music video codes and conventions

1. Music Video
Codes and
Conventions
M U S I C V I D E O S
A R E M A D E W I T H
T H E I N T E N T I O N
F O R A R T I S T S T O
C R E AT E A V I S U A L
I N T E R P R E TAT I O N
O F T H E I R S O N G S
A N D T O P R O M O T E
T H E S O N G S
F U R T H E R .
T H E G E N R E O F
M U S I C V I D E O I
A M L O O K I N G I N T O
I S P O P A N D I N D I E
P O P B Y F E M A L E
A R T I S T S .
J E N N I F E R
R O B I N S O N

2. This genre of music video is usually split between the storytelling
section of the video and the artist singing along to the song
which allows for the artist to portray their song visually as well as
promoting themselves and making their face recognisable to new
fans/listeners.
Lizzy McAlpine -
ceilings

3. Lizzy McAlpine – ceilings
The lip-syncing scenes tend to be very simple as to not take away
from the narrative that the rest of the video holds.
The artist will wear outfits and makeup that fit their own style as a way
to connect with fans on a more personal level and promote
themselves as an artist.
The artist is alone, often in a large open space, drawing attention
solely to them.
Shot lengths may vary between close ups, long shots and medium
long shots while the camera tracks towards and away from the artist.
Olivia Rodrigo – drivers
license
Dylan – Nothing Lasts
Forever

4. For the narrative portions of this genre of music videos, costume and
hair and makeup are generally very simple and realistic, fitting to the
setting of the story.
Some videos only contain the artist, like ‘drivers license' by Olivia
Rodrigo and 'The Bottom' by Gracie Abrams, while others contain
other figures which often cover multiple social groups. For example,
'Too Well' by Renee Rapp includes a trans woman, a black woman
and a gay man in the music video.
The lighting of the videos are mostly very naturalistic, fitting to the
settings of each scene.
The narrative scenes contain long shots, medium long shots and
close ups and can involve tracking and panning. A variation of use of
a tripod and handheld shots are also used following the plot of the
video, usually having a shakier effect at the bridge as the song builds
up.
Renee Rapp – Too
Well
Gracie Abrams – The
Bottom
Taylor Swift – All Too Well