ConorDrury 7200 - Codes and Conventions for a music video

What are codes and conventions?

• A way of constructing meaning in media texts.
• Can be divided into two seperate categories: Technical and Symbolic.

• Technical: 

- How equipment and technology are used to construct meaning.
- Camera: Different angles, shots...
- Editing - Pace, Style...
- Sound - Diagetic / Non-Diagetic, genre...

• Symbolic:

- Meaning created beyond what is obvious to see.
- For example, specific facial expressions, clothing colours and mise-en-scene.

 The reason for codes and conventions.

• Codes and conventions are a firm set of rules / way of doing things.
• Can Slowly adapt.
• Can be challenged to create new innovative pieces.
• They allow the audience to become familiar with a certain genre as they become accustomed to seeing certain things.

Styles of a music video.

• Music videos can be categorized in terms of style.

- Performance; Band / Artist playing.
- Narrative;  Includes a main story throughout.
- A mixture of both.
- Cameo; Band / artist features in the narrative but doesnt perform.