1. Genre conventions
Brandon Dodsworth

2. Forms
An Indie Rock video can primarily and conventionally
take either one of two forms.
• Performance based narrative (many of Arctic
Monkeys videos, including ‘I Bet You Look Good On
The Dance floor’)
or
• Abstract and narrative focused with no performance
element (most of Bastille’s music videos, including
‘Overjoyed’ and ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’)
Although many indie rock videos feature a good
balance of both elements.

3. Screen shots taken of
the video for ‘I Bet You
Look Good On The
Dance Floor by Arctic
Monkeys, which is solely
focused around one
narrative of the
performance element.
Performance narrative
Abstract narrative
Screenshots taken from ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’ by Bastille. A more
abstract, story-based choice of path for an indie rock music video.

4. Conventions of the genre Cinematography
Many close-up shots, mainly of the main artist or lead singer.
The audience came to the video to see the main singer and this is what
the cinematography delivers, such as the beginning and end of the
music video for ‘Pompeii’ by Bastille.
Tracking shots
Shaky tracking camera shots are used most often to a frantic, faster beat
during a narrative video, whereas steadicam tracking is used on a slower
or more performance based video to show the band.
Panning
Panning across the main character or an environment to establish
location is commonly found near the beginning of the video.
Depth of field shots
These are used by only keeping the main subject in focus whilst blurring
things that are in the foreground, or background. This type of shot is also
used in the video for ‘Pompeii’ by Bastille which I have analysed.

5. Conventions of genre - Editing
Fast, straight jump cuts
In the Indie Rock genre there are only straight cuts and as far as I
have seen. There are no other techniques or effects (such as fades)
used to transition from shot to shot in the majority of music videos
of this genre. Cuts are often matched to the timing of the beat.
Blurring, distortion and animated effects
In the Arctic Monkeys music video for ‘Why’d
You Only Call Me When You’re High’ there
are many shots that are blurred, distorted
and animated to show the vision of the main
character whilst he is drunk. This can be
found in other music videos of this genre
also.

6. Conventions of genre - Sound
Diegetic sound
The diegetic sound of people talking in a bar, or sirens on
a city street, or even the wind blowing to open up a song
is conventional to indie rock. Sometimes the sound even
overlaps onto the opening of the song, as well as during.
These techniques can be found in videos such as
‘Overjoyed’ by Bastille, as well as the Arctic Monkeys
song I previously mentioned.
Sound co-ordinating with editing
Jump cuts to the beat of the song is key to indie rock, as
well as other genre of music video.

7. Conventions of genre
– Mise en scene
Genre conventional costume
Costume mainly consistent of denim, skinny jeans,
leather jackets, denim jackets, plain black t shirts, plain
white t shirts, printed graphic tees and jumpers.
Genre conventional locations
Locations that are more tendered to Indie Rock include
places such as large cities, city streets, bars, rural areas
such forests and the interior of buildings like small
apartments and abandoned shops. For performance
based videos a stage is also conventional of course. Indie
rock videos are more catered to realism, and a space ship
lets say, would not be a conventional location.