This document summarizes key elements of indie rock music videos, including a focus on live performance over narrative to emphasize the music, the use of mise-en-scene and unique fashion styles to develop artistic personas, and editing techniques like filters, shot types, and cut pacing to set mood and draw attention to the music.

1. Research into Codes and
Conventions of Indie-Rock Music
Videos
By Jason Newall

2. Performance
• It’s common in Indie music videos for the band shots to be a live
performance. This helps focus on them as a performer doing what they
love to do rather than an actor in a music video, sustaining their
musicianship. It also helps keep the focus on the actual music itself.
• This is typical in the Indie-Rock genre as the genre itself was more about
the music and passion rather than about the success of the artist and how
much money and popularity they have, this can be compared with bands
such as One Direction and The Wanted today.
• If a narrative is included, which it is a lot, artists tend to use a mixture of
performance and narrative in the music videos. It also allows Indie artists
to compete with artists of other genres who do narrative videos that are
heavily based around a story to make it memorable rather than the music
itself.

3. Narrative
• Narrative in music videos is used to tell a story by using a sequence of images and
videos to relate to the song. This is done in such a way that it makes sense to the
audience so they can follow and link it to the lyrics and relate it to their every day
lives. This links with Goodwin’s theory of illustration and amplification. It also
shows an alternative view and story to your own which would be created when
listening to a song.
• Narrative videos also keep peoples attention better in comparison to
performance as what you are seeing is always changing and keeps you
entertained. Even people who are not necessarily a fan of their music may still
still be drawn in and enjoy the video so this method could help gain success and
status. For example, Gangnam Style, everyone liked the song because of the
dance moves in the music video.
• There are a lot of different variations and there is a lot of room for creativity
which can leave the video very memorable to the audience.

4. Mise-en-Scene
• Mise-en-Scene plays a big role in music videos of all genre's and especially
in the Indie genre. This is because a lot of Indie artists often have a unique,
particular look due to non-conformity or individualism and this can be
created through the set they use, props and costume.
• Makeup is also important if the artist is male or female as it can give us an
indication as to which era the video is set in. For example, Paloma Faith has
very subtle makeup in her videos with a pale face and red lipstick, this
suggests that her music and music videos are supposed to be similar to the
50s.
• Indie artists tend to have a particular fashion sense, such as using a layering
technique; wearing graphic tees under a plaid oversized open shirt.
Preferring to wear skinny jeans, large shirts and canvas shoes etc.

5. Camera
• Full length shots are commonly used to show the setting of the video and
also give us a clear video of the artists and their outfits. This is important as
a lot of artists are seen as fashion icons showing off the elements of Mise-
en-Scene previously mentioned. Establishing shots are used as the
location/setting needs to be seen as it will help the audience understand
the message behind the video.
• Crane shots are mainly used in performances as it allows the audience to
see the artist from many different angles and it also helps them focus on
them throughout the video.
• In music videos, extreme close-ups are the most common shots used as
they introduce the audience to the artist. It may be done to amplify what
they are singing showing the lip-syncing or may be to show the emotion
they are trying to express to the audience through their facial expressions;
allowing the artist to connect with the audience physically.

6. Editing
• A lot of music videos rely on the editing to make it successful,
especially in the indie genre to give and old fashioned and vintage
look. Meaning filters are commonly used, such as monochrome black
and white or sepia to make it seem more rustic and raw.
• Fast and slow cuts between shots often reflect the pace of the music.
This helps create the atmosphere of the music video and set the
mood. Transitions are rarely used in Indie-Rock music as it may attract
audience away from the music.