Music Video Conventions

The conventions of a music video are the different methods or techniques used to construct them and construct meaning within them. There can be different types of conventions, for example technical and symbolic. Technical conventions convey meaning with technical equipment; for example camera angles, shots sound and editing. Symbolic conventions convey meaning through gestures, poses, facial expressions and mis en screen. Conventions allow the audience to become familiar with a particular genre of music, provides a structure the audience understand and allow the lyrics of the song to fit with the video.

Music video conventions can vary depending on which genre of music they are representing, however, general music video conventions are:

• The style (Performance, narrative, mixture, cameo)
• The camera (camera shots, camera angles, camera movements)
• The editing techniques
• The sound
• Mis en screen (hair & make-up, location/setting, colours, props, lighting and costume)
• Stereotypes

A good example to show the style of a music video is Beyoncé - Love on Top. This music video shows the performance shown in this 'style' of video.

A second example to show the style of a music video is Katy Perry - Thinking of You. This music video shows the narrative 'style' of music video.
A good example of the techniques used with a camera is Alicia Keys - Tried Sleeping with a Broken Heart. This music video shows the camera angles that are used.

Another good example of different techniques used with a camera is Rihanna - California King Bed. This music video shows different camera shots that can be used.




A good example of editing techniques is the Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. This music video show's how to create a music video, using only computerised editing.




A good example of another music video using editing techniques is Will.I.Am ft. Britney Spears - Scream and Shout. This music video demonstrates a way of editing the footage whilst incorporating the stars moving image at the same time.

A good example to show the Mis En Screen of a music video is Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé - Telephone. This music video highlights the effects of hair & make-up design.




A second example of Mis En Screen is Jessie J - Domino. This music video shows the excitement of all different costumes and outfits.




A good example of a music video that represents a stereotype is Nirvana- Smells like Teen Spirit. This music video presents the hard rock genre as loud, rough around the edges and aggressive.






Another good example of a stereotypical music video is Take That - Patience. This music video presents the stereotypical boy band image.