Codes and Conventions of Indie
Music VideosCristina Shaw
About Indie Music Videos• 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
Sub Genres• Rock• Folk• Electronic• Hip hop• Pop• Dance
“Hipsters”• “Hipster refers to 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 non-mainstream 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))
Mise En Scene
C• Summery• A character's costume• “Hipster” style clothing• Often depends on the
individual style of the band and the video itself
Costumes in General
• Common for men to have a chequered shirt and plain trousers
• Casual appearance• Usually unstyled/messy hair• No accessories• Quite plain
Costumes - Males
Costumes - FemalesHead:• 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.
• No voyeurism or sexualisation of the female body
• Usually quite stylish• Flattering or comfortable
looking clothing• Quite a few wrist
accessories.
Costumes - Females
Props• Acoustic guitar• Microphone• Other instruments• Usually depends on the
video• Usually a simple use of
props• Random objects
Setting• Outside and surrounded by
nature• Festivals• Parties• Somewhere obscure and
unusual• The middle of nowhere
(commonly a desert area)• Fields or forests
Lighting• Most indie music 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.
Colours• Usually sticks to 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.
Other Mise En Scene• 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.
Popular Shots• They feature a lot of
water
• Lots of shots of feet and shoes
Camera Angles, Shots and
Movement
Shots• Lots of close-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.
• Long shotsShots
Shots I like
Angles• Angles don’t seem 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.
Movement• Hand held camera. 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.
Editing
Editing• Usually quite simple 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
Animated• If it's animated 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.