There are three main types of signs: iconic signs resemble the object they represent like photographs, indexical signs have a direct connection to the object like a black cloud indicating rain, and symbolic signs connect to the object through learned cultural meanings like a rose representing romance. There are also three types of music videos: illustrative videos directly visualize the song lyrics, amplification videos increase the meaning of the lyrics visually, and disjuncture videos ignore the lyrics and have no relevance to the music. Synesthesia is a concept where people see images when hearing music, like visualizing what a music video might show before watching it.

1. Iconic – This is like the object it is
representing such as a photograph or drawing.
It usually represents a person.
Types of Signs.
Indexical – This has a direct connection
with the object. (Black cloud – rain).
Symbolic – The connection with the object is a
matter of convention, rule or cultural knowledge/
agreement which is learnt. (Rose =
Romance, Heart = Love).

2. Synesthesia
• People see images when music is heard.
This concept is called synaesthesia.
An example of this would be to listen to a
music track without the images, and
visualise what you think is going on in the
video. After this, it is common to watch
the music video through and see if what
you visualised was the same as the
video, different, or completely wrong.

3. Types of Music Videos
There are 3 types of Music Videos—
• Illustrative – This is simply visualising
the lyrics. (e.g. He gave her a letter-
This would happen in the video)
• Amplification – This is increasing the
visual meaning through the lyrics.
• Disjuncture – This is when the lyrics are
ignored and has no relevance/ link to
Music Video.