Research: Codes & Conventions of MVs

Technical Codes!

The codes and conventions of music videos refer to the elements and techniques used to showcase meaning and intrigue the audience. These elements can be split into two main categories: symbolic codes (such as mise-en-scène, themes, color, and costume) and technical codes (including camera work, editing, and sound). These codes play a key role in shaping the narrative and visual style of music videos.

Camerawork

1. Camera Angles: Directors play with angles to convey emotion and power. For instance, low-angle shots make subjects appear dominant or intense, while high-angle shots create a sense of vulnerability. These angles work in tandem with the lyrics and music to highlight different emotional layers.

2. Camera Movements: Panning, zooming, and tracking shots follow the action or direct the viewer’s attention to a specific detail. The movement style often reflects the song's mood—quick cuts and jerky camera moves may suggest high energy, while steady tracking shots can emphasize introspective moments.

3. Framing: How subjects are placed in a shot adds meaning. Close-ups draw attention to the artist’s emotions, creating a feeling of intimacy, while wide shots establish the scene, often highlighting themes of isolation or grandeur.

Editing

1. Fast Cuts: Fast-paced cuts synchronize with the rhythm of the music to heighten excitement and energy, particularly in pop or electronic music videos. These quick transitions can keep viewers engaged and aligned with the beat.

2. Montage: Combines multiple scenes in rapid succession, often indicating the passage of time or a range of emotions. Montage sequences create a sense of evolution, ideal for videos that tell a story of change or growth.

3. Jump Cuts:  Quick, unexpected shifts from one scene to another are often used to depict movement, urgency, or surprise. A jump cut can transport viewers from one location to another instantly, creating dynamic, almost dreamlike visual experiences.

4. Special Effects: CGI or animation may add surreal or fantastical elements, creating a heightened reality that matches the song’s tone. Special effects are especially popular in genres like electronic, rock, and hip-hop, where they add an extra layer of spectacle.

Sound

1. Syncing with Music: Good music videos match visual elements with the beat, rhythm, or mood of the song. Whether it's an artist’s movement or a visual transition, these sync points make the visuals feel inextricably linked to the music.

2. Sound Effects: Background sounds, echoes, or added effects (like crowd sounds or glass breaking) bring depth and texture, enhancing the viewer’s immersion. These effects can intensify emotional moments or emphasize important symbols in the video.

3. Voiceovers: Although rare, voiceovers add a narrative layer to videos with a strong storyline. They can clarify the artist’s message or add context, often helping viewers connect with the artist’s perspective on a deeper level.

Symbolic Codes!

Mise-en-Scène

1. Setting: The environment (e.g., a bustling city, a quiet forest) directly impacts the song’s tone. Nature settings may convey freedom or introspection, while urban environments might signal energy or isolation.

2. Props: Objects often hold symbolic value. For example, a rose might symbolize love or passion, while a mirror could indicate self-reflection. These props add layers of interpretation for the audience.

3. Lighting: Lighting choices—from soft, diffused light for romance to harsh lighting for tension—create mood and emotional depth. Darkness may hint at mystery or sadness, while bright lights might signal hope or excitement.

Costume

1. Fashion: The artist’s clothing reflects their personality and the genre of music. Bright, colorful outfits might suit a pop video, while darker, edgy clothing could match a rock or alternative theme. Costume choices add authenticity and visually reinforce the song’s themes.

2. Character Roles: Sometimes, costumes define specific characters, such as heroes, villains, or archetypes. A dramatic costume shift might signal a character’s transformation, helping to tell a story that aligns with the music’s progression.

Color

1. Color Schemes: Different colors evoke distinct emotions. Red might indicate intensity or danger, while blue suggests sadness or tranquility. Directors use these colors to deepen the audience’s emotional response to the music.

2. Contrast: High-contrast scenes emphasize important moments or conflicts. A sudden shift from monochromatic to vibrant color, for instance, can signal a change in mood or narrative direction.

I’ll be analyzing “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar based on these codes and conventions.

Technical Codes

Camerawork

1. Camera Angles: "Humble." uses various camera angles to underscore the video’s power dynamics. For instance, low-angle shots of Kendrick emphasize his dominance and assertiveness, particularly in scenes where he appears as a religious or authoritative figure. Conversely, high-angle shots on crowds create a sense of collective humility, aligning with the song’s message.

