Codes and conventions in music videos can be technical or symbolic. Technically they involve camera work, while symbolically they involve subtle acting and expressions. Basic conventions include camera angles and shots, editing, mise-en-scene, and diegetic or non-diegetic sounds. Common camera shots are mid shots, close ups, and long shots, each showing different levels of detail. Music videos can have narrative, performance, or both styles, telling a story, showing the artist performing, or a combination respectively.

2. Codes and Conventions
 Codes and conventions are the different aspect's ad techniques
used specifically in music video.
 With this codes and conventions are there as signs which create
meaning, which can be split into 2 categories, technical and
symbolic. Technical is the process of the equipment and how it is
used to display meaning, and this is normally through the camera
work. Symbolic however is beneath the surface of what we as an
audience see, which is the subtle acting and expressions of the
characters or artist which we would normally not think about.

3. Basic Codes and Conventions
 Every music video use codes and conventions, however no music
videos use the same kind. For example a Hip-hop music video is
going to have very different codes and conventions in contrast with a
classical or country music video. Examples of what the basic
conventions are for all general music videos are:
 Camera (angles, shot)
 Editing
 Mise en scene
 Diegetic or non diegetic sounds

4. Camera – Mid shot
 The camera can create a different feel for every single music video, as it depends
upon what angles and what shots are used. We can also argue this is one of the
most important factors when filming a music video, as it decides how the artist is
presented to the audience and therefore determines how we feel and see the artist.
 For example a common camera technique used would be a mid shot. This is
where we are able to see the artist or character from the waste upwards. It is a
common shot as it is almost seen as the ‘basics’, meaning that it allows the
audience to see who it is, where the are (roughly), what they are wearing and what
they are doing.
 All of these images above have been taken from different genres of music videos
(country and Hip-hop, and as we can see a mid shot has been used in them all

5. Close Ups
 Close ups are commonly used when wanting to shot emption or emphasizes something
which may be happening. For example if they want to present the atmosphere is tense, they
may choose to have a close up of someone twisting their thumbs or biting their lip.
Mid Close up Close Up Extreme close up
 Here are some examples of close ups taken from the R&B song ‘Heart Attack’. There
are three types of close ups as it enables the director to choose specifically how close
to film from, all having different effects on the viewer.
 And not only is the characters face for emotion displayed with a long shot, but also the
hands, feet, body, items etc. This is in summary a perfect shot to emphasize something
or if wanting to make something stand out and be obvious to the viewer.

6. Long Shots
 Long shots are also a common and used camera shot, as it is the shot which
allows a real detailed image and view of the Mise en scene.
 As you can see above different screenshots have been taken from different
music videos, all being in the genre of Hip-hop. Long shots are used again not
only for the individual artist but also when wanting to show location and other
characters or actors.

7. Types of music videos
Narrative
 There are many different ways artists can go in terms of what they want their music
video to consist, whether this be a performance music video, narrative, or conceptual.
Looking at Narrative music videos, this is where the artist is simply following a story line
within their music videos, and is normally used to make the music more realistic by
presenting what the lyrics are saying. An example of this would be the music video by
Jason Derulo, with his song ‘What if’.
 There is also the difference between the narrative being linear or non-linear, linear being
where there is a start, middle and an end in the right order, whereas fragmented is where
it is opposite, so the music video may start from the end and finish at the start. Here the
example would be fragmented as the music video goes back in time and literally plays
backwards.

8. Performance
• There is then performance music videos, which wont have a narrative in the video however
may still have a narrative within the lyrics. Performance videos are normally structured,
meaning that the artist performs in front of the camera, however other performance videos
may be a live performance, which the artist is not directly making a music video.
• A good example of a performance music video is Beyoncé ‘Love on Top’, as she is
directly singing to the camera, instantly breaking the fourth wall. Having performance
music videos allows the customer direct eye contact with the audience, however it will
lack emotion and meaning as the lyrics may not be represented as well as they could
have been if it were a narrative music video.
Summarising, performance music videos are risky however getting them right in terms of
how well artists can perform, then it is a good risk to take.

9. Narrative
 This is where the music video will have a narrative and will not have any performance.
This usually means there is no eye contact with the camera so the fourth wall is kept
up, and the music video creates and presents a story alongside the lyrics.
 This kind of music video can give the story line more of a meaning, and can present
the lyrics in more depth, acting out what the lyrics are saying. These particular shots
are taken from the music video ‘The A Team’ by Ed Sheeran. We actually used this
video for our preliminary task and found that it was great to have such detailed shots of
how the actor is feeling to represent the lyrics. Having a narrative can also make a
music video much more interesting as there is something to wait for (equilibrium,
conflict- disequilibrium, resolution.)

10. Narrative and
Performance
 This is where the artist performs for their music video, and there is also a narrative
alongside that. This contains footage that tells a story, and will also have the artist lip
syncing with it, and will also have actors or the performer who the lyrics apply to, to be in
the video.
 This particular shot is taken from the music video ‘kings and Queens’ by Somo. The
narrative is not too strong however can notice a story line. This is also in-between the
artist performing to the camera and singing while the narrative is taking place. This is
best of both worlds for people who like narrative and performance.