Convensions of pop

 

Pop is a very versatile and has a very wide number conventions used from locations to mise on scene. The videos are almost always fast paced, using short takes to maximise the feeling of rush, but also of urgency. This is important to match the essence and tempo of the music suited to the video.

 

Sometimes the video will take place on a location and sometimes just in front of a green screen. I have noticed this does not necessarily differ between the tempo of the music, but the artist. Most of the songs written by Jessie J, are all performed in front of a green screen. Songs like ‘domino’ and ‘lazorlight’. However, there are a few exceptions to the rule like Jessie J did ‘Who’s Laughing Now’ which was set in a school, with a real location. However artists like Adele, use city locations to film their videos in. Many of the green screen productions will have an expensive post production effects team, that add all of the backdrops in and create the sense of extravagance within the video.

 

Also I have noticed that nearly all of the camera angles that are used are used to look t the artist in a different way, whether it be from a high angle or a low angle. This gives the audience the impression that the artist is the most important. It also makes the audience feel like the video is more important than the location or the song. This detailed focus, also draws our attention to the amount of lip syncs that are done with the song. This is vital that it is right as it will mean that the video will look good. If the lip sync is out of time, it gives the video an unprofessional look.

 

Make up. The make-up used in the videos are almost always modest. This gives the impression of a posh artist and is what the target audience tend to look up to. This can also be used to accentuate parts of the face. Mainly it is the eyes, wit a darkening around the eye area, may be displaying the innocence or the beauty of the artists eyes. Also the lack of other makeup could suggest the target market, but also the need not to have loads of make up due to original good looks.

 

Medium close ups and extreme close up shots tend to be the main shots used in the videos that I have watched in a pop genre. This is as the artist is the most important spectacle in the video. Also they tend to get rid of most of the location with a few medium long shots to put the video back in its place. Also this helps the audience to establish the video.

 

All of the videos tend to show love of some kind even breaking up or coming back together. This is a common convention in most of the videos that I have looked at and the video conveys the message o the song