Codes and Conventions: of a Music Video: Before creating and planning my own music video I must familiarise myself with the specific codes and conventions of Music videos therefore I will have the understanding of whether to follow the conventions or to physically challenge them. The conventions are what the audience expect to see from the music video where as the codes of music video are the signs that create specific meaning, the mise en scene for example, a man removing his wedding ring to signify that a relationship is over. There are three main types of music videos, performance, narrative and conceptual. A performance video concentrates on footage of the artist or bands themselves the video features the artist performing either live or to the camera. This can be portrayed within a casual environment for example Jojos, Leave right now released February 24th 2004, Jojo is singing directly to the camera within a college environment, the students/actors within the college disregard the performance allowing it to within a casual environment. For the majority of the video the artists lip syncs and mime the words of the song, creating a relationship with the audience. Conventionally extreme close ups and close ups begin any performance themed music video. Due to limited funds and not having the capital to invest to make a highly successful music video, a performance video may be my safest option as statistically productions with little income and general start up videos are performance clips. The capital to create this type of production is fairly limited. However unfortunately the artist would have to be established otherwise interest within the video will become saturated. A narrative based video conventionally tells a story and creates visuals between the lyrics and narrative, therefore visualisations are created for example lyrics expand on the narrative, for example within Eminems ft Rihanna “Love the way you lie” lyrics “swore you would never hit her” and he goes to hit her, the lyrics has created visuals for the narrative. Narrative music videos depend on imagery to create the story for the audience to be able to follow it, producers usually include established actors to act within the music videos however sometimes the artist themselves are within the narrative. Another type of music video is a conceptual video. A concept is based around one single idea and is usually unique and obscure, sometimes even surreal. Cameo is the last type of music video; the artists do not perform but are featured within the narrative of the video. Videos sometimes even feature both narrative and performance clips, again this is featured within Eminem and Rihanna, Love the way you lie.

Editing to the beat of the music and within the rhythm of the song is exceptionally important, footage is recorded around the elements and beat of the music therefore the editing must counterpart with the beat, for example a pop formulated music video would have shorter shots which are edited at a fast pace, following the stereotypical conventions. A slow song however, for example a ballad would have longer shots with slow paced minimal editing. Editing is usually formulated around the natural pause elements of an artist’s voice, for example Avril Lavigne’s, When you’re gone “when you walk away) pause element (I count the steps that you take), the pause element within the breath of the artist or before they reach their next verse in conventionally when the editing would take place. The cuts and transitions within music videos are also exceptionally important due to the effect they inhibit to an audience. The editing suite I intend to use is non linear editing software; this allows me to edit any part of the video within any time period being extremely advantageous. The most common transition used is a cut, which is a fast change/cut from one piece of footage to the next, I believe that conventionally cuts should be used within fast paced editing beats and they are quick and rather snappy, which would add affect and work efficiently with the beat. Therefore if I was to create a ballad a cut wouldn’t stereotypically fit the conventions, I could challenge them however I feel the effect wouldn’t be as affective as a fade or dissolve transition which conventionally are used within ballads and slower tempo music. Editing suits convey many video transactions and effects however I want to keep the effects to a minimal, as strong, fast and upbeat editing would completely challenge the conventions of a ballad, which within some aspects could be positive however I do not think that it would look effective, therefore I will follow the conventions.

Conventionally different types of Cinematography is used within the creation of a music video, each shot establishes something different and allows the audience to connect with what the narrative or theme of the video is trying to interplay with the audience. Cinematography is an extremely important factor when closely studying music videos they contain a large range of differential stylistics of shots each conveying substantial qualities. Close ups and extreme close ups tightly frame a person or an object they are used to illustrate the raw emotion within a narrative, as it conveys the detail within a frame. A close up establishes the artist to an audience as it distinguishes a main character. Medium close ups are also used to create an effect, they allow the audience to see the upper body of the artist illustrating their body language, for example a medium close up of a girl showing flesh could illustrate a sensitive nature, someone fragile and naive. Establishing shots establish the content for a scene, so for example they indicate a specific location in which the entity of the video will be shot; an establishing shot conveys the relationship between its figures and its objects. Long shots or wide angled shots allow the audience to see the fuller picture of the music video; this allows an audience to feel more apart of the music video and to make an emotional attachment. High angled shots within a music video illustrate dominance where as low angled cinematography establishes a weak persona. A close up establishes the artist to an audience as it distinguishes a main character, which again is a convention to support a strong narrative as well as to show establishment between the artist and audience. Conventionally following a close up becomes a medium close up or a medium shot, this portrays part of subject and establishes its body language. Body language is an important factor when portraying any character especially within a music video as it shows the character to an audience and makes an audience feel like they are there and know the artist. This again establishes the artist with the audience and a medium shot becomes an effective feature within narrative and performance clips. Again following the conventions of a music video stereotypically a long shot will follow. A long shot establishes the mise en scene of the video and allows an audience to see the bigger picture; it allows the surroundings and location to add proximity to the narrative, performance or conceptual clip. A wide range of cinematography is featured within music videos and each works and corresponds to its advantages, establishing shots, high angled and low angled shots, shot reverse shot and over the shoulder shots are also typical conventions used within a music video. As well as mise en scene, editing and cinematography, sound is used within the language of music videos.

