Analysis of Telephone

In class we have analysed many music video's in order to get the gist of music video's and their codes/conventions. During one lesson we analysed part of 'Telephone' by Lady Gaga. Many typical music video conventions were obtained from this.

• Establishing/Low angle shots of prison (code of a rebellion)
• Cartoon/70's/chunky/bold font and graphics - feminine colours (code for feminine power - women becoming tough = equal) 
• CCTV shot (establishing location inside prison) high angle 
• Titillation - Erotic costume (often a convention of a music video -women sexually objectified)
• Iconic Lady gaga costume - Large shoulders (code for power - becoming more like the man with broad shoulders. Also convention of music video as artists often have something that the audience automatically associates them with -iconic - e.g. Michael Jackson = white gloves, black/short trousers and white socks
• Point of view shots (convention)
• Looks into the camera/interact (code = intimidation, also convention)
• Jump cut/breaks 30 degree rule (convention)
• Realistic mise en scence of the background- juxtaposing the stylised costumes
• Dialogue (convention)
• Mise en scene prop - truncheon = phallic symbol (convention - sexual ambiguity)
• Breaking 180 degree rule (convention)
• Product placement - sponsors (Nokia/Virgin - mainly a convention of music video as it reminds the audience they are watching a video as it makes them consider that this advertising is being deliberately used - breaks the narrative. If done in a film obviously it would feel unrealistic and ineffective in maintaining the audiences attention)
• Effects/visual trickery in sync with music - breaks continuity (convention)
• Close ups/raise profile - make them seem more important 
• Erotic camera work - high angle = cleavage 
• Series of stills/jump cuts
• Sausage roll prop = phallic - (code when sausage roll is thrown out of the window it may reflect throwing away men)
• Characters of narrative join in (convention)