APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video [Year]

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.
Film Title: Downtown Train. Release Date: 1991. Genre: Classic Rock.
Lyrics:
Outside another yellow moon
has punched a hole in the night time mist
I climb through the window and down to the street
I'm shining like a new dime
The downtown trains are full
full of all them Brooklyn girls
They try so hard to break out of their little worlds
You wave your hand and they scatter like crows
They have nothing that'll ever capture your heart
They're just thorns without the rose
Be careful of them in the dark
Oh if I was the one you chose to be your only one
Oh baby can't you hear me now, can't you hear me now
Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Every night, every night its just the same
On a downtown train
I know your window and I know its late
I know your stairs and your doorway
I walk down your street and past your gate
I stand by the light of the four way
and watch them as they fall, oh baby
They all having their heart attacks
They stay at the carnival
But they'll never win you back
Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Every night, every night its just the same
You leave me lonely
Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
All my dreams, all my dreams fall like rain
On a downtown train
Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Every night, every night its just the same
Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
All my dreams, all my dreams fall like rain
On a downtown train
On a downtown train
All my dreams fall like rain
On a downtown train
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video [Year]


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

Briefly describe the content of the music video.

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 (denotation) Reason for use; connotations or effect
Black and White filter whilst portraying the
narrative
To show that the music video is a mix rather than just a performance
video.
The video is shot in low key lighting
throughout


This signifies that it is night time when the narrative and
performance takes place and sets a downbeat mood for the music to
be played
Rod Stewarts hair is stuck up in the way he is
known for doing it

This iconic style makes it known to an audience that this is the real
deal and not just a cover of the song.
The expression on the singers face is fairly
melancholic
This is representative of the mood set by the song as it is quite dull
and does not incorporate a happy, jolly style in any way.
Because the performance is filmed at night yet the narrative is filmed
during the day with a black and white filter means that the narrative
was a lighter colour
The contrast between the colours connotes the difference in the
lives of the two. It suggests that Rods life is darker than the girls.
Maybe it refers to the narrative that the protagonist cannot live
without this girl.
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video [Year]


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
In the performance section of the video,
there is a part which shows Rod in the
foreground with an unfocused bandmates
and city of Chicago in the background

The focus of the video helps to further increase the prominence of the
artist as it suggests he is the most important feature of the shot at this
time, allowing people to focus on him more
There are around 5 master shots in the music
video

These master shots allow the video to cut back to the performance
side to a video rather than letting the whole video become a
narrative.
The high angle shot of the train driving on the bridge is used 3-4 times
in the video
The repetition of the shot suggests that the train journey happens
every day for the protagonist involved and that it is always a
disappointment (as heard in the song).
The eye level shot is used in every master shot looking at Rod. When this is used, we, as an audience, feel as though he is a normal
everyday person in the video just like us.
The shot type when looking at Rod is often still and never shaky;
however when in the narrative,
the camera is almost never still
and always shaky.
This element could portray a busy life for the girl and a quiet life for
the male protagonist, it could, however, just show whether the video
is in the performance aspect or the narrative aspect.


APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video [Year]

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

Elements used in the research text Reason for use; connotations or effect
Cuts are used to transition between the narrative and performance

These cuts not only allow the transition between narrative and
performance but also allow the characters to be shot in different
locations after the next transition has finished.
There are a couple of jump cuts where we see rod in a different
location one after another.
The reason for this is because the camera changes the angle in which
we see Rod, this is due to the video having to keep in time with the
sound so that when the beat changes, so does the shot.
The narrative element in the video are always slow motion

Its as though the editing is portraying how long the protagonist has
to wait to see this girl in the narrative and how slow it is coming
around.
Fast paced and slow paced cuts are used quite frequently in the
video
The way that these cuts are faster when the chorus is played allows
the music to play parallel to the visual aids rather than contrapuntal.
This is further backed up when the slower verses are played; the
pace of cutting slows down again. This is used to set the tone at each
of the different parts of the song

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

Elements used in the research text Purpose of the construction; effect on spectator
Narrative is linear, girl gets on a train to travel to her boyfriend



The reason for a linear narrative is to make it much easier for an
audience to understand the story behind the song


APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video [Year]











Audience Response

Themes what themes are communicated in the text? What tone or atmosphere is communicated? How is the audience meant to respond
to the text emotionally and intellectually?
The colour is dull and darker than other videos.

Through this, a dull atmosphere is created to an audience. It is
representative of what Rod Stewart is singing about as it is a
depressing song.
The smoke used in the background of the train station

The use of the smoke was to set a mysterious theme. Its as though
we are told we know nothing of this character. This thought is
further proven as the smoke has decreased towards the end of the
song, suggesting we learn a little about his life throughout the song.
In the narrative, we see that a man is presented from a low angle
point of view of the female on the train

This shot could be taken from a gender inequality point of view. This
is due to the fact that there was still gender equality problems going
on in the world at this time as well. Therefore this shot could portray
that women are inferior to men, depending on who views the video.
APP: Codes and Conventions Research: Music Video [Year]

The close up shot of a sign that says Downtown train that is repeated
at the start and the end of the song.



These shots can connote the theme of repetition to an audience. It
portrays that nothing changes no matter how much time goes by.
We as an audience feel a depressed tone throughout the song based
on the repetition theme and the lighting and colour schemes used.