Codes and Conventions of Indie Music Videos Part 1
1. NARRATIVE
Indie music videos often follow a clear narrative. This method of storytelling is used to convey emotion to the audience. Often, the narrative follows the lyrics. The artist or band are included in the music video, either in live performance or included in the narrative. Usually, stories follow a typical Todorov narrative, however most music videos often withhold information from the viewer until the end to provide variation and create enigma.
EXAMPLE: DROP THE GUILLOTINE, PEACH PIT
This music video follows the narrative of a high school play, in which the main character/lead singer plays the role of King Louis XVI. The guillotine is literally dropped in terms of the narrative within the play, but the overarching narrative of the main character's friend 'stealing his crushes' is metaphorically dropping the guillotine on the main character's head. This is an example of a music video where the lyrics influence the narrative, but also a good example of this because of the use of a play to include a second narrative which is also influenced by the lyrics.
2. EDITING
The editing in indie music videos varies a lot, but some of the most common conventions are editing to the beat of the song and the use of black and white to convey a darker mood.
EXAMPLE: WEST COAST, LANA DEL REY
Lana Del Rey's West Coast music video is entirely shot in black and white to fit with the darker lyrics of the song. It is also shot on a beach, typical setting for an indie music video.
3. MISE EN SCENE
Within the indie genre, music videos set in the past are more common, meaning that mise en scene plays an important role in the recognition of the era. Often, vintage props are used (such as a rotary phone or old radio) to convey that the video is not set in the present.
EXAMPLE: IN BLOOM, NIRVANA
This music video parodies the live performances seen on popular variety shows televised in the 60s. The use of an old camera coupled with the costume and the setting creates a believable copy of the real variety shows of this era.
*This post will be continued in Part 2 as I cannot embed more than three videos into this post
Indie music videos often follow a clear narrative. This method of storytelling is used to convey emotion to the audience. Often, the narrative follows the lyrics. The artist or band are included in the music video, either in live performance or included in the narrative. Usually, stories follow a typical Todorov narrative, however most music videos often withhold information from the viewer until the end to provide variation and create enigma.
EXAMPLE: DROP THE GUILLOTINE, PEACH PIT
This music video follows the narrative of a high school play, in which the main character/lead singer plays the role of King Louis XVI. The guillotine is literally dropped in terms of the narrative within the play, but the overarching narrative of the main character's friend 'stealing his crushes' is metaphorically dropping the guillotine on the main character's head. This is an example of a music video where the lyrics influence the narrative, but also a good example of this because of the use of a play to include a second narrative which is also influenced by the lyrics.
2. EDITING
The editing in indie music videos varies a lot, but some of the most common conventions are editing to the beat of the song and the use of black and white to convey a darker mood.
EXAMPLE: WEST COAST, LANA DEL REY
Lana Del Rey's West Coast music video is entirely shot in black and white to fit with the darker lyrics of the song. It is also shot on a beach, typical setting for an indie music video.
3. MISE EN SCENE
Within the indie genre, music videos set in the past are more common, meaning that mise en scene plays an important role in the recognition of the era. Often, vintage props are used (such as a rotary phone or old radio) to convey that the video is not set in the present.
EXAMPLE: IN BLOOM, NIRVANA
This music video parodies the live performances seen on popular variety shows televised in the 60s. The use of an old camera coupled with the costume and the setting creates a believable copy of the real variety shows of this era.
*This post will be continued in Part 2 as I cannot embed more than three videos into this post
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