Conventions of music videos

All music videos have to represent certain codes and conventions.
The 5 main music video codes and conventions are:

1. Lyrics - They establish a general tone to the song, and address the storyline or subject matted. Key lines sometimes play a significant part in the visuals, but rarely would there be a full interpretation, and sometimes the lyrics do not directly correlate with the music video, it may just be the tone or mood of the lyrics which is conveyed in the music video

2. Music - The tempo of the track should drive the editing of a music video, fast paced music should mirrored with fast paced editing, and slow paced music should be accompanied with slow paced editing. furthermore particular sounds in a track may be foregrounded and emphasised on screen, for example if the video was performance based there would be a close up of the guitar or drums.

3. Genre - Each genre carries its own codes and conventions, a viewer would expect to see. This would be reflected in the mise-en-scène, the camera work and editing style. I have highlighted the different codes and conventions of music dependant on genre in a separate post.

4. Camerawork - How the camera is used and how images are sequenced has a significant impact on meaning. The angle, movements and shot distance would fluctuate depending on the music. Up beat tones are likely to require more dynamic camerawork.

5. Editing - In the process of filming the director and camera worker must film to edit. Some music videos would feature fast cut montages (sometimes containing of random images). This then encourages repeated viewings in case the viewer missed anything the first time. The editing helps to establish the mood, and is sometimes is used to fragment the narrative.

Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. Therefore music video's will usually include the artists, to allow the viewers to identify with the artists and aspire to be like them. Therefore music videos have to be incredibly aesthetically appealing and captivating. Once an artists is established they can then use narrative music videos rather than performance based music videos, which is virtually a short film that corresponds in some way with the music, perhaps the tone, the actual lyrics or just the sound of the music. Music videos use a wide range of styles of film making techniques, including animation , live action filming, documentaries, and non-narrative approaches such as abstract film.