2. Camera Movements: This video employs tracking shots to follow Kendrick’s movements, creating a dynamic flow that matches the beat of the music. In some sequences, such as when he’s lying on a long table surrounded by figures in dark cloaks, the camera movement is steady and focused, emphasizing solemnity and control. Meanwhile, the rapid cuts in other sections create an energetic, almost chaotic atmosphere, amplifying the song's intense beats and lyrics.

3. Framing: Close-ups of Kendrick's face are frequently used to convey intensity and directness, especially during lines that critique or challenge societal norms. Wide shots, such as scenes of Kendrick surrounded by a group of people all facing the same direction, create a sense of solidarity or contrast between Kendrick and society.

Editing

1. Fast Cuts: The video is notable for its fast-paced editing, where the cuts are synced with the rhythm, reflecting the song's driving energy. This maintains the viewer's engagement and enhances the aggressive tone, particularly in sections with Kendrick’s more assertive lyrics.

2. Montage: In certain segments, a montage is used to present a series of contrasting images: Kendrick as a religious figure, then Kendrick in streetwear, and then Kendrick in a luxurious setting. These contrasting shots hint at the complex themes of humility and the pressures of fame, without explicitly stating them, leaving much for the viewer to interpret.

3. Jump Cuts: Quick, abrupt transitions between scenes, such as the shift from Kendrick in religious robes to him in everyday attire, help depict shifts in persona and atmosphere. The jump cuts contribute to the video’s overall edgy feel and keep viewers on their toes, emphasizing the theme of unpredictability.

4. Special Effects: One notable effect is the distorted, fisheye lens effect that visually warps the background while keeping Kendrick in focus. This effect heightens the surrealism and creates an almost dreamlike intensity, adding depth to the video’s surreal undertones and underscoring the line between Kendrick’s reality and his perception.

Sound

1. Syncing with Music: Visuals are closely synchronized with the beat and flow of the song, which makes every visual element feel like a part of the music itself. When the beat hits harder, the visuals reflect this with dramatic cuts or heightened camera effects, mirroring the song’s intense energy and reinforcing Kendrick’s words.

2. Sound Effects: Background sounds aren’t heavily used, but moments of silence or ambient noise during slower parts of the song subtly build tension, aligning with the intensity of the visuals and lyrics.

Symbolic Codes

Mise-en-Scène

1. Setting: The video’s settings shift between a stark, religious atmosphere (a cathedral-like setting where Kendrick stands as a godly figure), a gritty urban environment, and lavish spaces. Each location symbolizes different aspects of Kendrick’s commentary on societal expectations and personal humility, creating a contrast between spirituality, fame, and the grounded reality of his roots.

2. Props: Some props are highly symbolic. For example, the stacks of money and crowns signify wealth and power, while a lone table covered in bread and wine invokes the Last Supper, creating a parallel between Kendrick and a messianic figure. These props deepen the social and religious symbolism, adding a layer of commentary on materialism and reverence.

3. Lighting: Lighting shifts dramatically between scenes, creating different moods. Harsh lighting in certain scenes emphasizes tension, while spotlights often isolate Kendrick, suggesting a godlike or elevated status. Dim, dramatic lighting in scenes where Kendrick is surrounded by a hooded crowd suggests mystery and reverence, intensifying the atmosphere.

Costume

1. Fashion: Kendrick’s attire varies dramatically throughout the video to reflect different personas. His appearance in a priestly robe conveys a sense of spirituality and humility, while his streetwear highlights his connection to his community and identity as an everyman. This mix of outfits reinforces the themes of duality and the balance between humility and fame.

2. Character Roles: Kendrick’s various costumes establish distinct “characters” within the video. He alternates between a powerful, almost messianic figure, a humble everyman, and a wealthy icon, each representing different sides of fame and identity. His changing costumes help viewers understand the internal and external conflicts he faces regarding his role in society.

Color

1. Color Schemes: The color palette in "Humble." is purposefully diverse, shifting between muted tones (suggesting humility and introspection) and vibrant hues (symbolizing fame and influence). The use of deep reds, blacks, and whites contrasts Kendrick’s humble persona with his moments of fame and wealth, embodying the song’s exploration of duality.

2. Contrast: High-contrast scenes emphasize Kendrick’s presence and create visual tension. For example, stark contrasts between Kendrick in black attire and a bright white background, or scenes with intense lighting focused solely on him, highlight his isolation or elevate his presence in a way that demands attention.