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Codes and conventions of indie music vVdeos
- 1. Codes and Conventions ofIndie Music Videos Cristina Shaw
- 2. About Indie MusicVideos • The majority of indie music videos are a mixture of performance and concept. • Indie music is closely associated with the subculture group “Hipsters”. • Most of the music videos do not make much sense. • They are usually either very simple or very confusing. • There are no plot twists, unless that is the concept of the video. • They tend to be either very happy or very sad (but usually happy). • Some people will watch these an see symbolism and a deeper meaning, even if it’s not intentional. • They can be very pretty and mesmerising
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- 4. “Hipsters” • “Hipster refersto a postmodern subculture of young, urban middle-class adults and older teenagers that first appeared in the 1990s and became particularly prominent in the 2010s, being derived from earlier movements in the 1940s. The subculture is associated with indie music and alternative music, a varied nonmainstream fashion sensibility (including vintage and thrift store clothes), progressive or independent political views, and alternative lifestyles.” - Wikipedia (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_(contemporary_subculture))
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- 6. Costumes C General in • • • • Summery Acharacter's costume “Hipster” style clothing Often depends on the individual style of the band and the video itself
- 7. Costumes - Males •Common for men to have a chequered shirt and plain trousers • Casual appearance • Usually unstyled/messy hair • No accessories • Quite plain
- 8. Costumes - Females Head: •Simplistic makeup • Usually lots of eyeliner on the top lid for females. • Big eyelashes • Usually very natural looking (unless it’s an obscure and unusual video) • Hair is usually worn down.
- 9. Costumes - Females •No voyeurism or sexualisation of the female body • Usually quite stylish • Flattering or comfortable looking clothing • Quite a few wrist accessories.
- 10. Props • • • • Acoustic guitar Microphone Other instruments Usuallydepends on the video • Usually a simple use of props • Random objects
- 11. Setting • Outside andsurrounded by nature • Festivals • Parties • Somewhere obscure and unusual • The middle of nowhere (commonly a desert area) • Fields or forests
- 12. Lighting • Most indiemusic videos usually very bright. • There is a lot of natural light (if inside it’s from windows). • If it’s outside is usually during daytime. • Still quite bright even if it's night. • Sun flare and sunsets.
- 13. Colours • Usually sticksto a theme or a load of colours. • They quite often use very natural colours like green and brown. • Quite a few are filmed in black and white.
- 14. Other Mise EnScene • Most of these videos feel very natural. Has a lot of outside shots. • They don't usually match the lyrics • There is very little voyeurism of males or females • Lots of smiles. They are usually very feel-good videos. • Interaction and talking with other characters. • Quite a lot of the time, obscure things happen.
- 15. Popular Shots • Theyfeature a lot of water • Lots of shots of feet and shoes
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- 17. Shots • Lots ofclose-ups of various objects and instruments playing and close-ups of movements from people • Lots of shots (close-ups) of the lead singer • Looking and singing directly into the camera • Rule of thirds. When looking into the camera, they are in the centre of the shot. Usually fill up most of the shot.
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- 20. Angles • Angles don’tseem to be used that much in indie music videos. When they are used, it’s quite a mixture. • Not really used to show power like most conventional shots. Usually to emphasise and assist the visuals.
- 21. Movement • Hand heldcamera. Quite often used as if the audience is part of a crowd. Gives them the feeling of being there. • Quite a big variety of movement.
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- 23. Editing • Usually quitesimple and cuts to the beat • Plays with colour manipulation. Black and white is popular. • Lots of filters are used. Often to give it a vintage feel or something like a sunset filter • Manipulation of speed, especially slow motion • Everything flows very nicely • Most have minimal special effects
- 24. Animated • If it'sanimated it's usually quite obscure. Usually very simple colours. Stop motion is usually impressive, unusual and amazing. Good feeling. Happy. • But at the same time, creepy and dark. • Beautiful to watch. • Really obscure.