the video that the audience is seeing.

There are two types of music video – performance and narrative. Performance is when the video consists mainly of the artist or band performing the song, and no other scenes are included. A narrative music video tells the audience a story which relates to and helps the audience to understand the message of the lyrics. A linear narrative video tells a story from beginning to end, a fragmented video jumps from one scene to another. In reality, music videos are often a combination of these two techniques.

Artist often put in cameo appearances in a video, but do not actually perform.

The use of the camera is a key part in the successful production of a music video. It is possible to create so many different effects through a variety of shots, angles and movements. They play a massive part in the portrayal of feelings and emotions. Shots tend to be fast paced in music videos.

There are a wide variety of camera shots used in music videos. Wide shots show the artist, but only in the sense that they are relating to their environment. The emphasis is on the setting and location. A mid shot usually portrays the artist only down to the waist, but still gives some indication of the setting, giving a reality and meaning to the shot. A close up focuses on the face of the artist and is used to show expressions to help us understand feelings and emotions. It can also be used to focus attention on a particular prop or part of the setting. An extreme close up is often used to centre attention on a particular feature of the artist’s face, and can be used in lip syncing. It shows deep emotion. An over the shoulder shot is often used in narrative videos, where we can see beyond the person acting to concentrate on another person or part of the setting which is relevant to the story line. A cut in shot can be used to help to interpret the lyrics to the song, where an object is cut in to the shot in relation to the lyrics.

These shots can then be developed further by the use of creative camera angles. An eye level shot shows a reality, as that is the way we are used to seeing the world. A high angle shot shows the subject from above. It makes the object less powerful and influential, and tends to be used to show the insignificance of a person or object. A low angle gives the opposite impression of grandeur and power. A bird’s eye view is a shot taken from high up, directly above. It allows the audience to see a different perspective on the scene and to see what is happening in a way the characters would not be able to. A slanting shot shows the horizon at a slanted angle and can be used to create some very dramatic effects.

Editing is the final process in the production of a music video. It involves the cutting and amalgamating of the scenes, the addition of any special effects, and the adding of the lyrics.

Sound can be diegetic or non-diegetic. Diegetic sound is present in the film, but non-diegetic sound is sound that is edited in. The sound is an intrinsic part of the music video – it is what draws the audience to the video in the first place. The music video would try to match the mood created by the lyrics.

The mise-en-scene of the music video includes lighting, props, costume, hair and make up, location, and colour. These would very much depend on the genre of the video. They are intrinsic to the video and can be used to create many different effects.

Lighting is hugely important in the video. A scene can be lit using natural or artificial light and very much fit in with the genre of the video. Natural lighting would be used in a video for a country song whereas strobe lighting would be used to show a concert atmosphere in a dance video.

Costume is also hugely important and is used to portray the genre of the video and character of the performers. This is enhanced by hair and make up.

The location also firmly determines the genre of the video.

Colour can be hugely significant. It can create a mood, be used to identify special things which the audience need to notice, it can be used to emphasise feelings and show a time lapse.

There is often in a music video a notion of looking.