Sound is another substantial convention used within a music video, the two main types of sound are diagetic and non diagetic, I learnt this within my first year of Media studies through studying TV Drama, the conventions within TV Drama are rather similar to the ones used within a music video, as each distinguished features adds creativity ir establishment, each feature means something and has purposely been created to add affect. Diagetic sound within a music video is the actual song itself. Conventionally the artist may mime the lyrics, this isn’t essential however miming does establish the artist. Within my creation of the music video I hope use lip sync as I feel it establishes a professional approach as well as the use of lip sync contrasted with the use of narrative. Non diagetic sound may also be used within a music video, conventionally within narrative. Stereotypically and conventionally non diagetic sound is used within the first sequence of a music video, not always but sometimes the narrative is built before the music itself starts. For example within Akon’s “Sorry, blame it all on me” video non diagetic sound is used within the multistranded narrative within the first 60 seconds. This builds a strong narrative already and easier for an audience to understand. Sometimes the music within the video can be broken, and non diagetic sound breaks in, conventionally it is dialogue which is used to build the narrative however sound can also be used, for example the screeching of a car to highlight the effect of a car crash. Diagetic and non diagetic sound is extremely important whist creating a music video, as each adds to the effect of the narrative.

Mise en scene is the most important convention featured within a music video. The main features of Mise en scene are the costume, colouring, lighting and the props. The mise en scene is everything located behind the camera, the stylistics for example. The mise en scene depends highly on the genre of the music video, for example if my genre was a ballad and the narrative featured death stylistics, a prop to be used would be the flowers lilies, as they convey funeral connotations. However a pop video is bright and colourful and connotes happiness, therefore bright colours and background and animations can be used. Props are an extremely important feature and are essential through creating a strong music video. : Language is the appearance of the linguistic terminology; it considers all aspects featured with the actual media texts for example the moving image. It includes the necessities of creating media texts. The main language used within music videos is the cinematography, the mise en scene, editing and sound qualities. The mise en scene (placing within stage) within a video establishes the genre and mood. It is an expression to describe the design aspects within theatre or film/ music production, generally described as the visual theme within narrative. The Mise en scene is everything which appears before the camera and its arrangement, this therefore evidences that every aspect before the camera is used for a reason, to portray a mood, genre or simply signify something, for example Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of you” music video, the narrative illustrates a couple repeatedly arguing, the mise en scene of a suitcase indicates a character leaving. Each singular piece of mise en scene has carefully been chosen to convey a simplistic narrative to an audience, resulting in complex and differential mise en scene. I believe that mise en scene in one of the main characteristics in portraying narrative within a music video, it concludes of the lighting used, costume and make up abilities, each conveying strong characteristics for the narrative. Within my finalised music video I hope to portray the characteristics of death, to create a powerful and emotional narrative. My narrative isn’t completely finalised however I do have a brief initial idea. Rather like PS. I love you; I hope to convey a person within the relationship being diesis, I hope to do this by creating memories within a black and white colour property and use the repeat of the flower lilies, as lilies represent death and flowers which are stereotypically taken to a funeral. An arrangement of light and dark colouring will be used; dark for when the character is at her weakest and light qualities when she is reminiscing on her and her partner’s life together.

