CODES AND CONVENTIONS 
MUSIC VIDEOS 
EXAMPLES- POP
WHY ARE THEY AND WHY ARE THEY USED? 
Codes and conventions are things we expects to see. They allow us to 
easily identify what genre exists. E.g R&B music videos usually tend to 
have sexual reference within the lyrics and character movement. We are 
able to differ an R&B music video from a rock one because of narrative 
that occurs in the video, clothing, camera shots and mise-en-scene. 
Codes and conventions can be divided into two types technical and 
symbolic. 
Technique- This shows how meaning is shown through technical 
equipment e.g camera angles, sound and editing. E.g. there are usually 
many close ups in pop music videos. 
Symbolic- This shows meaning through facial expressions, gesture , poses 
and mise-en-scene.
CAMERA SHOTS 
There are particular camera shots/angles we expect to see within different 
music videos. Pop music videos tend to use a lot of close ups wide 
shots This close ups show what the star is wearing which relates to the 
target audience as they are teens who are into fashion and want to see 
what their idol is wearing to usually try and imitate them. The wide 
shots are used to show scenery. This relates to pop also as they 
sometimes situated in a luxury locations. The wide shot allows the 
audience to view the beautiful place.
STAR/CAMEO 
Cameos are used within music videos to show the relationship between the 
two stars and get the audience excited to see the cameo in a different 
character. Stars are usually within music video. Rihanna's – what's my 
name is a good example of this. Drake is within the video but not 
singing or rapping.
NARRATIVE 
Narrative within a music video tells a story. A 
perfect example of this is Katy Perry’s music 
video roar. There are two types of narrative 
fragmented and linear. Katy Perry's roar is an 
example of linear narrative as there is story 
from the beginning to end.
PERFORMANCE 
Performance is when a music video consists of mainly the artist 
performing. Beyoncé's- love on top is a good example if this because 
she performs throughout the entire video. This makes the video 
different because not all artists choose to not have a narrative to the 
video. Performance within the music video makes it fun for the 
audience as they can see the artist perform without having to 
necessarily buy a ticket and watch them in person.
MISE EN SCENE 
Mise en scene consists of lighting, costume, editing and props. 
Lighting within a music video is important because it sets the different scenes 
throughout the video. If the song is a happy one it will generally be set in ambient 
lighting or bright lighting. Pharells happy is an example of this as his video is mainly 
set in day light. If the lighting was dark it wouldn’t correlate with the lyrics of the 
song so it would make it harder for the audience to put the two together. Pop music 
video usually have ambient and bright lighting as they appeal to young teens and 
need to be something they relate to. 
Props are used within music videos to illustrate narrative. Singers will use props that 
relate to the lyrics of the song so the audience are able to understand and follow the 
narrative. E.g. Miley Cyrus wrecking ball she uses the large wrecking ball and 
hammer. The audience are able to see the correlation of the props used as they 
relate to the song. It also makes it fun for the audience to watch. 
Costume allows the singer to represent themselves in different ways. As lady gaga is 
known for her infamous crazy costumes, in most of her music videos she is dressed 
in extravagant clothing. E.g. poker face 
The location of a music video is important because it shows the audience where the 
artist is and allows them to picture the setting easily. The location of the video will 
depend on the genre of the song. E.g. pop artists are more likely to have animated 
settings or be on the beach. Hip-hop and rap videos are more likely to be in the 
poverty streets to show the struggle of the locals.
SOUND 
Sound comes in two forms. Diagetic and non diagetic. Diagetic sounds are 
sounds we expect to hear e.g. if the singer is talking to someone in the 
video. Non diagetic sounds are sounds we do not expect to hear that 
create different types of feelings from the audience e.g. a dog singing. 
Sound is important within music videos because the audience expect to 
hear music as well as see the visuals. The whole point of music videos 
is that the audience can see the visual story behind the song which may 
help them to understand it more and be entertain the viewer. 
Parallel sound is when the sound matches the mood of the video. And 
example of this is Will.I.am’s birthday song as it is a dance song and 
there is dance in the video.
EDITING 
Editing is important for music videos as it allows the editor to alter scenes 
that do not come out hoe the director wants to. Editing involves cutting 
down scenes, adding special effects and adding the song to the video 
etc. there are a variety of editing techniques such as jump cut, cgi 
(animation_ and more. Katy Perry's roar is a good example of this as 
there has been cgi added. The animation that exists is fake and is mad 
to look real and give the audience an escape through out the duration of 
the video.

