Conventions of a Music Video

Conventions of Music Videos:

1. Conventions of narrative music videos: the music video contains a series of events that both
make sense to the audience and appear to be unified in time and space. So as to ensure
repeated viewings and the effective marketing of the band/artist and song, the narrative
code must be „loose‟ or simply „suggestive‟ rather than „realistic‟ or „detailed‟.

2. Conventions of the band performance: a degree of authenticity of the performance is sought
by the band and the director so we often find lip-syncing close-up, mimed playing of
instruments, repetition of chorus shots to enhance the video unusual camera shots and
angles (e.g. the micro camera shots attached to the neck of a guitar, sweeping crane shots to
film audience reaction to the band playing etc.).

3. Conventions of solo artist performance: many of the band performance conventions plus
choreographed dance routines to enhance the video. Also, a first-person mode of
address directly engaging the viewer through the camera which involves many close-up shots of
eyes rolling and gesturing and if the video is a hybrid form cutting between performance
and narrative then the solo artist or band lead singer often becomes part of the narrative story,
acting as narrator and participant at the same time.


I will use the conventions of the narrative music video and also conventions of a solo artist performance. I will be converging both of these conventions to produce my music video of 'Human by Christina Perri'.