2. DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC VIDEOS
PERFORMANCE BASED
Performance based is often in many music videos where it includes performance of the
artists as part of the video, it was from clips of performances that music videos
developed.
Performance videos mainly contain shots of he artists performing, that could be singing
or even dancing. It could be a live stage performance with shots of the artists performing
and the audience crowd watching.
An example of a performance based music video is Omarion post to be song where and
his features are dancing and singing along to the music in this video.
3. DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC VIDEOS
NARRATIVE BASED
A narrative video is a music video where the story is the main aspect of the music video
and a narrative is used throughout the whole video. Sometimes the artist is part of the
story or an observer or completely separate. The story could be different genres and
sometimes there is always a hidden meaning with the narrative. Sometimes it can
promote a film with clips from the film including telling a story. The story either
An example of a narrative music video is Michael Jacksons thriller, it is around 14
minutes long but most music videos are now 3 to 4 minutes long.
4. DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC VIDEOS
CONCEPT BASED
Concept videos usually contains unusual elements and different weird effects you don't
see everyday. It can be anything random and sometimes confuses the audience.
A good concept vide will keep the audience engaged and constantly looking at the
different things happening in the screen. The unusual content is an attraction to many
audiences that draws them in
An example of this concept is in Kendrick Lamar song humble where in one scene the
peoples heads is on fire.
5. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Styles of music videos :
- Performance : Where the artist or band is
performing.
- Narrative : Where there is a story or a narrative
behind the music video.
- Mixture : A mix of narrative and performance
together in a single music video.
- Cameo : Where the artist or band players a
featured in the narrative of the story.
- Animation : The music video is animated
- Abstract : The music video is more arty and
abstract meaning its more creative and
different than other music videos.
- Concept : A type of concept that is seen
throughout the music video such as a space
concept or a modern concept.
Editing and sound:
- Computer generated images : Such as
different images or abstract into the music
video.
- Diegetic sound : Sounds that could be heard
such as sound effects in the narrative.
- Non-diegetic sound : sounds that could not
be heard such as actors talking to each other
behind the main music.
- Change in levels of sound : Building up to
the music or finishing the end of the music.
Camera:
- Low angles : Used to show different styles of
the music video and can be seen in mostly
rock music with guitars.
- Long shots and extreme long shots : Mostly
used in narrative scenes videos where they
seen the background
- Pans and tilts from different performers :
This is to show the different performers if
they are in a band or are featuring.
- Tracking : Used to track the artist or actor
when walking around or doing different
things.
6. THEORIES
Andrews Goodwin theory
The visuals either illustrate, amplify or contradict the lyrics and music.
Genres often have their own music style iconography (the typical depiction in images of a subject and related sense..
Goodwin argues that the female performer is frequent objectified principally for display purposes, often through a
combination of camerawork and editing with body shots emphasising a sexualized person. Voyeurism( the sexual
interest in or practice of spying on people engaging in intimate behaviours) is a common theme with most music
videos. Close-ups should always be included.
Neal's theory of repetition and difference
Steve Neale says that genres are instances of repetition and difference and genres are not systems they are
processes of systemisation'. He said that, definitions of genre are historically relative and are therefore historically
specific. He said that there was a system of expectation and by using own knowledge and applying conventions of the
genre, the audience should be able to read the narrative and storyline of the film. He also said that difference is
essential to the genre.
7. CONCLUSION
This piece of research will help me in constructing my own music video. By knowing the different codes and
conventions of music videos, I am able to apply these into my own music video and further follow or challenge it.
Also the different ways in which music videos are portrayed such as performance based, narrative based,
concept based and more will help me pick and create which type of music video I am going to do and what kind
of features they have in each of them. It has inspired me to think of which type of music video to do and also the
style of the different music videos that I can produce. Furthermore Neal's theory of repetition and difference is
also important and will help me choose the conventions and how important it is to imprint these conventions for
the audience to read the narrative of the storyline in the music video.
Furthermore codes and conventions of the music include different varies such as the style of the music, editing,
sound and the camera angles. By knowing the different codes and conventions I will be able to include these into
my music video, improving and developing on it.
