Conventional Music Video Analysis.



Conventions are stereotypes attached to certain genres of which the genre adheres to, for examples conventions of pop include bright colours, and rock music includes darker colours and possibly instruments such as guitars and drums. The idea of conventions and adhering to these conventions displays our understanding of the conventions of pop and displays we fully understand the detail required when accomplishing a music video by a pop artist. In research into these conventions, I completed a six frame analysis in response to this and the conventions pop artists display in certain music videos. My research and links to evidence of these conventions are displayed below.

This first screenshot from Little Mix’s ‘Wings’ denotes a typical convention of a pop music video, consisting of use of girly and bright costumes. The screen shot has all members of the band in the shot, connoting a unit of best friends and girls having fun. “We Don’t Hear No One Saying” are the lyrics playing in the screen shot, connoting how everyone is in the party mood and is joining in to dance with them. The star motifs of Little Mix include bright colours, dancing and collaborative shots of the entire band together, all of which are present in this screen shot and contribute to a stereotypical pop music video. The narrative of performance and having fun with your friends is displayed, typical of a pop music video.

The second screenshot from Little Mix’s ‘Wings’ shows the stereotypical pop convention of close ups. This connotes that Little Mix are stereotypical pop band and are displaying the stereotypes of pop music videos clearly. As this is an introducing shot, the instrumental is playing, which is upbeat and pop influenced, also contributing to a representation of stereotypical pop conventions. In other Little Mix videos, they also include close ups of each member, conveying one of their star motifs, for example, their video for ‘Move’.

This third screenshot denotes a close up of one member singing to the camera, a stereotypical convention of pop. This shows that they are a stereotypical pop band who lip sync to their music in videos. The lyrics “Mama told me not to waste my life” are playing in the video, emphasising that they want to be a fun girl band who are living the best they can, basically living their dream. Little Mix also have a star motif of lip syncing their songs, singing to the camera in all of their videos, this suggests they enjoy singing and want to be centre of their videos.

In this screen shot, the girls are seen dancing in their video, a common stereotype of pop. The dancing connotes that their song makes you want to dance and have fun, similar to common pop songs. The lyrics “get your back off the wall” are playing, adding to the theme of dancing and legging go/having fun. Little Mix also include a star motif in all their videos of dance routines, making them a stereotypical pop girl band.

This fifth screen shot is denoting the use of bright lighting, a popular convention of contemporary pop music videos. The lighting connotes that the song is a bright and vibrant genre (pop) and that it is very positive, the light also is different colours to attract the eye and make the video as happy and fun as the song itself, all about having fun and dancing along with everybody together. The use of lighting, especially bright coloured lighting is dominant in Little Mix videos, as they are a pop girl group who release very upbeat and happy songs.

The final screenshot denotes the use of green screen, a very popular video element across a variety of pop music videos. In this screenshot, the use of different coloured backgrounds for each of the members denotes how each member is an individual character in the band, but when they are together there is no colour as they are a united girl group who are also very close friends. The use of green screen is also a star motif of Little Mix, as they have used green screens in all their music videos to date.