Music video codes and conventions

  • 1.
    CODES AND CONVENTIONS MUSIC VIDEOS EXAMPLES- POP
  • 2.
    WHY ARE THEYAND WHY ARE THEY USED? Codes and conventions are things we expects to see. They allow us to easily identify what genre exists. E.g R&B music videos usually tend to have sexual reference within the lyrics and character movement. We are able to differ an R&B music video from a rock one because of narrative that occurs in the video, clothing, camera shots and mise-en-scene. Codes and conventions can be divided into two types technical and symbolic. Technique- This shows how meaning is shown through technical equipment e.g camera angles, sound and editing. E.g. there are usually many close ups in pop music videos. Symbolic- This shows meaning through facial expressions, gesture , poses and mise-en-scene.
  • 3.
    CAMERA SHOTS Thereare particular camera shots/angles we expect to see within different music videos. Pop music videos tend to use a lot of close ups wide shots This close ups show what the star is wearing which relates to the target audience as they are teens who are into fashion and want to see what their idol is wearing to usually try and imitate them. The wide shots are used to show scenery. This relates to pop also as they sometimes situated in a luxury locations. The wide shot allows the audience to view the beautiful place.
  • 4.
    STAR/CAMEO Cameos areused within music videos to show the relationship between the two stars and get the audience excited to see the cameo in a different character. Stars are usually within music video. Rihanna's – what's my name is a good example of this. Drake is within the video but not singing or rapping.
  • 5.
    NARRATIVE Narrative withina music video tells a story. A perfect example of this is Katy Perry’s music video roar. There are two types of narrative fragmented and linear. Katy Perry's roar is an example of linear narrative as there is story from the beginning to end.
  • 6.
    PERFORMANCE Performance iswhen a music video consists of mainly the artist performing. Beyoncé's- love on top is a good example if this because she performs throughout the entire video. This makes the video different because not all artists choose to not have a narrative to the video. Performance within the music video makes it fun for the audience as they can see the artist perform without having to necessarily buy a ticket and watch them in person.
  • 7.
    MISE EN SCENE Mise en scene consists of lighting, costume, editing and props. Lighting within a music video is important because it sets the different scenes throughout the video. If the song is a happy one it will generally be set in ambient lighting or bright lighting. Pharells happy is an example of this as his video is mainly set in day light. If the lighting was dark it wouldn’t correlate with the lyrics of the song so it would make it harder for the audience to put the two together. Pop music video usually have ambient and bright lighting as they appeal to young teens and need to be something they relate to. Props are used within music videos to illustrate narrative. Singers will use props that relate to the lyrics of the song so the audience are able to understand and follow the narrative. E.g. Miley Cyrus wrecking ball she uses the large wrecking ball and hammer. The audience are able to see the correlation of the props used as they relate to the song. It also makes it fun for the audience to watch. Costume allows the singer to represent themselves in different ways. As lady gaga is known for her infamous crazy costumes, in most of her music videos she is dressed in extravagant clothing. E.g. poker face The location of a music video is important because it shows the audience where the artist is and allows them to picture the setting easily. The location of the video will depend on the genre of the song. E.g. pop artists are more likely to have animated settings or be on the beach. Hip-hop and rap videos are more likely to be in the poverty streets to show the struggle of the locals.
  • 8.
    SOUND Sound comesin two forms. Diagetic and non diagetic. Diagetic sounds are sounds we expect to hear e.g. if the singer is talking to someone in the video. Non diagetic sounds are sounds we do not expect to hear that create different types of feelings from the audience e.g. a dog singing. Sound is important within music videos because the audience expect to hear music as well as see the visuals. The whole point of music videos is that the audience can see the visual story behind the song which may help them to understand it more and be entertain the viewer. Parallel sound is when the sound matches the mood of the video. And example of this is Will.I.am’s birthday song as it is a dance song and there is dance in the video.
  • 9.
    EDITING Editing isimportant for music videos as it allows the editor to alter scenes that do not come out hoe the director wants to. Editing involves cutting down scenes, adding special effects and adding the song to the video etc. there are a variety of editing techniques such as jump cut, cgi (animation_ and more. Katy Perry's roar is a good example of this as there has been cgi added. The animation that exists is fake and is mad to look real and give the audience an escape through out the duration of the video.