Forms and Conventions of music videos - notes

• there is a relationship between the lyrics and the visual with the visuals either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.
• there is a relationship between the music and the visuals. This can be seen in terms of the editing mimicking the movements within the frame, through the genre or even camera movement
• particular music genre have their own music style and iconography
• there is a demand on the part of the record company producing the video for shots of the main artist
• stars of the video can develop their own iconography
• various different screens and intertextual references are included throughout videos

Lyrics

• the lyrics tend to establish a general feeling or mood or a sense of subject matter rather than offering a coherent meaning
• the words can sometimes sound onomatopoeic
• rarely will a music video present the lyrics wholesale
• the lyrics can make use of the tempo of the track to drive the editing
• the lyrics may emphasise particular sounds of the track by foregrounding particular instruments

Genre

• the genre needs to be clear of distinct features of music e.g. mise-en-scene, themes, performance, editing styles and camera work

Camera work

• how the camera is used and how images are sequenced has a significant impact on the meaning
• camera movements may acompany the performers which can be used to create a more dynamic affect (circling the performers)
• close ups predominate which creates a sense of intimacy and showcases the star

Editing

• the most common for music videos is fast cut montage. This is where you see different things on different viewings which assures multiple viewings.
• the editing establishes the mood
• is sometimes enhanced with digital effect
• in terms of the narrative, the editing is rarely complete. Fragmentary like poems is true with music promos which tend to suggest story lines
• the editing offers complex fragments in a non-linear order
• the editing is often cut between a performance (live) and a narrative. Sometimes the artist may be involved in the performance acting as the narrator and participant, allowing a more varied access.

Conventions according to genre