Narratives, Techniques and Conventions

All music videos share the same conventions which makes them distinguishable as music videos. Some of these conventions are: a performance from the artist as well as a narrative/story; lip-syncing; medium-close ups of the artists and multiple locations and costume changes.

Meatloaf - Objects in the Rear View Mirror 

Narrative : - Friendship between two friends but one of them dies in a plane crash. Singing about the past as if reliving their time together and the moment he died. Challenging old vs new.

Techniques and Conventions : - sepia tone
                                                 - lip-syncing
                                                 - hand-held camera
                                                 - acting
                                                 - multiple locations
                                                 - pan
                                                 - dark colours at the end to connote death
                                                 - sexualisation of women
                                                 - soft lighting to represent past


OK Go - Here It Goes Again 

Narrative : - No narrative

Techniques and Conventions : - one edit/shot
                                                 - dance routine/performance
                                                 - still camera
                                                 - indie due to the outfit choices (mise-en-scene)


Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire 

Narrative : - No narrative

Techniques and Conventions : - dark lighting
                                                 - orange connotes fire
                                                 - pace of editing matches song
                                                 - different cinematography
                                                 - performance and acting
                                                 - slow motion
                                                 - zoom in
                                                 - simple building (derelict)

Michael Jackson - Thriller 

Narrative : -

Techniques and Conventions : - generic conventions of horror films
                                                 - voyeurism (pleasure of seeing the artist)
                                                 - 2 levels of diegesis (in the film and watching it)

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

Narrative : -

Techniques and Conventions : - lots of extreme close ups
                                                 - stop motion video
                                                 - creative/artistic image

Beyonce - Single Ladies

Narrative : -

Techniques and Conventions : - performance
                                                 - entertainer
                                                 - greyscale
                                                 - light changing
                                                 - simple yet effective
                                                 - artist and camera moving at the same time
                                                 - lots of zoom ins and out

OK Go - The Writing's On the Wall
Narrative : -

Techniques and Conventions : - one shot
                                                 - creative/inventive
                                                 - challenging conventions

Bob Dylan - Duquesne Whistle
Narrative : -

Techniques and Conventions : - challenging audiences expectations
                                                 - breaking conventions
                                                 - controversial
                                                 - violence to make the audience talk about it