This is my powerpoint for the codes and conventions of music videos for my A2 Media Studies, by Saeed Moulai

1. Codes and Conventions Of Music
Videos
Saeed Moulai

2. History Of Music Videos
• Music videos have been a common theme for videos for a
long time, the first recorded music video was in fact shot in
1920.
• Originally, all music videos were narrative and they would
tell a story. It was only in the 50s that performance music
videos were created.
• Since music videos started, there have been many different
theories to the purpose of music videos, including
Goodwin, Mulvey, Hall and Todorov.
• MTV helped bring up and really promote music videos, and
the first ever music video aired on MTV was “video killed
the radio star”, which is quite fitting because the video era
did actually kill off the worth and popularity of radio media.

3. There are 3 types of music videos
• Narrative
• Performance
• Conceptual
• Some music videos have a mix of two or even
three of them though

4. And there are 2 technique types
• Music videos always have a meaning, and the
techniques for these videos are one of either symbolic
or technical
• Symbolic techniques are ways of showing meaning
beyond what you can see, for example facial
expressions, gestures and mise en scene
• Technical techniques are a way in which the
information is conveyed using technical equipment
including the way the camera is positioned and moved,
different types of shot, different types of sound
(diegetic and non diegetic), the pace of the type of
editing as well as the genre.

5. Reasons for codes and conventions
• So the audience can become familiar with a
particular genre and know its characteristics
• So it provides a structure that the audience
can understand
• So the lyrics of the song fit in with the visuals,
leading it to make sense and so the end
product is how we expect it to be

6. Although due to genres codes and
conventions can vary, most of them include
• The style
• The camera
• The editing techniques
• The sound
• Mise-en-scene
• Notions of looking
• Stereotyping

7. Main types of shots

8. Technical Codes - Camerawork
• How the camera is used and how images are
sequenced will have a big impact on what meaning
the music video gives off
• Camera movement, shot and angle distance all
need to be analysed and looked at
• Camera movement may accompany movement of
performers, but it may also be used to create a
more dynamic feel to stage performance by
constantly circling the band as they perform on the
stage

9. Technical Codes - Editing
• The most common form of editing associated
with music videos are fast cut montages
• There are also videos which use slow pace and
gentler and transitions to establish a mood
• This is particularly apparent for the work of
many female solo artists with a broad appeal,
such as Mariah Carey

10. Mise En Scene

11. Props
• In most music videos props are used as either
a symbolic item or something to help tell the
story of the narrative
• One music video that uses props to make it
more entertaining is Telephone by Lady Gaga

12. Costume
• Costume is used to assist and represent
certain characters different ways, different
artists would also wear different clothes to
represent what they are trying to get across in
the music video.
• An example of this is in the Rizzle Kicks song
“when I was a youngster”

13. Hair and make up
• Everything in music videos are done for a
reason, so hair and make up in music videos
are always done to convey an idea or portray
something.
• An example of this is Katy Perry’s California
girls where in a part of the song she describes
her exact hair and make up