Alternative rock emerged from the independent music scene of the 1980s. Conventions of alternative rock music videos include using a black and white aesthetic and focusing on performances to seem simplistic. Videos also use extreme close-ups and long shots of bands and locations. Natural, low-key lighting and casual costumes are common to put emphasis on the music. Props usually involve musical instruments and drugs/alcohol are sometimes featured icons. Narratives are rare, instead exploring bands' experiences and stories.

1. Conventions of
alternative rock
music videos

2. Alternative rock background
Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-
rock or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music
that emerged from the independent music
underground of the 1980s and became widely
popular in the 1990s and 2000s.
Alternative rock is associated with quite a few big
name bands ranging from classics like Nirvana to
current day bands like imagine dragons and 21 pilots

3. Black and white
The black and white aspect of an indie
video makes it seem simplistic suggesting it
goes back to the roots of indie
(independent) and that there are no
gimmicks involved just the music.
Performance based
The music video features the band
throughout which is typical of an indie
band as they aren't usually narrative or
concept based. This also helps the
simplistic feel as there is just the music and
the band.

4. Extreme close-ups and
longshots
 Extreme close-ups are used
to create a star image and
make the song seem more
personal as he is singing
directly to your face.
 extreme longshots are used
to show off the band and
the location and helps set
the scene and add to the
mood of the song.

5. Lighting in alternative rock
 Natural, low-key lighting is used to give a
very natural theme to the music video this
was established as alternative rock videos
were often done on low budgets so
naturally adopted a very natural and
untouched appearance. For example in
panic at the disco’s this is gospel.

6. Costumes in an alternative
rock music video
 The costumes tend to be very basic and
casual as it refers back to the minimalistic
approach most alternative rock bands go
for to put the focus mainly on the music.

7. Props in alternative rock
music videos
 The props tend to focus mainly on musical
equipment such as guitars, amps, drum-
kits microphones as the main focus of
most alternative rock music videos is
mainly on the music and the technicality
of it.

8. The iconography of
alternative rock music
videos
 The main iconography used in alternative
rock is the band themselves and their
image as each band has an iconic sound
and look also the majority of the music
video features the band. Furthermore
some props like drugs and alcohol are
very iconic to the genre as well as many
bands are seen to be involved with these.

9. Themes and narratives
featured in alternative rock
 Hardly any alternative rock videos are
narrative based however some are based
on true events and stories from the past
usually entailing iconic props like alcohol
and drugs. The key themes featured in
alternative rock music videos are
predominantly the band and their
experiences either in the past or in the
process of creating the music video.

10. Themes and narratives
featured in alternative rock
 Hardly any alternative rock videos are
narrative based however some are based
on true events and stories from the past
usually entailing iconic props like alcohol
and drugs. The key themes featured in
alternative rock music videos are
predominantly the band and their
experiences either in the past or in the
process of creating the music video.