Conventions of a Ballad: For my A2 Media Production I have chosen to analyse the “Ballad” music genre; I hope to directly and critically evaluate the genres cliché codes and conventions and in addition re in act them during my final production, however juxtapose the stereotypical ballad to direct to a mainstream audience. However once critically analysing the genre conventions I will have a clearer view of whether I can change the conventions without directly changing the genre. The typically music video consists of the following; editing to the beat of the music, as well as cinematography as well as a strong and unique narrative, which tells a direct narrative throughout. A balled is a poem of a sentimental nature and generally reflects folk tales, the simple stanzas and poem like qualities generally are repetitive; I noticed a strong tradition of repeat pattern when analysing the lyrics “Hallelujah”. Hallelujah is repeatedly sung over and over again to engage the audience; the repetitiveness creates a direct mode of address to the audience in lyric terms as well as direct mode of attention. The stereotypical ballad usually consists of a cliché love narrative; the equilibrium being a general disruption (heartbreak) and the resolution as the lyrics reach climax and becomes powerful.
The importance of codes and conventions within a Ballad distinguish in which audience it is aimed to, generally ballads are represented to a mainstream target audience, the emotional lyrics and powerful opera themed genre being stereotypical does generally relate to woman. After analysing few ballad lyrics and their videos, I have noticed some distinct similarities; the dramatic stressed cliché love story, the break up and finding inner strength. Furthermore the emotional cinematography of extreme close ups; close ups illustrating motion, the high angled shots portraying vulnerability and weakness within the narrative and finally low angled cinematography having the strength and ability to overcome fear. The mise-en-scene within a ballad highlights the strong difference within music genres; soft lighting or in fact dark lighting is used to enhance the emotion within the lyrics. Within the music video “Hallelujah” both soft and dark lighting is used, the darkness generally juxtaposed with cinematography. The darkness highlights vulnerability and the narrative being at a dark point, for example being stereotypically heartbroken. A change in lighting occurs when the narrative reaches its highlighted strong point, when weakness is overcome or in a ballad narrative, stereotypically a character gaining strength and regaining happiness. Colour is kept to a minimum and consists of mostly natural colours, pale nudes and delicate whites. The neutral colour scheme enhances the inner beauty of the lyrics and the artist narrative, I wish to include this convention within my final production piece, the artist within the narrative will wear a long white flowing dress, in which I will design and make myself. My idea was encouraged my studying Alexandra McQueen within Textiles, I hope to reproduce a fairy tale gown (encouraged by the fiction story of the princess living at the bottom of Alexandra’s garden), with angel like qualities. The simplistic colour scheme will illustrate natural beauty, which shall be evidenced soft lighting and weak editing. These conventions illustrate the cliché melodramatic Ballad. Within my final production piece I hope to include a strong narrative, I will be using the cliché somebody hurting (disruption) and then regaining strength narrative (resolution), however my chosen narrative includes nothing on love, which in my opinion is a slight twist to all music genres, and especially ballads.

Through highlighting the conventions within other music videos I have found except mise-en-scene; the main difference is the editing. There is an extreme limited variation within editing, the soft focus is simplistic and jump cuts are rarely used. The editing is focused due to the beat of the music, ballads concentrate mainly on the “romantic” instruments, pianos, violins etc therefore fast editing Is limited. The stereotypical pace should be slow, however this may juxtapose within my piece especially during the dramatic climax. Varied shots are used within cinematography, extreme close ups and close ups however stand out to be the most popular; the closer shots illustrate emotion within a character and intimacy, and allow an audience to create a strong relationship with the artist. The soft lyrics portray high levelled cinematography illustrating vulnerability where as the strong ballad (opera melodramatic themed) contrasts low cinematography, this conveys the character gaining confidence and showing dominance.

Another code and convention which stood out amongst all genres of music and their videos is the direct reference to the lyrics, for example within Hallelujah the lyrics “please the Lord” illustrates religious connotations, and within the video candles are demonstrated. The light from the candle co notates religious references, for example hope, or a light burning out. A light burning out may convey darkness, upset, and even in extreme circumstances a life ending. Personally I hope to change the stereotypically ballad and use conventions from other genres, to relate to a more direct mainstream audience, for example dismemberment is used with pop or R “n” B genres of music, however I hope to juxtapose with typical dismemberment and instead of focusing on a females “sexy” features, for example her legs.. I hope to focus on her eyes to illustrate raw emotion, or her smile, so it will connote voyeurism but within a different focus. Secondly I will include non diagetic sound within the video to hopefully highlight a disaster; an argument or something tragic happening. My main focus is to deteriorate away from the cliché ballad of a dramatised love scene.