Codes and conventions

1. Codes and conventions of music
videos

2. What are codes and conventions?
• Codes are a system of signs which can be decoded to create a meaning. Codes can
be split into two different categories technical and symbolic.
• Technical codes are all the ways equipment is used to tell a story in a media text, a
good example of this can be the camera work in a music video or a film.
• Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see, a good example
of this can be in a film the characters actions often show what the character is
feeling inside, this is also the same in music videos.
• Conventions are a combination of signs and codes put together. They are what you
expect to see within a certain genre, for example in a indie pop music video you
expect to see some form of countryside.
• The reason codes and conventions exist is to enable the audience to become
familiar with a particular genre, they then start to recognize the codes and
conventions and this is when they start to like specific genres.

3. Style of music videos.
• There are four different styles of music video out there:
• Performance- This is where you see the artist or band are performing throughout
the video.
• Narrative- This is where the music video is following a story line. There are also
two types of narrative, linear and fragmented. Linear is a video that starts at the
beginning of the story and has a middle and then ends at the end, whereas a
fragmented video doesn't do this.
• Mixture- This is a combination of performance and narrative, so there will be a
story line but you also see the artist performing the song.
• Cameo- This is where the artist/band feature in the music video, but they do not
perform.

4. The importance of the camera.
• In a music video the camera positioning and angles are very important as they can
create messages if used well.
Extreme close up- These are used to
show the artists face, often to try and
show the emotion of the artist.
Over the shoulder shot- These are used
when the artist is acting to show what
they are seeing from their point of view.
Effectively this shot it trying to engage
the audience.

5. Camera movement
• The camera moves and follows the singer to show the performance of the artist.
This can be with panning movement or tracking. The director will decide on what
movements are used before filming starts.
• Panning shot- Panning is a camera movement technique that involves moving the
camera horizontally to the right or left. With this technique you can track an object
or follow any type of movement. Be very careful with jerky action though. You can
do the pan shot hand held but we highly recommend using a tripod.
• Tracking shot- Tracking shot is when a camera follows a person or an object
physically moving with the subject whether that’s the artist or and object.

6. Editing
• Every clip and shot needs to be edited together in a music video. Essentially
editing is one of the most important things, because if it isn't done correctly it can
ruin the video.
• Editing is essentially putting the clips and shots together using various techniques
such as jump cutting.

7. Sound
• There are two types of sound that can be used:
• Diegetic - Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within
the film's world. Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending
on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame. Another term for
diegetic sound is actual sound Diegesis is a Greek word for "recounted story”
• Parallel- Parallel sounds are sounds that match a scene, e.g. a happy scene will
have happy music and laughter.

8. Mise-en-scene
• The Mise-en-scene in a music video focuses on what the actors are going to wear,
the background/setting, the colours used, props and hair and makeup. All of these
things are important codes for a genre.
• Lighting- How the scene is lit, for example if its light bright colours then the video
is more likely to be pop.
• Props- The equipment the actors need
• Costumes- Certain outfits will be chosen
• Hair and makeup- The artist will be made to look a certain way
• Location- where they are filming for example countryside is associated with folk
• Colour- Colours can be used to set the mood of the video.