APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video

Reyana Hind



Task
Access the internet/You Tube, select one music video which interests you and that links to the type of music you intend to use in your
portfolio
Be mindful that eventually you will need to present your findings in Your R+P Blog. Please make your analysis detailed, accurate, and most
importantly try to discuss the codes and conventions at both a denotive and connotive level.

According to semiotic theory, all signs operate on two levels, the denotive level and the conative level. A denotive analysis would describe
the elements which we can see in the text whereas the connotation analysis will go on to consider the associated meanings with those
denotive elements. For example, when consider editing, in the first minute there are 80 cuts in the edit- this is a denotive description, a
connotation description would be that this fast editing would show the excitement.

Video Title: Sam Smith- Im Not The Only One Release Date: 1
st
August 2014.

Genre RnB
Lyrics

Type of video e.g. performance / narrative / mix

Briefly describe the content of the music video.









APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind





Mise en scene:
Setting and props: Costume hair and make-up: Figure expression and behaviour: Placement of objects and characters within the frame:
Lighting and colour:

Elements used in the research text Reason for use; connotations or effect
Location: Suburban picturesque house which has no imperfections
situated in a quiet neighbourhood.




This represents that the relationship on the outside seems to be a
perfect relationship that everyone aspires to. However deeper down
in privacy which many people dont get to experience its breaking
down, which is in relation to the song.

Significant props used in the video is the petrol/ flammable fuel which
the wife purchases from a small convenient store.
This is to represent the flammability and the fragile state that the
relationship is in, the fact that she purchases it shows that she is
conscious of the breakdown of her marriage and wants to cause
destruction in her own environment, without the husband around and
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind




when he returns theirs no evidence of the fuel, this shows that she
wants to keep the relationship going.

The wife wears two costumes, both of them are all white and in the
style of dresses.

The colour white connotes purity and innocence and its the bridal
colour that is traditionally worn. This portrays the image that she is a
good person and can be trusted as the colour white can also be
related to an angel. However the actions of her refute this.


APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind



The husband wears a normal suit and tie as if he was to attend the
office.


This isnt out of the ordinary carrying on the message that the couple
are in a happy relationship and he is going on about his way to work,
what the costume would suggest. As well as the wife his action refute
the expectations- something that the video conveys throughout. The
colour of the suit and tie are both grey, the dull colour conveys an
unhappy marriage that he is in.
Predominantly the wife is seen at her home. As the wife is always seen in this setting it shows that she is
comfortable in her own setting and isnt confidant to leave as she
doesnt interact with anyone else. This shows that she afraid to
confront her husband and can only show her real emotions when she
is alone. Something which in a real marriage is usually able to do.
The husbands main setting is a dark bar. This choice of setting to meet his companion suggests that he is
unfaithful as it isnt a crowded bar showing that they have chosen this
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind


meeting pint for its privacy and for the fact that he is less likely to be
noticed and his affair to be revealed.
The wife has a cigarette.

This is not only seen in one shot however a cigarette is typically seen
when the character is in a stressful situation which the audience is
aware of the affair which is going on, nor is she oblivious to it too.

Cinematography
Camera shots: camera angles: camera movement: focus: depth of field: film stock:

Elements used in the research text Reason for use ; connotations or effect
Medium shot of the married couple kissing. This is the master shot of the two characters which the video
follows their journey throughout, form it we can see that they
portray to be happy with the wife kissing the husband on the cheek.
However when she is out of shot we see he loses his smile and looks
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind




into the mirror with a disapproving look on his face. This reveals
that he knows what he is doing is wrong.
Tracking shot of the wife walking out of the house to wave her husband
away.

A medium over the shoulder shot of the mistress revealing the
husbands wedding ring.
The tracking shot following her face shows her emotion which
changes from a smile to a distressed face. This revels to the
audience that she isnt oblivious to the affair that her husband is
having.
This is a significant shot as it has the wedding ring at the centre of
the shot in-between the mistress and the husband. This connotes
that mistress is aware that he is married and chooses to ignore this
and go ahead with the affair, and the fact that the ring is still visible
shows that he didnt choose to remove it and that he isnt fully
disconnected from the marriage that hes in.
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind


Close up shots of the mistress and husband.


