The document analyzes images of two alt-rock musicians, Jack White and Alex Turner, and discusses how their appearances epitomize the visual style of alt-rock artists. Both images portray the musicians looking relaxed yet confident as they smoke, with Jack White in a leather coat and hat and Alex Turner in a simple black t-shirt and jeans playing guitar on a rooftop, implying their priority is music over image. Their tattoos, clothing, poses, and locations also reflect traits common among alt-rock artists like authenticity, nonconformity, and ties to their roots.

1. In this image of alt-rock music maestro Jack White,
we are presented with a suave, elegant and
established looking man, who appears to be
standing in a very bold yet casual manner; his
posture is relaxed, but he also holds one hand
behind his back in a courteous way, indicating his
confidence and awareness of his status. The image
is in grayscale, but even if it were in colour, there
would be little vibrancy; his hair and facial hair
contrast to his visibly pale skin, which can be
considered a link to the contrast of alt-rock when
compared to other music genres. His leather pea
coat and hat create an image of sincerity due to
their restrictions of the energetic and aggressive
look that his heavy biceps and sharp hair usually
create. along with their dark colours. The look of
disinterest on his face, avoidance of direct address
and casual smoking of a cigarillo may imply his
status; he has his mind on better things, and the
swirling grey smoke of the cigarillo further add to
his image of coolness and maturity. The signet ring
on his finger is a symbol of presence and power,
suggesting that both he and his music are equally as
potent.
This image of Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner
also epitomises the conventional visuals of an altrock artist. He is wearing a simple black t-shirt in
combination with black jeans, showing the
simplicity of costume and priority of music within
the genre’s artists. He is sat playing his guitar upon
a rooftop of a building in Seattle, WA, which was
famed for its intense alt-rock scene. Much like Jack
White in the above image, Alex Turner is looking
away from the camera while enjoying a cigarette,
again implying his nonchalance, status and no
nonsense attitude. The slicked back hair and gentle
stubble further emphasise the image of
nonchalance; he can sit on a rooftop and play his
guitar while others turn up to office jobs clean
shaven. The greyscale colour scheme also seems to
create a retro effect, making Alex Turner gleam like
a young Elvis Presley or Johnny Cash. On his
forearm, we can see a tattoo of a rose with a
banner underneath it reading ‘SHEFFIELD’,
highlighting the artist’s Northern roots. Tattoos are
prevalent among the skin of alt-rock artists and the
subtle one found here is a good example. The guitar
obviously displays the genre, along with the t-shirt
of a famous Californian guitar shop.