Conventions of Form

What Are Formal Conventions?

Formal conventions are codes and conventions in which a music video follows regardless of the genre. These conventions apply to all music videos however not all music videos follow such conventions which is known as 'breaking' the codes and conventions. Breaking the conventions has many advantages for example, it sets the video apart from other existing videos thus making it more individual. It can also come with much needed publicity which artists require in order for their video to be succesful. Most music videos will include a narrative/ storyline which is used to convey the ideology and representaions of the song. Semiotics (connotations/denotations) are usually shown in conjunction with the lyrics of the song. Overall formal conventions are not seen as a set of rules however, they are more trends in which music videos are most likely to follow.

Formal Conventions of Music Videos in terms of the following:

• Cinematography
• Mis En Scene
• Editing
• Sound

The Following video of Girls Aloud's 'Something New' demonstrates a variety of formal conventions found in a music video. This video shows conventions which apply to all four categories.

Cinematography

• The most frequent and common frames found in music videos are close ups and medium shots. E.g close ups show when the artist is lip synching.
• A wide angle is used to show group perfomances such as a dance sequence or a band playing.
• Close ups of subject matter e.g mobile phone text which holds vital understanding of the narrative.
• High angles and low angles used to establish character dominance e.g high angle is used to show weakness.
• Establishing shot used to establish set/location.
• Zooming out e.g zooming out from a mid shot into a long shot to establish the costume.

Mis En Scene

• Mis En Scene is solely determined on the genre of the music video. Most music videos use Mis En Scene (costume, lighting and location) as a device which clearly declares the genre of the song.
• Artists are most likely dressed in costume which represents the genre of the music video. E.g in hip hop videos baggy jeans, overesized t shirts accesorised with gold/diamond jewellery can be found.
• Lighting is determined by the tone of the song for example, Leona Lewis' 'Run' was shot in the dark because of the sad and emotional nature of the song.
• Location is determined either through the genre or the narrative of the video. For example, a rock video is most likely to contain a scene filmed at a 'gig' setting where the band is peerforming. In terms of narrative Taylor Swift's 'You Belong with Me' is filmed in a school as the narrative is based on a high school romance.
• The most common location most music videos are filmed at is a studio. Either a recording or a film studio.

Editing

• Most editing whether it is in a music video or film, is mostly invisible to the viewer's eye.
• A most notable convention of editing is that the number of edits increase as the soundtrack becomes faster. Usually during the chorus the editing speeds up.
• For example, most pop videos contain numerous edits due to the fast upbeat nature of pop music. Jump and straight cuts are used in these scenarios.
• Continuinity editing is used to establish a linear order of scenes in the narrative.
• Cutaways are used to develop the narrative.
• Montage editing is used in abstract music videos.
• Fades and dissolves are usually used to end/close the video.

Sound

• All music videos have a soundtrack.
• Non-diegetic and diegetic sound can be used to develop the narrative. For example, Beyonce's 'If I Were A Boy'  contains both the soundtrack and a diegesis.