Key Codes & Conventions

(Andrew Goodwin 1992 Dancing in the

Distraction Factory

MTV – Launched in 1997, MTV created a website

allowing the public to view and listen to music

videos, as well as seeing what songs are currently in

the charts. You can also view songs and artists under

different genres.

YouTube – YouTube is my main source for viewing

music videos, and, as well as MTV, YouTube is also an

easily accessible internet site where I can view any

kind of music videos which are, and have been, in the

charts.

Performance based:

Bruno Mars – Treasure

Narrative based:

Calvin Harris – Feel so Close

Concept based:

Red Hot Chili Peppers –

Can’t Stop

Dance routines in girl/boy bands:

Geri Halliwell – It’s Raining Men

Stage performance, extravagant light shows, outlandish

behaviour in metal video:

Royal Republic – Underwear

Illustrative:

Gorillaz – Feel Good

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwsi1aIGWKM

Amplifying:

Christina Aguilera – Beautiful

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoYEQgG4-JY

Contradicting:

Kings Of Leon – Wait for Me

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltGRQJJ5WiU

Cutting to the beat:

Avicii – You Make Me

Chorus & repetition:

Alesha Dixon – The Boy Does Nothing

Vocals with close-ups of singer:

Ellie Goulding - Burn

Instrumental with close-ups of performance:

U2 – Beautiful Day

The record label needs to sell the artist close-ups of the artist:

The artist may have a distinctive visual style:

Screens within screens, cameras, telescopes

Voyeuristic treatment of the female body:

Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball

Camerawork, costume, dance, framing imply sexualized

display:

To films: Ashanti and Ja Rule use borrowed power from the film

Grease

To TV programmes

To other music videos

To other genres:

Bjork – Human Behaviour