WHAT IS A MUSIC VIDEO?

CONVENTIONS

Music videos usually have long shots, close ups and mid shots. This is so

the viewer focuses on the artist, location and emotions.

The main camera movements within music videos are tilts, pans, tracking

and crane shots. This is used to follow the artist.

Mise en scene is very important within music videos as it sets the mood,

helps the viewer understand the video, and makes it interesting. You

cannot expect a specific convention for mise on scene because its depends

on the lyrics and type of song, for example if it was a sad love song it would

typically be dark clothing and raining .

The main editing techniques used are jump cuts from one scene to

another and fade transitions.

THE PURPOSE

The purpose of a music video is to sell the song .

The video give the viewer a reaction and therefore

will make them remember the song. Another

purpose is to give the listener a better

understanding of the song, this only works if the

video is narrative. Music videos are made to

entertain, it shoes off talents the artists have. Lastly,

promotion is a main purpose. This is due to

increasing CD sales and downloads which will help

the artist.

HOW TO ANALYSE

To analyse music videos you need to analyse:

- Camera work (angles, movements, shot types)

- Editing (transitions, cuts)

- Sound (non diegetic/diegetic)

- Special Effects(make up, green screen)

- Mise en scene( props, location, lighting, costume)

- Theories (Goodwins, John Stewart, Laura Mulvey)