Codes&Conventions

Codes And

Conventions

Of Music Videos

NARRATIVEThere has been a debate in weather a music video tells a story or not, however most videos correspond with the lyrics and the style of music, this is considered to be the narrative; what the artists lyrics mean. Some people think videos simply add to the song, extending the song's narrative, and illustrating what was previously only words. The artist themselves also play a part in the story either being the narrator (singing the song), a protagonist ( the main character in role in the music video) or both. Music video narratives are mainly love story's with male or female artists and actors. Action narratives are normally dominated by males and dance videos could be dominated by both. The point of a narrative is so the audience can relate to the music and the video, from their past experiences. Narratives are more common in the slow, R&B love songs, not so much the heavy metal rock.

An example of a narrative is R.kelly’s duet with Usher-Same girl. The narrative in the music video is about R.kelly and Usher talking about the ‘same girl’. They start to describe the girl they know and they think the is cheating on one with the other, however they find out at the end of the music video that the ‘girl’ actually has a identical twin. In this music video both artists are protagonists and play the main roles in the video, as well as being the narrator. This is common with duets with music video's. Throughout the music video they have use edits such as spit screens (as shown above) to show that they are communicating and show there facial expressions, they also show them together, acting. (as shown below).

PERFORMANCEPerformance is quiet rare when it comes to music videos. Both females and males have performances within there music video, however female artists seem to be more into being part of the performances in there videos whereas males are not so engaged with the ‘dancing’. Some music videos use performance clips from a stage performance from when they was on tour or performing at a concert. Some music videos is the whole performance and some are clips. An example of this is Chris Brown-Take you down music video. It is actually his performance on stage. Chris Brown-Take You Down (Official Music Video)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGLOE9LVNmc&ob=av2e

Even though some artists aren't the ‘performing type’ and prefer a narrative, some artists dedicate there time and effort to include themselves within a music video performance. An amazing example of this is Beyoncé. Beyoncé is exceptionally known for her high energy and performance skills, and she defiantly likes to express them. Here are two examples of her music videos. Single ladies has no narrative however, because there's only girls in the video it links to the song (single ladies). Diva is another music video where she is continuously dancing the video (choreographed dance) again there's no narrative but the lyrics link to the dance and clothing as being Diva.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFMoRFvY

Single Ladies

DIVA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNM5HW13_O8&ob=av2e

NOTION OF LOOKINGNotion on looking focus’ on the stereotypes and labels that are associated with different artists. The stereotypes used in music videos are normally used to target specific audiences. This included men and women looking seductive within videos, and also eye contact with the camera and each other, to create a link between the person and the audience An example of this is Beyoncé- Run The World.

From the beginning of the music video it is clear that women/females are the most dominate gender. The screen shot shows a group of females. This links to the title and song lyrics. ”who runs the world…girls!”As the video progresses and the dancing starts there are 2 men with Beyoncé who is in the middle, this may emphasis that she has the power and authority, over both of males. The two males doing the same dance as Beyoncé, idolises that they have to follow Beyoncé, it becomes almost a order. Again this shows how dominate females are in this video and ‘proof’ that the “run the world”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe6U&ob=av2e

Throughout the music video Beyoncé, and the female dancers are dressed seductively (as shown in the screenshots) they are continuously clothed in revealing cloths that show legs arms and cleavage. This is part of ‘Notion Of Looking’ as it connects to the song. By dressing like this, it tells the viewer that you don’t have to be masculine to be in power, this also may suggest a change in the stereotype of males being ‘in charge’.

Also part of ‘Notion Of Looking’ is eye contact the artist makes with the camera. (As shown above) Beyoncé makes seductive eye contact with the camera as the video progresses, this is to get the viewers engaged in the video, and follows the female stereotype of being and looking ‘sexy’.

Mise-en-scene

Like music magazines, mise-en-scene focus’ on lighting, costume, setting, characters, props and colours, which are all prerequisite when creating the right setting and ambience for a successful music video. Mise-en-scene is know to be one of the most important convention for any music genre, as it links ideology to the specific genre and social group. For instance Dark lighting would be seen in Gothic or some music videos whereas lighter lighting would be shown in R&B. Here are examples of the different lighting used in different genre of music.

Dark Lighting. ‘Gothic Girl’ Lighter Lighting. ‘Pretty Girl Rock’

See the difference

SettingTrey Songz- Your side of the bed, is a music video which uses elements of mise-en-sene for example the setting. This music video is set in a home, which is made to be seen as a happy family household with both parents happily married and a daughter. The setting of the music video links to the lyrics and the genre of the music video. “Our bed, our sheets, our pillow's gettin' lonely” + “And I don't know if she's gone for good or returnin' in the mornin‘” these lyrics connect to the meaning of the song; his wife Is in the army and when she leaves its lonely and scary because he does’nt know if she is going to return, because of the army conditions. However at the end of the video he find out that his wife had passed when she was at war.

Editing Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz- I can

transform ya’. Is a music video that is well know for the editing used. Throughout the music video there are people ‘transforming’ into vehicles, however to do this there had to be some editing. Editing such as fast cuts and special

affects are crucial in music videos as they create a futuristic video that draws the audience in to watch the

video. Bright light, animations are also a key element for targeting to your target audience.B.O.B ft Hayley

Williams Aeroplanes

Editing Techniques Editing includes, transitions, different lengths, filter and effects and also sound effects. These are all essential for a music video because they attract the viewers or their specific target audience. An example of good use of editing is Beyoncé’s music video

Sweet dream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlxByc0-V40. A number of edits are used throughout. By using a lot of editing links to the song of it being a ‘sweet dream’ as we know, dreams are not real and things may happen in them that do not happen in real life, this is the whole point of editing, to emphasis the futurist side of the songs narrative.

