Conventions of a music video

Conventions of music video

Louise Watkins

Narrative and performance-The performance is when the artist/band is lip-syncing or playing along to the music. This can be a song performance, dance performance or band performance.-The narrative is the story line part of the music video. There are 2 different types of narratives in music videos: - A narrative linear starts with a beginning and also has a middle and a end in order. - A fragmented linear doesn’t have a story line that has a order, it can just be different clips put in together.

In a typical music there is a mixture of performance shots and narrative shots. This to make the video more interesting to the audience.

Avril lavigne - ‘when your gone’-

Narrative- Linear-

Sound- Sound is the most important part of a music video is most likely the

reason they are watching it.- There is always the non-diagetic music playing in the video there is

also sometimes non- diagetic speech at the beginning of videos.- Diagetic sounds can be edited in to make the video seem more

realistic. This is usually for the narrative part of the video, for example, police sirens, talking and noise from the surroundings.

- Parallel sounds are often used in music videos. This is when the emotion/ atmosphere of the song matches the images on the screen.

At the beginning of Taylor Swifts ‘I knew you were trouble video there is a 90 second non-diagetic speech.

Camera angles/ movements- A variety of different camera angles are used in music videos.

The most popular camera angles are long shots, mid shots and close-ups to add emphasis on the artist and the emotions they are trying to portray. The camera rarely stays on the same shot for more than 5 seconds.

- The camera moves to follow the artist and performance, this is usually done by tracking and panning.

Editing - Editing is the process in which the whole music video is put

together, some parts are cut down, the music is added and special effects are added.

- Common edits in music videos are-• CGI effects are the process of creating animated images using

graphics on the computer. The most common example of using CGI effects is when editors turn a plain background into a more personalized background to suit the theme of the song.

• Parallel editing is used to cut between scenes or stories that are happening at the same time. E.g, cutting between the performance and narrative.

• Jump cuts are used a lot in music videos to jump from shot to shot. This is usually edited to the rhythm of the music. And appropriate shot transitions are used.

Lighting and coloursLighting can used to show what kind of mood the song is.

- Low key lighting is used to create tension and emotion, usually a depressive low mood.

- High key lighting compared to low key lighting is more brighter and happier.

They will also use filters to portray emotions. E.g, they may use a blue filter when it is a upsetting/lonely song.

Some music videos are turned black and white, this is usually either because the song is depressing or to make it seem vintage.

Conventions in the Pop combined with rap genre

Analysis of Airplanes- B.O.B ft Hayley Williams

Shots- The music video begins with showing a mid-shot silhouette of B.O.B. Straight away this gives us the idea of who the songs is about. B.O.B’s most common shots are long establishing and mid-shots, allowing us to see his style and some of his dancing. It also enforces the idea of him being alone in the big room. Hayley William's shots are mostly long and close-up shots, portraying more emotion and showing how lonely and small she feels. They use silhouettes in many of the performance shots (mainly Hayley’s). This allows us to see the small feminine outline of Hayley, along with the more masculine bulky outline of B.O.B. A lot of the narrative shots are close-up, showing just small snippets of memories rather than the whole picture. Tracking and panning movements are used often throughout both performance and narrative.

Mise en scene-Location- - The narrative is set at what seems like a party or a night club.- The performances are set in big empty rooms. This could give the sense of loneliness. This may have

also been the previous venue of the party/ nightclub and the artists are back there to remember happier times.

Props-- Drinking glasses with alcohol are use, this could show that they are having a good carefree night.- A picture is taken with a camera and photographs are layed out, this could show that they are happy

times that they wanted to remember and look back on.

Lighting –- Dark/ Low level lighting is used throughout the whole video- There are disco lights and bright coloured blue lights moving and flashing to the music. This

reinforces the idea of them being at a party/ nightclub. The blue could also represent some sadness as they are looking back at good memories and sadness as they are wishing they could still be having a good time.

- The lights often project on the artists skin when they are performing in the empty rooms, this could show them reflecting on the past.

