- Narrative:
- She believes that a video is a response to the music. The video suits the style and genre of the music and the look of the artist. It also cuts in time and rhythm with the soundtrack.
- There's not necessarily always a balance between narrative and performance.
- The narrative is not always complete- it may be a partial, fragmented narrative.
- The structure of the video may appear disjointed.
- Something drives the video forward, but often it is not the narrative. It could be the music, the performance, a mixture, or some other element.
- There may not always be a clear resolution (closure) at the end.
- The video may pose questions that it doesn't actually answer.
- There may be a narrative or theme running through the video, but in a montage style.
- Editing:
- Editing may match the musical phrases or the beat.
- The video may disrupt/break many of the 'rules' of continuity editing- this is a clear convention of music video editing.
- Editing may become 'foregrounded'- the edits may be really obvious, to draw attention to themselves as opposed to invisible, continuity editing.
- A style of editing that runs through the video and is distinctive to that video.
- Camera Movement:
- Extreme close up shots are common, however aren't as common as mid shots and close ups, familiarising the audience with the face and look of the artist.
- The style of framing and movement may run through the video and be distinctive to that video.
- The camera may move in time with the music.
- The camera may move on the lyrics.
- The master shot (or other establishing shots) is used frequently, as are the close-ups.
- The diegesis may be revealed quite slowly.
- Actions are not necessarily completed- they may be disrupted or interrupted in some way.
- Character or object movements may move to the music.
- They may be gaps in the audience's understanding of the diegesis- in time and space, music, performance and narrative.
- Some frames may be more important than others.
- There be many repetitions e.g. Musical phrases, the beat, other musical elements, themes, lyrics, performance, colours, images, camera positions.