Many of these close up shots are in, what is replicated, as the bars
toilets. Many of the shots hide the activity that theyre doing which
the audience can identify.
Slanted close up of the wife when she is crying in the house This reveals her make up being all smudged and that she is unable
to keep her composure. The close up reveals her imperfections and
this is the first evidence that she isnt able to cope with the truth
that he husband is being disloyal to her.
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind




Establishing Shot

Establishing shot outside of the house in the front door in the
centre 3
rd
of the frame with two maintained potted trees on the
side which displays the perfect home of the married couple.
Medium shot of the artist singing. The moving medium shot reveals the artist lip-syncing to the lyrics
of his song. It seems that he is on a stage as he has a microphone
and a red curtain behind his which is iconography for a singer
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind

performing. Even though he isnt part of their story it does seem like
he is witnessing the events more so because the lyrics he is singing
convey the message that the video shows.
Over the shoulder shot of the wife standing in front of the fire which
she started.

The wife is in the centre 3
rd
of the frame with her silhouette in-front
of it, the fire isnt in-focus connoting that the destruction of their
marriage isnt clear as to the root of it and by her being in the
centre of the frame represents that she is in the middle of the
break-down of her marriage.






Editing
Speed: transition type: editing style: continuity: montage:

Elements used in the research text Reason for use; connotations or effect
Slow passed transitions

The style of the music isnt faced paced as its a balled so the slow
transitions and editing is typical to its genre and this video sticks to it.
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind

Jump cut



Throughout the whole video only jump cuts are used with no special
transitions to keep the reality of the message behind the video in
check. Keeping the continuity of the video.

























Sound
Diegetic: non-diegetic: speech: music: special effects:



Elements used in the research text Reason for use; connotations or effect
Diegetic sound at the beginning of the video
Dialogue
The diegetic sound in the video of the married couple talking, we
dont see their conversation as is the shot of the outside of the house.
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind



The other sound heard is the outside noise with the birds singing,
which is typically connoted with a feeling of happiness and that
everything is all good, however this is juxtaposed with the song and
the actions of the characters.
Non-digetic sound


The non-digetic sound is the song which plays throughout the video as
a narration for the story.

No special sound effects



The choice of not adding in any sound effects is because they want to
keep the reality of the song and video. The song is a serious song so
by adding sound effects it would take away the message of it and
make it less believable and emotional.











Narrative Structure (If narrative video)
Linear: non-linear: montage:

Elements used in the research text Purpose of the construction; effect on spectator
Story throughout the day



The videos narrative doesnt match the lyrics of the song exactly
however it is a small snapshot into the meaning of the song and how
it can be applied to a real life couple.

APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind


Non-linear sequence near the end of the song.



The majority if the video is in a linear sequence, noticeable from the
change of lighting. There are more re-visits to the master shot of the
wife breaking down, and the daylight lighting reveals that this is
earlier on in the day, however the husbands narrative carries on
chronologically as it shows him in the dark walking home in the
neighbourhood. This may connote that the wife is looking back to find
out why he is acting as he is, and as the lyrics of the song suggest that
they use to be happy, she may only be remembering the times that
they were happy which effects her more to realise that in the current
situation that theyre in that neither of them are happy or satisfied.
Whereas the husband is more forward thinking and will carry on
acting as he is to make sure that he is happy.


















Themes what themes are communicated in the text? What tone or atmosphere is communicated?
Betrayal



This is portrayed by the wife knowing that she is being cheated on as
she is seen crying inside her house when the editing jumps to the
husband with another woman the audience makes the assumption
that the wife is aware of the affair.
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind

Love



Theirs a clear indication that the wife is still in love with her husband
as she wouldnt react so emotionally if she didnt care about her
husband not loving her anymore and shows that she wants to retrieve
the marriage.

























Audience Response
How is the audience meant to respond to the text emotionally and intellectually?







APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video
Reyana Hind