The document discusses how a media project uses conventions of the pop-rock genre while also challenging some conventions. It analyzes conventions like relationships, drugs/alcohol, and performance shots that are common in pop-rock music videos. The author's music video includes these conventions through a storyline about a relationship with themes of love, sex, crime and black and white cinematography. However, it challenges expectations by having a happier ending than typical pop-rock videos. Overall, the project aims to represent the genre accurately while adding creative twists.

1. Evaluation Question 1:
In What Ways Do Your Media
Products USE, DEVELOP or
CHALLENGE the FORMS and
CONVENTIONS of Real Media
Products?
By Jessica Howie

2. Introduction
 For my music video, I chose to use the song ‘You’ by The 1975. The 1975 are
an English pop-rock band, therefore my media products have to include
conventions of the pop-rock genre, in order to be authentic. Through my
research and analysis of this genre, I have found a variety of conventions.

3. The Pop-Rock Genre
 Pop-rock is an alternative genre, separate from mainstream pop music. Due
to this pop-rock music follows specific themes such as relationships,
depression and crime.
 Some key conventions of pop-rock music videos are:
 Violence & Weapons
 Vehicles & Travel
 Drugs & Alcohol
 Love & Sex
 Black & White
 Nature & Aesthetic Shots
 Performance & Instruments
 Money & Crime
‘ILYSB’ by LANY
‘Sweater Weather’ by
The Neighbourhood
‘Robbers’ by The 1975

4.  Some bands tend to use the themes and conventions within their music
videos, in their print products as well. This way a clear link is made between
the band’s songs, music videos and print products. This allows the audience to
recognise products by the band.
 Pop-rock bands tend to consist of a lead singer and several members who play
instruments. Unlike some manufactured pop groups, pop-rock bands tend to
have come together on their own, before signing with a label.
 Performance shots within pop-rock music videos are a lot more common, than
in pop music videos.
‘Girls’ by The 1975
‘Hard Times’ by Paramore
‘The Sound’ by The 1975
‘I Like It When You Sleep because
You Are So Beautiful Yet So
Unaware of It’ Album by The 1975

5. My Pop-Rock Conventions
 Within my media products, I have attempted to recreate these stereotypical
pop-rock conventions.
 The narrative in my music video, follows the story of a struggling relationship
after the girlfriend has an affair. This perpetrates the pop-rock themes of
relationships and depression but towards the end of the music video, some
themes of crime are also conveyed.
 I used several common pop-rock conventions, such as:
 Love & Sex
 Nature & Aesthetic Shots
 Violence & Crime
 Black & White
 Performance Shots

6.  Similar to other pop-rock artists, I used the editing style of black and white as
part of my Mise-en-Scene. I also used this style within my print products, to
show a clear link between all three of my products, similar to bands such as
The 1975 and The Neighbourhood.
 I have created a band called ‘The HeartHeads’, containing: a lead singer,
guitarist and drummer, who all feature on my print products. However, the
leader singer features and stars in my music video. This is similar to The
1975’s ‘Somebody Else’, following the stereotypical conventions of the pop-
rock genre.

7. Pop-Rock Conventions I have Challenged
 In order to be creative, I have also challenged the stereotypical pop-rock
conventions in my products.
 Music videos of my genre, tend to follow a challenging narrative, which often
has a depressing ending.
 However, my music video features the main character beating his girlfriend’s
ex-lover (which follows stereotypical themes of crime), before they make up
and run away together. This connotes an alternative ending to a ‘happy ever
after’, and flouting the stereotypical negative convention of pop-rock music
videos.

8. How my Music Video has Represented
Theory
 Within my music video, I have used several of Andrew Goodwin’s points in his
6 Features of Music Video theory.
 His first point ‘Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics’ is clearly seen
within my products, as I used several key conventions of the pop-rock genre.
 My work also follows his ‘There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals.
The lyrics are represented by images.’ After analysing my lyrics, I was able to
portray them clearly through my music video. For example, the line ‘You’re a
liar’ is portrayed in my narrative, as the girlfriend cheats on the protagonist.
 Also, his point ‘There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone
and atmosphere of the visuals reflects the music’ is shown within my music
video, as the transitions and movement of my shots match to the pace of the
music.

9. Conclusion
 In conclusion, through my music video and print products, I have used
stereotypical pop-rock conventions. By conveying themes of sex,
relationships, depression and crime, and using mise-en-scene such as: black
and white editing, violence, nature, casual clothes etc and creating a
stereotypical pop-rock band. However, I have challenged some conventions by
creating a happy, alternative ending to my music video.