G324 - Specific Knowledge Of Music Videos

Narrative
- Music videos have a beginning, middle and end - Like a mini film.

Beginning[far left]- Character is a serial killer and the killing goes wrong as their chainsaw stops working and the victim escapes by using a hammer as a weapon
Middle- Character gives up and sits around being emotional
End- Character becomes a serial killer chain, using the hammer that defeated him in the beginning. 

- Tells a story.
- Can promote a film

Muse - "Neutron Star Collision" - Promoting The Twilight Saga Eclipse film.

- Fast pace
- Sometimes story contradicts what's seen for effect.
- Sometimes the artist is part of the story, sometimes not.

Thematic - depends on genre
- Bands - particularly heavy metal - performance dominated videos.
- Rap - "street" images.
- dance routines are common for female performers.

Beyonce - "Single Ladies"

Symbolic
- Lots of symbols build up meaning.
- montages - lots of images to create a meaning - sometimes/often contradictory.
- lighting suggests the mood.
- fast paced - only a few seconds per shot to build meanings.
- pictures can support/contradict lyrics.

Lady Gaga "The Edge Of Glory" - Dark lighting links to the emotional meaning behind the song. (Lady Gaga wrote the song about her grandfathers death)

 Other codes and conventions
- 'Artist'  mise-en-scene.
- cutting relates to rhythm.
- experimental use of camera.
- often break the rules of continuity editing.
- lots of digital effects.

 Orla Gartland's "Roots" - This video includes animation. The shot either includes real life shots, real life shots mixed with animation, or fully animated shots.