Typical Codes And Conventions Of Alternative Folk Rock Music Videos

Location

Locations of alternative/folk rock music videos are typically set in a sub-urban area such as empty streets, countrysides and vast open spaces. This is because these areas are out of the way of busy cities, reflecting how the music genre is out of the way of the mainstream culture. It is very unusual to see a alternative/folk rock artist in a recording studio.

Cinematography

Various shot types are used within alternative/folk rock music videos. There are usually (extreme) close up, mid and long shots of the artist/band playing instruments as well as their faces. These types of shots are used to portray the genre. For example, long shots allows the audience to see the mise-en-scene (costume and props) of the artist.

Conventional camera movements include tilts, pans, zooms and tracking, all of which keep the audience engaged throughout the video as some may not have a narrative and editing (depending on the speed of the song).

Narratives

Narratives alternative/folk rock artists tend to use are about moving on. For example, Frank Turner's 'The Way I Tend to Be' shows him developing as a person. The narrative reflects the lyrics by him digging a hole in which he will 'bury himself'.

However, not all alternative/folk rock artists use a narrative in their videos to tell a story or make it relate to the lyrics. Newton Faulkner is a prime example of this as most of his video are quite random and don't make much sense.