Genre Analysis for my Advanced Portfolio

1. Things We Lost In The Fire by Bastille – Indie Rock/Pop
Use of Camera -close-ups make the audience feel uncomfortable
-long shots connote the amount of people affected by the
problem they are discussing
Pace and Rhythm
of Editing
-fits pace of song, for example people running fits beat of drum
-made to feel as though it is in slow motion because Dan’s
singing is dragged out
Genre Ingredients -performance is common in this genre and Dan, the lead singer
of Bastille, is singing the lyrics in the video
-a number of videos in this genre appear to have dogs which
could connote to something about the expectations of their
music
-videos are generally quite dark to connote a dark mood to the
feelings of the song, this is counteracted by the pearly white
smile, pale dress, pale skin and blonde hair of the female lead;
a scene of bright daylight is also used to connote a lighter
mood and create a juxtaposition
Audience and Text -female character is being idealised because she is the only
female in the video and therefore the female audience can
relate to her
-audience can feel empathy towards the characters because
their facial expressions are pained
Type of Video -hybrid of performance and narrative
-disjuncture
-illustrative
Video and Lyrics -video is showing distress of a community after an event such
as a fire
-fire is seen as being a very prominent red/orange colour which
is used to juxtapose pale colours, the video has a section where
blood is used in a deep red to signify the lyrics
Secret Crowds by Angels and Airwaves - Alternative Rock
Use of Camera -tracking shots show the importance of the main singer
-lots of motion/jumping in camera movement relates to the
pace and rhythm by creating a certain mood for the song
Pace and Rhythm
of Editing
-fits in with regular rhythm of the song
-contrasts rhythm at some points by creating a new rhythm
Genre Ingredients -performance is common in this genre and the band are all
performing the song in a variety of places
-a number of videos in this genre appear to have dogs which
could connote to something about the expectations of their
music
-it is common for the alternative rock genre to be associated
with darkness and many of the scenes are very lowly lit to fit in
with this
Audience and Text -crowd at gig are having fun so signifies that audience should

2. also be having fun
-crowds following singer create almost a pack environment and
therefore connote to the audience that they should want to
follow him too
Type of Video -hybrid of performance and narrative
-disjuncture
-illustrative
Video and Lyrics -lyric of ‘secret crowds’ is common as it is the title of the song
and it is rare for any people in the shot to appear isolated as
they are commonly shown in a crowd environment
-the video doesn’t really depict the narrative and is therefore
disjuncture because it isn’t telling the story of the lyrics
The Mixed Tape by Jack’s Mannequin - Alternative Rock
Use of Camera -tracking shots show the importance of the main singer
-low angle shots connote the character of Peyton Sawyer to be
the most important
Pace and Rhythm
of Editing
-montage edit connotes the lifestyle of this artist as being
haphazard
-singer walking while he sings allows the pace of the song to be
challenged
Genre Ingredients -performance is common in this genre and the band are all
performing the song at a gig to connote that that is something
they enjoy as well as the lead singer singing it walking down
the road to connote that it is something which comes naturally
to him
Audience and Text -crowd at gig are having fun so signifies that audience should
also be having fun
-paint throwing is also generally seen as a fun event and
therefroe can connote that the audience should be having a
fun time
-the character of Peyton Sawyer looks very troubled and
therefore the audience can feel empathetic/sympathetic
towards her
Type of Video -hybrid of performance and narrative
-disjuncture
-illustrative
Video and Lyrics -song slows down as the video and lyrics slowly come to their
natural end
-prop of mixed tape itself fits in with the lyrics of the song, the
idea that the face of Jack’s Mannequin gave her this mixed
tape and as well that he is singing the song to her specifically
-the song is about not being able to reach out to the person
that you are in love with and through the use of high key
lighting, you are able to infer that love is a beautiful thing
which is not something which is commonly done in love songs
as they normally portray it as being dark and sad

3. Why You Wanna by Jana Kramer – Country/Acoustic
Use of Camera -tracking shots show the importance of the singer
-long shot shows singer and love interest alone in the country
connoting that they are isolated and alone although they are
together
Pace and Rhythm
of Editing
-cycling speed fits in with pace/beat of song
-love songs are generally quite slow in order to connote the
feeling of the world and time stopping while you are in love
Genre Ingredients -genre is generally a love story and therefore the lyrics of the
song and content of the video itself fit to the idea of a love
story
-country music is often about a singer with their guitar and this
video contrasts that idea because the artist is only singing
rather than playing her instruments
Audience and Text -audience are able to relate to the singer in this story, maybe
feeling sympathetic due to her crying, and therefore can feel
an emotional connection with the song
-appearance/costume/looks of singer and love interest are
used as being desirable and therefore the audience can want to
either ‘be them or be with them’
Type of Video -hybrid of performance and narrative
-illustrative
Video and Lyrics -music video is illustrating the lyrics of her love story as she
reflects on and reminisces on the things which happened
between her and the male lead
-in the video she is crying, which links to the idea that she is
greatly upset by the thought of the love which has now passed
Carried Away by Passion Pit – Alternative/Indie Pop
Use of Camera -two shots frame the couple as being an item
-some handheld camera shots connote reality
-crosscutting creates a relationship between the two
characters
-low angle shot looking up to Sophia Bush’s character connotes
he looks up to her because he loves her
Pace and Rhythm
of Editing
-upbeat rhythm connotes that they have a hectic lifestyle and
that it is affecting their relationship
-very clever use of technology has been enforced in order to
create the use of their words taking over their lives and the
things such as Michael Angelakos’ character catching a man in
a red cup and then throwing him out
-montage edit connotes that their world is so fast and hectic
and it is affecting their relationship
Genre Ingredients -genre is commonly a love story and therefore the lyrics of the
song and content of the video itself fit to the idea of a love

4. story
-doesn’t fit in with stereotypes of genre because the lighting is
generally quite bright which connotes happiness when the
things happening in the song are actually quite negative and
therefore the video is contrapuntal to its lighting; at the end of
the video, the lighting is at its dimmest which connotes that
their relationship has reached its darkest point
Audience and Text -use of subtitles tells the audience what the characters are
feeling and therefore connotes that they can be related to
-video signifies a message to the audience that they need to be
careful of what they say because in the end their words can
come back to haunt them and could potentially envelope a
whole room
Type of Video -narrative
-illustrative
-no narrative which is unconventional of the genre
-one line of performance when the couple are walking and
when the male lead is ‘fishing’ which connotes it as being the
most important line, also the title of the song “I get carried
away”
Video and Lyrics -music video is illustrating the mood and emotion of their love
story
-in the video she is crying, which links to the idea that she is
greatly upset by the thought of the love which has now passed