Conventions

Codes and Conventions are different things used within music videos to construct messages and meanings.

These techniques can be divided into technical and symbolic

Technical Techniques is how the meaning is the meaning is conveyed using technical equipment. This may include things such as how the camera is used including types of angles and movements, different sound within the shot, whether its diegetic or non diegetic, whether its fast or slow editing and the genre of the song.

Symbolic Techniques are the ways of showing meanings beyond whats obvious in front of you. It could be through mise en scene including facial expressions, body language, posture, etc.

Conventions in Hip Hop Music Music Videos

.Camera Shots

Music videos tend to include many long shots, close ups and and mid shots. This is to create emphasis on the artist, location and emotions

There are many low-angled, close up shots in hip hop videos, this helps to infer that the artist has more control over the audience. The low angle shots give them power since they look down on the audience as if the audience are younger and are looking upon the artist as a god or legend. While the close up shots gives status since it suggests they're important to have a frame to themselves

.Camera Movement

The movement of the camera is used to follow and trace the artist or band. Camera movements include tilts, pans, tracking and crane shots

During hip hop music recordings, panning and tracking is regularly used to keep up with the beat. Rapping and quick singing is used all through the hip hop music class which suggests the camera has got to constantly keep up with the artist to guarantee the artist doesn’t have to repeat the rap, which for the shooting process, may take a long time and may demotivate the artist.

.Mise en scene

This refers to the arrangement of performers and props on stage or in a scene for a production of a music video or any other media text

.Editing

Jump cuts is the predominant editing technique used in music videos. This is because this allows a sudden change form one scene to another

.Lighting

Some music videos are black and white which helps to put emphasis on a particular mood, and some videos have artificial lighting which put the artist in an enhanced look

.Sound

Usually just the vocals from the singer however, there is also the use of instruments, soundtracks, and other sound effects.

.Costume

This goes with the scenes in the song and reflects the genre. Costume is an important factor because it has a slight influence on how the viewers will dress because they use some of the celebrities as role models

.Colour

Colours tend to set the mood of the song by creating an atmosphere. If the mood is cheerful then, the colours used will be bright and colourful wheres, if the mood is negative and boring then the colours will be dark and less exciting for the audience.