Analysis of music videos codes and conventions

1. Title of Music
Video
Katy Perry - Roar
Style; Performance,
Narrative, Mixture,
Cameo
The narrative it’s not so clear.
Little performance only.
A reminisced of old fashioned Tarzan films.
Equilibrium –It strengthens the empowerment.
Camera; Shots,
Angles, Shot Length,
Movement
High angle shots, close-ups, point of view, two shot, shot reverse shot.
The important shots were a bit long rightfully.
Cutting through animation – Tiger paintings and lighting.
Use of Pyrotechnics.
Editing; Pace,
Cutting, Special
Effects
Unique was the fact that it changed from real life story, to animation.
Fade out when the time was passing.
The pace was linked with the shot length.
Sound; Diegetic,
Non-Diegetic
Diegetic jungle noises.
Set as a film.
The settings create tension.
Singing is diegetic.
Mise-en-Scene;
Costume, Lighting,
Acting, Make-up,
Props, Settings,
Colour
The costumes where suitable for the environment.
Jungle colours.
High key lighting most of the time – Low key lighting during her ‘transformation’.
For make-up she uses mixed fruits as a lipstick colour.
She gives out a sexy, playful and naughty side of her.
Representation;
Gender
Erotic – It goes against the male, female prototypes
Animal-like, Wild-Queen of the Jungle.
Message The plane crash is an analogy used as a break up in a relationship.
Contains annotations.
At the start she feels terrified and abandoned, but afterwards she gets over it.

2. Title of Music
Video
Arcade Fire – After Life
Style; Performance,
Narrative, Mixture,
Cameo
Beginning – Only narrative, and music like a background story.
Afterwards there is a Performance.
Inde Rock Music.
Camera; Shots,
Angles, Shot Length,
Movement
The camera is following the woman most of the time.
Two shot is taking place when the artist comes out to the frame and talks to her as her guardian angel.
Match on action – When she is running to the stage.
Editing; Pace,
Cutting, Special
Effects
A very long shot at the start, making it look like a film.
There are a lot of long time shots without any editing.
Sound; Diegetic,
Non-Diegetic
Diegetic sound is being shown, from the crown cheering while the artist performs the song.
Mise-en-Scene;
Costume, Lighting,
Acting, Make-up,
Props, Settings,
Colour
Make-up: She is not wearing any.
Acting: It’s a little bit raw.
Costume: Normal clothes. (Dress)
Lighting: Low key because it reflects her feelings and personality, representing hope for her after a hard
break up.
Acting: Her dance is part of the narrative.
Setting: The forest represents her feelings for the break-up. The trees work like cut frames and the weather is
representing her transformation.
Representation;
Gender
Men are not important, we don’t see the artist singing.
The woman is expressing her feelings through dancing making the audience uncomfortable.
Normal clothes that she is wearing, and she looks afraid of what’s to come.

3. Title of Music
Video
Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran – Everything has Changed
Style; Performance,
Narrative, Mixture,
Cameo
Cameo – Both artists are not part of the narrative, as we see them only in the end for about 20 seconds.
However the express the song through their children, by showing how much time they spend together and
what relationship did that time create.
Camera; Shots,
Angles, Shot Length,
Movement
We have a lot of shots of children but the main two are the ones of the artists. There are close-ups, above the
shoulder, two shots and shot reverse shot between them, trying to show how they have built such strong
relationship between them. Although they are young we can see the spark and the friendly love between
them, along with their innocence.
Editing; Pace,
Cutting, Special
Effects
The cutting of the shots is very well linked with the pace of the song and the lyrics.
Most shots are on slow motion, trying to show the importance of the characters, their personality and
feelings.
They are trying to ‘capture the moment’.
Sound; Diegetic,
Non-Diegetic
Mise-en-Scene;
Costume, Lighting,
Acting, Make-up,
Props, Settings,
Colour
The customs are very simple, suggesting that they are innocent and very simple as kids, and highlighting
their childhood.
Whereas the make-up from some scenes, such as the one where they paint their faces, trying to have fun.
Setting is very well linked with the customs as they are placed on a school.
Finally the lighting is high key with some bright colours, except some shots where the low key lighting
shows romance and sweetness.
Representation;
Gender
Childish.
Describes how children are and how can they build a strong friendship based on trust, love and fun, despite
their young age.

4. Title of Music
Video
Vampire Weekend - Cousins
Style; Performance,
Narrative, Mixture,
Cameo
Performance – The whole music video is a performance of a band, without any mixture, suggesting narrative
which makes it pretty unusual nowadays.
Camera; Shots,
Angles, Shot Length,
Movement
The majority of shots here are medium shots and two shots, suggesting no huge importance to a single artist,
but to the while band.
Also the length of the shots is very small which creates tension to the viewers.
Editing; Pace,
Cutting, Special
Effects
The pace of the song is very fast, which is also linked with the cutting of the scenes and helps to create
tension and excitement .
There is also cutting of the scenes, where they lose time, but at the same time it looks unique.
Finally it seems like the performance is in ‘fast forward’
Sound; Diegetic,
Non-Diegetic
There is diegetic sound produced from the musical instruments e.g. bells.
Mise-en-Scene;
Costume, Lighting,
Acting, Make-up,
Props, Settings,
Colour
Lighting is high key, with bright and colourful atmosphere.
There is no acting at all or make-up as it’s a performance and it doesn’t include any narrative.
Props are considered to be the instruments as we see the artists playing them live.
Finally the setting is some old neighbourhood, which doesn’t make any sense at all.
Representation;
Gender
Representation of men is a little bit silly and cute, which surprisingly doesn’t go against the prototypes of
men/teenagers.