There is a wide range of camera angles used in the music video from long shots to close ups, and this links to the indulgence of the narrative. This dream-like video also uses different contracts, colours and brightness to emphasis the meaning. The colour white and silver are used frequently which suggest that Beyoncé is in the dream. As the lyrics mention ‘sweet dreams or a beautiful nightmare’ the phrase beautiful nightmare is shown through costumes and colour, darks colours however beautiful shining costumes and cloths.

Parallel sounds are used, the use of backing vocals, however instead of cuts being used there's the constant repetition of ‘oh’. This adds to the movement of the music video that livens up the sound/vocals keeping the audience engaged. Sound editing is also used. the voice clips and harmonies that give the music a certain sound are overlapped to infuse the song and lyrics. The overlapping draws attention to the constant use, this makes the audience feel like there's part of the song, the dream that is being explained throughout the video.

Different Camera Angles Used.

Use of the white background and silver costumes; emphasis' the dream atmosphere.

Costume And CropsI thought Keri Hilsons Song Pretty Girl Rock was an excellent example of the way costume and crops are used in music videos, how they link to the song and the massive effect they can create. Pretty Girl Rock is dominated and targeted at a female audience, its message is that no matter what you wear, how you act, all females are pretty in their own way. To express this meaning different outfits and crops were used thought the video as examples. This is very effective especially how it is targeted at the female audience.

http://youtu.be/HtXOVKNazYU

Sound

Sound is one of the most effective elements within a music video as it can create a different perspective, and image on the video itself, it is also important because it is the main reason other then the video why people listen to the music.Sound is split in to two types, diegetic and non- diegetic sound. Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the video, such as voices and sounds made by objects. Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame. Non-diegetic sound is Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action, examples of non diegetic sound would be, narrator's story telling, sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect, or a mood which improvises with the music and what's going on in the video.

“Stepped up in the party like my name was “that *****”.

“Step up in the party like my name was Mr. T “

This is two parts of the song were the voice of Nicki Minaj (on the left) and WILL.I.AM (on the right) is edited to create an robotic futuristic sound as the theme of the music video is a futuristic live music video in Japan. By adding the effects on the voice it links the song more with the theme of the video and attracts the audience.

This type of sound is non-diegetic because they don’t ‘actually’ sound like that buts edited for a dramatic effect.

I couldn’t find a video version with appropriate language but I found an audio link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THSRIjQfhY0&feature=related

Because I could not find an music video for WILL.I..AM ft Nicki Minaj-Check it out music video only an audio here is some screen shots of the music video, which will hopefully confirm what I wrote about the theme of the song and the edited lyrics.

As you see, all the editing techniques, costumes, crops and light link to the theme of the music video: futuristic live music video, and we know this because the slightly larger screenshot on the right shows a group of women dressed the same, good posture and special effect glasses on emphasises that the video they see music video is edited with effects such as mirror image and

creating more the one of one thing (picture on the left). So the non digetic sounds that is edited on the artists voices tie well together with the video itself to create and successful edited dramatic sound. Diegetic sound such as voice editing is also catchy and easy to remember when watching the video this can increase the viewers as well as the fans.

Camera Angles, Movement & Composition

Like the other elements of mise-en-scene, camera angles, movement and composition are key to a successful music video as it portrays different genres and points out how one genre differs another. For example, R&B and Hip-Hop usually use a lot of mid-shots and long shots showing costume body movements and expressions, on the other hand rock, gothic and punk usually use low camera angles which shows the power and level that they portray through there music.Movement is important as it also emphasis and lives up to the stereotype of that certain genre, for example hip hop artist (male&female) use hand gestures and hand movements when rapping, its apparent that is something that automatically happens when rapping, but if an artist of a different genre was to use the same movements its wouldn’t link. Camera angles also express mod and themes with in the music video. For instance if it’s an upbeat energising happy song, then it is common that a lot of quick cuts are used to emphasis the excitement. However is less upbeat and unhappy sad songs will stay on an camera angles for a longer time, extending the feelings expressed though the lyrics and video. In conclusion camera angles, and movement play a big part in music and there music video stereotypes.

An good example of a music video that includes camera movement and composition is Willow Smith-Whip My Hair. Throughout this video a various of shots are show to create and effect and a storyline for the audience. The camera angles link in with the beat on the music, this technique is effective when making a song and the video catchy and easy to remember, because it is easy to remember a beat and with the beat you will remember any actions or dance routines. The illusion also connects with the lyrics and the dancing. This emphasis the effect that camera angles have on the atmosphere in the video. For example a still camera would represent a depressing gothic video whereas a camera with lots of movement and jump cuts will emphasis the happy, fun, upbeat R&B or hip-Hop video.

In the music video Whip My Hair another effective composition is used where you can see the artists, actors or dancers through other angles that have been overlapped and any other detail. The purpose of this is so you can see all people/figures at one time by having then translucent.

Throughout the music video the majority of camera shows are close up and low shots. The close up shows the expressions on her face while singing and the low shows demonstrate the power Willow Smith has despite her age. The lighting the comes from the corner of the video enhances her dominance, so she shines/sparkles in front of the plain white background. the light helps her stand out attracting the viewers to look at her and no were else. Both the close ups and the low shots that are continuously used within the video, flows well with the lyrics and the music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymKLymvwD2U&ob=av3e