This document discusses the codes and conventions of folk and indie music genres. It describes the typical instruments used, including acoustic guitars, violins, banjos, double bass and piano. The dress code is natural, casual clothing that matches the setting, sometimes more formal like buttoned shirts and waistcoats, with women often wearing dresses. Videos for this genre commonly feature washed out, faded colors with little artificial lighting, nature scenes, close ups of artists and instruments, cuts that change with the song's pace, and a narrative story that fades to black.

1. Code and conventions
Erin Kennedy

2. Instruments
 Acoustic guitars
 Violins
 Banjos
 Double bass
 Piano

3. Dress code
 Natural clothing
 Dress to match their setting
 Occasionally formal dress – buttoned shirts, waist
coats.
 Woman tend to wear dresses
 Has become more modern – leather jackets and
more modern clothing.

4. Other codes and conventions
 Most of the men have beards or saggy hair – do
not go for perfection.
 Ambient lighting – calm, relaxed, related to the
theme of the music
 Outside photo shoots, vintage, soft lighting

5. Videos
 Washed out/faded colours, little artificial lighting.
 Instruments related to the genre
 Nature
 Close up of artists
 Instrument playing
 Cuts change depending on pace of the song
 Strong narrative to the video
 Fade to black

6. Examples: Bon Iver - Holocene
+ Many of Bon Iver’s videos contain
naturalistic settings. In this video, we
see a young boy travelling , we see lots
of different settings and places.
+ It has a main narrative – following the boy
on his travels.
+ Natural lighting.
+ Natural and plain clothing, fits the
surroundings.
+ Fades to black
+ The instruments in the song fit the genre.
- Does not show the artist/band.
- Does not have clips of the instruments
being played.

7. Examples: William
Fitzsimmons – Fortune
+ Naturalistic settings.
+ Natural light.
+ Close of artist
+ Close up/scenes of the instrument.
+ Instrument fits with the genre.
+ Fades to black.
+ Narrative – follows a group of friends on an
adventure/having fun – fortune found in their
friends.
+ Natural clothing - plain

8. Examples: Gabrielle Aplin –
please don’t say you love me
+ Close up of the artist.
+ Nature settings.
+ A narrative – girl and guy on a trip,
some struggles, she doesn’t want to
ruin it.
+ Natural lighting.
+ Fade to black.
+ Instruments in the song fit with the
genre.
- No clips of instruments being played.
• More modern clothing.