Codes and Conventions of Indie

Music VideosCristina Shaw

About Indie Music Videos• The majority of indie music videos are a mixture of

performance and concept.• Indie music is closely associated with the subculture group

“Hipsters”. • Most of the music videos do not make much sense.• They are usually either very simple or very confusing.• There are no plot twists, unless that is the concept of the video.• They tend to be either very happy or very sad (but usually

happy).• Some people will watch these an see symbolism and a deeper

meaning, even if it’s not intentional.• They can be very pretty and mesmerising

Sub Genres• Rock• Folk• Electronic• Hip hop• Pop• Dance

“Hipsters”• “Hipster refers to a postmodern subculture of young,

urban middle-class adults and older teenagers that first appeared in the 1990s and became particularly prominent in the 2010s, being derived from earlier movements in the 1940s. The subculture is associated with indie music and alternative music, a varied non-mainstream fashion sensibility (including vintage and thrift store clothes), progressive or independent political views, and alternative lifestyles.”

- Wikipedia (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_(contemporary_subculture))

Mise En Scene

C• Summery• A character's costume• “Hipster” style clothing• Often depends on the

individual style of the band and the video itself

Costumes in General

• Common for men to have a chequered shirt and plain trousers

• Casual appearance• Usually unstyled/messy hair• No accessories• Quite plain

Costumes - Males

Costumes - FemalesHead:• Simplistic makeup• Usually lots of eyeliner on

the top lid for females.• Big eyelashes• Usually very natural

looking (unless it’s an obscure and unusual video)

• Hair is usually worn down.

• No voyeurism or sexualisation of the female body

• Usually quite stylish• Flattering or comfortable

looking clothing• Quite a few wrist

accessories.

Costumes - Females

Props• Acoustic guitar• Microphone• Other instruments• Usually depends on the

video• Usually a simple use of

props• Random objects

Setting• Outside and surrounded by

nature• Festivals• Parties• Somewhere obscure and

unusual• The middle of nowhere

(commonly a desert area)• Fields or forests

Lighting• Most indie music videos usually very bright. • There is a lot of natural light (if inside it’s from

windows). • If it’s outside is usually during daytime. • Still quite bright even if it's night. • Sun flare and sunsets.

Colours• Usually sticks to a theme or a load of colours.• They quite often use very natural colours like green

and brown.• Quite a few are filmed in black and white.

Other Mise En Scene• Most of these videos feel very

natural. Has a lot of outside shots.• They don't usually match the lyrics • There is very little voyeurism of

males or females• Lots of smiles. They are usually

very feel-good videos.• Interaction and talking with other

characters.• Quite a lot of the time, obscure

things happen.

Popular Shots• They feature a lot of

water

• Lots of shots of feet and shoes

Camera Angles, Shots and

Movement

Shots• Lots of close-ups of various

objects and instruments playing and close-ups of movements from people

• Lots of shots (close-ups) of the lead singer

• Looking and singing directly into the camera

• Rule of thirds. When looking into the camera, they are in the centre of the shot. Usually fill up most of the shot.

• Long shotsShots

Shots I like

Angles• Angles don’t seem to be used that much in indie

music videos. When they are used, it’s quite a mixture.

• Not really used to show power like most conventional shots. Usually to emphasise and assist the visuals.

Movement• Hand held camera. Quite often used as if the

audience is part of a crowd. Gives them the feeling of being there.

• Quite a big variety of movement.

Editing

Editing• Usually quite simple and cuts to the beat• Plays with colour manipulation. Black and white is

popular.• Lots of filters are used. Often to give it a vintage feel

or something like a sunset filter• Manipulation of speed, especially slow motion• Everything flows very nicely• Most have minimal special effects

Animated• If it's animated it's usually quite obscure. Usually

very simple colours. Stop motion is usually impressive, unusual and amazing. Good feeling. Happy.

• But at the same time, creepy and dark.• Beautiful to watch.• Really obscure.