Research Blog

 Research: Music Video Conventions and Codes

I will be responsible for the planning, storyboarding, and production of a music video. While looking at the style of many modern music videos, I noticed they have certain similarities. They can sometimes have a single plot or multiple plots occurring simultaneously or different uses of cutaways.  For single plots, they are usually very simple and involve one main event, like a morning routine or escaping a prison. In videos with multiple plots going on, they were more abstract.

  • People in music videos, depending on the setting, wear modern clothes and makeup that suits the mood of the song. Videos can also be very creative with clothing and makeup to make the video unique.
  • Props will include anything relevant to costumes or standard household objects to make sets look  more normal.
  • The music is usually the highlight and the editing and actions coincides with the music. For example, a jump cut could timed with the beat of a drum or bass. Multiple plots will use several cutaways to keep the viewer informed at most times.
  • Videos will often have tracking and close up shots of the song's artist. It uses mostly eye level shots, but can use high angle shots and low angle shots to create the illusion of vertical movement.
  • There is not often ambient sound in any videos and the only audio is the song, which is the score.
  • Many times a video will start off with an establishing shot to give context to the setting of the video and circumstances. These shots can use aerial shots and wide shots to give the viewer a better illustration.

Conventions in music videos can include repetition of a scene, action, or motion during the chorus. This heavily emphasizes the chorus and gives depth to the lyrics.

Music videos can use ethos by showing featured artists to show relevancy of the video. This can also attract an even bigger audience and expose them to a new genre. They can also use pathos by covering emotionally sensitive topics to keep the viewer's attentions. 







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