Codes and conventions of a music video

All music videos have technical codes and symbolic codes. Technical codes include the sound, editing and the different camera angles. The music and the editing relate to each other because the music video is usually cut in time to the music. The pace of the cuts in the music video can show what genre the music is. Different camera angles can be used to show dominance and power of the lead singer and can also emphasize lyrics if there is a close up of the singer. Symbolic codes of a music video invludes the mise-en-scene. This means everything that is seen in the shot e.g. clothes, instruments, lighting and location. Lighting and clothes are a key indicator of the music genre of the music video. In rock and metal music you expect to see the band performing in dark clothes and in a dark environment with perhaps flashing lights. However in a mainstream, synthetic boyband you expect to see the band dressed in white and is a bright location because they target a completely different audience. All music videos attempt to create attention, interest, desire and action (buying the song). This can be achieved by making a music video which has a narrative. Apart from some dance music, most music videos relate to the lyrics of the song as they are being sung.