This document discusses codes and conventions in music videos. It defines codes and conventions as systems that create meaning in music videos. There are technical codes like camera angles, shots, and editing, and symbolic codes like mise-en-scene involving props, costumes, and locations. Codes and conventions allow audiences to be familiar with genres and understand music videos. Technical elements like camera shots, movements, and angles construct meaning, as do symbolic elements of mise-en-scene like props, colors, locations, and facial expressions. Editing, lighting, and sound are also important technical codes that construct meaning and relate the visuals to the music.

1. Music Videos
Codes and Conventions

2. What are Codes & Conventions?
It is a way of constructing meaning in media
texts. Codes are a system of signs which create
meaning while conventions are the manner in
which certain aspects are characteristically
constructed to portray the genre of the music
video.This can be divided into two categories
Technical and Symbloic .

3. Types
Technical
 Includes equipment and technology are used to construct
meaning with camera angles,shots,Editing paces and
styles.
Symbolic
 It is the meaning created beyond what is obvious to see.
 It includes the Mise-en-scene which are the
props,costume,location,body language and facial
expressions.

4. Reason?
It allows the audience to become familiar with a
certain genre as they become accustomed to seeing
certain things within a Music Video.
It ensures a certain text works well and fits into its
genre.
It provides a structure which the audience
understands as they have seen it before.
To ensure the lyrics of the song fit in with the video
of we’d expect it to be.
It should not be challenegd on too great a level.
It helps us anaylze the meaning of a text.

5. Codes!
The codes of a music video vary from
each genre here are some general
ones:
The style
The camera
The editing Techniques
The sound
Mise-en-scene
Notions of looking

6. Camera
The way the camera is used when filming for
a music video is crucial. It can create the
different effects by different angles used
and the camera movement.It has a
variety of shots depending on style. A lot
of close-ups are used usually.

7. Camera shotsWide shot
Extreme close-upVery wide shot
Close-up
Medium close-up
Over the shoulder
Close-ups are shots
used to focus on
one area , while
some emotion is
shown.

8. Camera Movements
Panning
This is usually used to
show the enviornment of
the charcter .
Tracking shots
This follows charcter
movements to bring out
a narrative elemt.

9. Camera Angles
This is eye level ,this use of camera view is a
very common view and it shows the subjects
as we would expect to see them in real life.
High angle shows the subject
above as the camera is angled
down towards the subject,this
sometimes makes them appear less
powerful or significant.
This is a low angle a binary opposite
to high angle,this shows the subject
from below which gives the subject
the impression of being more
powerful.
The birds eye angle is showing the subject or
scene from directly above. It can be an
unnatural point of view which can be used to
add an dramatic effect . It can also show the
position of different characters and objects
enabling the viewer to see things the subject
itself might not see.
Eye-Level view
Low angle view
Birds eye viewHigh angle view

10. The mise-en-scene can vary greatly
depending on the genre of music and the
type of music video. This includes:
 Props, the performance equipment and
band merchandise
Costume, the certain outfits
Location,concert halls or venues
Facial expressions
Hair&make-up
Colours
Mise-en-scene

11. Props
In most music videos sometimes props are used to illustrate the narrative
and when linking the lyrics with visuals, props are commonly used. The
props in a music video add to the entertainment side, and can be used in a
fun imaginative way. One music video that uses props to make the video
more entertaining is The kill-30 Seconds to Mars, which is an alternative
Rock Genre thus its props will mostly be of instrument like guitars ,drums
etc.

12. Colours
 Colours are shown through almost everything in a musicvideo, lighting, costumes,
make-up, hair and locations.Colours are used in everyday things and we generally
seethe use of colours throughout music videos displayingnormal day life. Colour
can also be interoperated thoughto represent a feeling or mood or to signify
certain things.For instance, some music videos are in black and whiteshowing no
colours, this can be a way of showing a timelapse (flashbacks) suggesting
something happened in the past. An example of this would be Beyonce – If I Was A
Boy, the video shows relationship between two people, the whole video is in black
and white, this suggests that therelationship may be on and off. If this was shown
in colour the narrative and relationship wouldn’t be as significant .

