rock and folk research

1. Researching Genre on
Acoustic Music
By Joshua Peverell

2. Repertoire of Elements on Acoustic Music
Rock/Folk Music
Guitar
Chilled
Vibe
Musically and
Instrumentally
Talented.
Soulful Voice
Ed Sheeran Good beat
Piano
Gentle
Catchy
Quiet

3. What is Folk/Rock?
• Folk/Rock music goes all the way from acoustic to sutle rock. Most
folk artists are able to play an instrument and is very ntoiceable in
their music.
• Some of the most famous Folk artists are people like Ed Sheeran,
Oasis and Mumford & Sons. These have all gone on to have some of
the most decorated careers in music.
• The music is accosiated as quite a unique and cool genre, as the
artists who conduct it are usually quite ‘out there’ and fashionably
different.

4. Iconography
• A common theme in this genre is that the cover star of the music
magazine is holding an instrument. They do this is to signify the
fact that most of this genre of music involves skilled musicians as
well as artists.
• The costume is quite a serious roadman sort of look. Lots of cool
leather jackets to show the seriousness of the genre of music. The
more softer side of this genre however have street look, like
jumpers and jeans.

5. Iconography
• The facial expressions of most of the cover stars are quite serious.
I think this is to convey the serious nature of the story telling in
the genre. A lot of the shots are the artist in the magazine not
looking directly to the camera this is to show that the genre is a
reflection on the world through music.
• The body language is quite relaxed and has got a chilled vibe
much like the genre itself. But in some of the more rock
orientated folk magazines the body language can be a lot more
serious

6. Typography & Colour
• Typography – the font in a lot of folk magazines is blocky and bold.
A lot of the subtitles are quite fancy with lots of flicks of the
writing. I think this is to express high formality in the genre.
• The colours are quite dark and basic. This is because a lot of the
artists are quite serious male characters and it wouldn’t make
sense to have a bright pink background with Noel Gallagher on the
front!? So a lot of the colours are serious natured (Blacks, reds and
whites).

7. Representations
• Folk/Rock music’s gender is dominantly male, only a few women
fall within this genre. This is because usually the music is quite
serious and this comes under the male stereotype whereas women
are more associated with upbeat, fun pop music as they are seen
as quite wild and irresponsible.
• Again because of the seriousness of the genre the music appeals to
the older generation. This is also because there are few young
people who actually sing this genre of music. The music could be
classed as archaic so hence why the older generation still enjoy it
and the younger generation are less interested.

8. Representations
• Folk/Rock music is unlike most music associated with rock. The
genre is less sexualized and more serious. This is because this genre
of music is about telling a story through a piece of music. But most
other rock based genre’s are all about sex, drugs and violence. Most
folk music carries a moral message so hence why the music is more
serious.
• The music appeals to the more intelligent person. As if you are
intelligent you can admire the thoughtfulness of the songs. This is
because its instrumental so it hasn’t got a loud backing track to
hide the lyrics. The lyrics take centre stage so people who are into
this music like it because of the story telling involved.

9. My reflection
• I think what I have learnt most is about how important stereotypes
are in relation to folk/rock music. It has definitely taught me to
have a male figure on my cover and to dress them in appropriate
attire fot the genre eg. Bomber jackets, jeans etc.
• Also its give me a more concrete lookout on the colours I’m going
to use on my magazine as all the magazines I have looked at have
quite dark colours.
• Finally, I think I’ll have to have an instrument in my cover as it
instantly grabs the attention of my target audience and signifies
my genre Rock and Folk