Preparatory activities- Codes and conventions (music videos)

The Codes and Conventions of music videos

What are codes and conventions?

• The codes and conventions of music videos are the different techniques used to construct meaning in them.
• These techniques can be divided into 2 types, technical and symbolic.

Some general conventions

• The style
• The camera
• The editing techniques
• The sound
• Mise en scene
• Stereotyping

Styles of music videos

• Performance
• Narrative
• Mixture
• Cameo
• Animation
• Abstract

Camera shots

• Crane shots
• Low-angles
• Long shots
• Close ups
• Tracking shot

Editing and sounds

• Split-screens
• Computer generated images
• Diegetic sound
• Non-diegetic sound
• Change in levels of sound

Mise-en scene

• Props
• Costume
• Location
• Facial expressions