13. Location
The location, and scene of a music video cannot only show the audience
where the artist is but also can decide on the genre, for instance locations
like the beach, in a car or at a party would fit into the pop and dance
music genre. Due to the happy andlively feel they give. If the music video
was filmed in a street, a modern house are typical locations used for grime
and hip hop music genre.Or if the music video was filmed on a stage or a
concert performace it signifies the rock genre. The location influences the
genre, but can be chosen purposely to relate the song.
Cody simpson-Brown eyes
30 seconds to mars-Do or Die
Lil Wayne

14. Costumes
 The costume is usually used torepresent certain characters indifferent
ways. Different artists also wear different clothes torepresent what they
areportraying in the music video. An example of this would be Coldplay-
Paradise.Another music video that displays costume well isin the video
‘When I Was A Youngster by Rizzle Kicks’.Costume can also illustrate the
narrative, and can relate to whatthe song is about. This is shown inthe
video where the costumes arereflecting the song and have beenused to
create imaginative, fun videos also adding to the entertainment side.
Paradise-Coldplay
California Gurl-Katy Perry

15. Hair & Makeup
 The way an artists hair is, isdone for a purpose, it can alsoshow a
character’spersonality, or be done as a wayof attracting the audience.Depending
on the target audience. Hair like makeup is really just about style, and fashion and
what’s in. It’simportant that the appearanceof the actor/artist is of good quality as
they will be looked atby the audience. Hair and make-up can be displayed in many
years for many different reasons. Dark and black make up can be used for a scary
look , with spiky hair which is mostly used in hard rock music videos E.g the band
Black veil Brides.

16. Facial expressions
 They show the emotion of the charcters potraying the theme of the music
video.
In katy perry’s video as she in a candy world
she is excited thus shows that.
In Avril’s video Rock n roll she is suprsied and
shocked to find the enemy in the restraunt, thus
has that expression.
In Miley’s video Wrecking ball , she
shows pain and sadness as the video
dipicts that.

17. Mise-en-scene of different
genres
Rock
Hip hop
Pop
Rnb
Jazz

18. Many music videos have certain elements that make them have various vibes to represent the
view of the music tribes, such as:
• Hip hop music videos use quite dark colours,simple settings and there are portrayls of
women to show their sexuality which appeals to males. On the other hand majority of hip
hop music artists are males and so the females are fans.
• Pop music features the usage of bright colours,flashing lights, creative settings and
backdrops.The colours would mainly appeal to younger audiences as many pop artists are
young and express themseelves through lyrics of pop music, as well as their costumes
making them innocent and relatable.
• Jazz music video contains bright lights and are often performancce based on huge stages.
Costumes include suits for the men and sophisticated dresses for women as well as classy
hairstyles and bright make-up,with the use of old fashioned microphones. The overall view
of these videos are to portray sophistication and elegance.
• Rnb music are similar to hip hop as they contain simple setting and many show women
dressed in revealing clothing.Also these videos have an element to portray wealth and
power through the use of cars and jewelery due to the costume and setting.
• Rock music videos have dark colours throughout and use simple settings.Many videos
contain the use of music equipment such as drums and guitars,which is why rock musicans
mostly perform in their music videos.There is alot of emotion through their charcters and
facial expressions,and normally do not portray happiness as they relate the lyrics and
meaning of the song to the storyline and emotions.

19. Editing
 There are many different editing techniques used in music
videos.
 Music videos usually feature jump cutting.
 Footage is usually edited to match the music.
 Split-screens / CGI Choosing to include Diegetic sound.
 Change in levels of sound.
 Making link between lyrics and visuals

20. Lighting
Lighting is considered part of the mis en scene, the
lighting can create different views by the way the
scene is lit, it allows the audience to recognize
the genre andstyle of the music video. A bright
light draws the viewers attention, but a scene
canbe lit by using natural lighting from the sun or
existing light sources, or by usingartifical lights.
Strobe lights and coloured lights you would most
likely see in a dance, pop or hip hop music
videos, but be very rare in country type music.

21.  Sound consists of two main forms: diegetic sound which is
already present in the film and non-diegetic sound which can be
edited in. Sound is absolutely essential in any music video as this
is the main reason why people watch and listen to them, to gain
a sense of art via different artists. Sound, like footage can be
edited to create different effects and variations to the normal
vocals that we hear. Sound Parallel sound is when the music
matches the mood of the video.
Sound