Costumes- - Hayley is wearing tight clothing and her vest top is also quite low cut and revealing, showing off her

feminine figure. Both her hair and outfit seem quite young looking which could show she is vulnerable. B.O.B wears big bulky jackets which is typical of a rapper and increases his masculinity. He also wears some jewellery which is also seen as a stereotypical accessory of a rap artist.

Editing-- The video and music start immediately at the same time as each other.- The editing is quite fast paced and mostly changes at the same beat of the music.- In some of the shot transitions the shots merge into each other as they change.- When there are photographs spread about , the images on the photographs are actually moving

showing performance and narrative.

Sound-- All of the sounds of the rapping and singing are non- diagetic. - There is also the sound of clapping along to the tune of the song, which turns to be diagetic in some

of the last scenes.

Analysis of Love the way you lie- Rihanna ft Eminem

Shots- - The music video begins with showing close-up of Rihanna. This allows us to see her emotions

and gives us an insight of what the mood of the song is going to be. Most of Rihanna’s shots are close up and mid-shots, again showing more emotion. Eminem’s shots are a variety of mid-shots, long and establishing shots. Panning and tilting movements are often used. The narrative shows all different shots depending on what it wants to show and what feelings it wants to give off. The narrative sometimes uses tracking in movements and panning shots are often used in the male performance.

Mise en scene-Location- - Rihanna’s performance shots are against a fire background. The idea of burning could show the

emotion of her being hurt and destroyed. Eminem’s performance is set in a big field in daylight, this seems more positive showing that he wasn’t as hurt and he’s the one with more power. Most of the narrative is set in a house, this is too show domestic abuse and give the idea of being enclosed and feeling locked inside representing being stuck in an abusive relationship.

Props-- Drink is used often, this could show the only way of coping with the heartbreak and stress of being in

a bad relationship. - A bear and a rose- the man in the narrative is trying to bribe and win over the female through material

goods.

Lighting / colours–- Dark/ Low level lighting is used throughout most of the narrative which could be representing

unhappiness and the feeling of being depressed. - The warm and red colours of the flames could represent danger ( a unhealthy relationship). Although,

it could also represent that their is still some warmth in their relationship and that is what is still keeping them together even through the bad times.

Costumes- - Rihanna is wearing a tight revealing outfit which highlights her feminity and she could be viewed in

quite a sexual way. The fact that her outfit is revealing could represent her as being fairly vulnerable. Her whole costume is black which is usually a colour linked to sadness and fear, which fits in well with the narrative. The dark make-up she is wearing can also show this idea. The fact that her hair is red means she fits in well with the background of flames but it could also represent the theme of danger. Eminem is wearing a revealing vest top which shows off his arms and increases the masculinity in his appearance. This could represent him as being quite strong and powerful.

Editing-- The video and music start immediately at the same time as each other.- The editing is quite fast paced and mostly changes at the same beat of the music.- A green screen was used so the background of flames could be edited in.- CGI effects were used to create the flames that the women in the narrative was holding and when the

man was burning.

Sound-- All of the sounds of the rapping and singing are non- diagetic.

Performance shot typesThe performance shots are usually an equal amount of shots of male and female, depending on who is singing.The video keeps parallel cutting between shots of the male and female. Close-ups, mid-shots and long shots are all used to show emotion. The females shots are mostly close-ups and mid-shots as this really brings out the emotion in their lyrics. Whilst men seem to do more mid-shots and long shots. The beginning of the song usually starts with closer up shots of the artists to give us a idea of what the mood of the song is going to be. In most videos of this genre the male and female are never together in the same shot, although even if they are it isn’t usually until near the end of the song. The artists are usually either in the centre of the shot or positioned in the rule of thirds.

CostumesIn many of the music videos I found it very common for the male rappers to wear a black (usually leather) jacket and dark trousers. Some also wore jewellery and sun glasses aswell. Eminem wore a vest top and army trousers, still showing the idea of masculinity.

The females are seen to wear clothes that bring out their feminity and are quite revealing and tight. Most of the females have low cut tops or show their bras. They mostly wear bottoms that reveal their legs whether it be shorts, tight skirts or skinny trousers. Although not all females artists dress this this way as it depends on how they want to come across. The colour of the costumes and make-up the artists wear can show emotion and themes of the song.