Codes and conventions in music videos use technical and symbolic elements to construct meaning for audiences. Technically, equipment and technology like cameras, editing, and sound are used. Symbolically, meanings are created beyond what is obvious through elements like specific facial expressions. The document then provides analyses of several music videos, noting their use of codes and conventions, and points for improvement within the genres of hip hop, R&B.

1. Music Videos
Codes and Conventions

2. Codes and Conventions
Codes and conventions are a way of constructing a meaning in
music videos, it’s a way of doing things it allows the audience
to become familiar with the genre as they see certain things
and it can be divided into two separate categories one being
technical and the other symbolic.
Technical: how the equipment and technology is used to
construct a meaning.
Camera-different angles, shots…
Editing – pace, style…
Sound- genre
Symbolic: how its created beyond what is obvious to see,
For example: specific facial expressions.

3. Locked UpGood points: The music video was very good because the story
fitted the song, the director used many different shot types and the
editing skills were shown through the split screens, the cut and
fades, the cross-cutting, the different colour screens e.g. black and
white. The acting and the performance fit well with the song it
showed the hip hop genre it gave the audience an impression of
someone being locked up in a prison life or school being trapped.
Improvements: The performance could have been better if the
main character lip sung more in time and tune, the characters could
have worn tracksuits, trainers and hats rather than shirts showing
there school uniform. There was more editing and emotion at the
beginning of the song rather than the end.
Genre: Hip Hop/ R’n’B it fitted the song because it showed the
audience all the gang related incidents that happen in a prison.

4. BillionaireGood points: The music video was very interesting to watch, you
could see the emotion of the character singing, there facial
expressions was also really good. The video showed that the song
was all towards dreams and hopes of being a billionaire connecting to
the title. The used different shot types and different scenes and
environments e.g. basketball pitch, studio and oxford street. The
song is a very happy song and you could see it through there
emotion you see the characters enjoying themselves and the ending
showed the resolution.
Improvements: The characters could have lip sung more in time to
the tune, they shouldn’t have been chewing gum it makes them look
amateur, as well as the aspect ratio needed better lightening many
parts of the video were very dark. The footage was squashed. Also
the two characters ended up getting confused and singing each
others lines and towards the ending it had looked like they ran out of
footage.
Genre: Hip Hop fitted the genre because there was a resolution to
the video and a neat conclusion.

5. Written In The StarsGood Points: I enjoyed watching this video because of the different
shot types and the split screen of two different things going on at
once, they had very few good editing skills. The singers emotion was
very passionate and the good use of using a piano as an object.
Improvements: They could have improved on there lip singing and
the lighting all the shot types were not very professional it looked
very amateur for a R’n’B video. It had no meaning to the song.
Genre: R’n’B the music video had no conclusion to the song itself.

6. 16 At WarGood points: The characters had good facial expressions and
showed emotion through them, the miming and lip singing was also
good. The used many different shot types which were very affective
e.g. the girl crying in the bathroom it makes the audience sense a lot
of emotion to the video. The camera movement was smooth.
Improvements: The video started to get boring because there was
not anything interesting for the audience to see, they should have
more characters and different scenes.
Genre: R’n’B characters facial expressions and emotions went with
the song.