Genre Conventions - Alternative Rock
I Wanna Be Yours is an alternative rock song.
Alternative rock, sometimes referred to as alt-rock, alternative music, or just alternative, is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the 1970s independent music underground and gained widespread popularity in the 1990s. The term "alternative" describes how this genre differs from popular or mainstream rock or pop music. The term's original definition was more inclusive, referring to performers who were impacted by the independent, do-it-yourself mentality or punk rock movement of the late 1970s.
Modern popular alternative rock bands emphasize keyboards and guitars while fusing aspects of punk, hard rock, electronica, hip-hop, and indie music.
Some of the famous bands that are known for their alternative rock pieces are: Nirvana, Radiohead, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Young the Giant.
To have my music video stays relevant with the modern expectations of the audience of this specific genre, I decided to look through a variety of contemporary alternative rock music videos (from 2000s to recent years).
CONVENTIONS OF ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC VIDEOS:
Black and white: the utilization of black and white cinematography is a distinctive characteristic within the realm of indie (independent) video production, a genre that traces its roots to alternative rock.
Performance-based: alternative rock music videos prominently feature live performances, often showcasing artists engaged in playing instruments, typically electric guitars and drums. In the early 2000s, indie bands frequently presented performances devoid of conceptual or narrative elements.
Close-ups: employing close-up shots is a deliberate strategy to establish a more personal connection with the audience, allowing for a clear and detailed portrayal of the artist's facial expressions.
Extreme wide-shots: aligned with the performance-centric nature, extreme wide shots serve to highlight the band's stage presence. Additionally, these shots provide a backdrop view, setting the mood for the audience.
Modest costuming: attire in these videos tends towards simplicity and casualness, eschewing flamboyance to ensure the audience's primary focus remains on the music. This minimalist approach is a prevalent choice among many bands.
Instrumentation and props: heavy-metal instruments, such as guitars, amps, and drums, are commonly featured as props in these videos, complementing the overall aesthetic.
Historically, old alternative rock music videos leaned heavily towards performance and lacked a narrative structure. However, in the 2010s, a major shift occurred, with videos increasingly incorporating narratives. This transformation aimed to establish a more relatable and personal connection with the audience, resonating with the growing societal awareness of mental health issues. Consequently, contemporary alternative rock music videos often strike a balance between performance and narrative elements, exemplified by works like "Spirits" by The Strumbellas.
Notably, the absence of instrumental performance is a conspicuous departure, with the focus solely on the singer's lip-syncing to the lyrics. While the video lacks a discernible narrative, the emotional resonance is effectively conveyed through the singer's expressions, accentuated by a variety of close-up shots.
The strategic use of zoom-outs from close-ups to wider shots serves a dual purpose: showcasing the background and gradually immersing the audience in the mood and ambiance of the music video. Instances of the main character lying on the streets, indicative of deep contemplation, contribute to the subtle narrative cues. Complementary zoom-ins shift focus to the main character, amplifying the personal and emotive elements.
Adhering to minimalist conventions, the main character's attire is deliberately simple, a deliberate choice to ensure that audience attention remains centered on the music. The color palette, predominantly cool-toned or filtered to a subdued hue, serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it conveys a sense of isolation for the character, and secondly, it accentuates the rock instrumental elements in the background—traditionally associated with hardness and metal.
The decision to draw inspiration from the sentimental ambiance of Chasing Cars is rooted in its ability to evoke emotions, transcending the confines of the alternative rock genre. This video underscores a departure from the stereotypical perception of alternative rock music videos, challenging the notion that such productions must be exclusively performance-based, featuring hard metal instruments and artists adorned in a harsh punk aesthetic.
This black and white music video is an intentional homage to the established conventions of alternative rock music videos, drawing inspiration from the roots of indie and utilizing black and white cinematography. The choice of black and white serves the following purposes: a nod to the indie genre's origins and a means to accentuate the inherent rock elements within the musical composition.
The main characters in the video are distinctively attired, featuring iconic rock music elements such as leather jackets and basic t-shirts. This wardrobe choice matches with the established conventions of the rock genre, reinforcing the thematic coherence of the production.
A notable scene in the music video, occurring at 02:53, captures my attention for its innovative approach. The overlapping of scenes at this juncture creates a compelling visual illusion, introducing an element of surrealism for the audience. This nuanced technique is one that I aspire to incorporate or "steal" for its potential to infuse a sense of unrealism, adding depth and intrigue to the overall viewing experience.
In essence, this music video stands as a testament to the strategic incorporation of established conventions within alternative rock, from its black and white aesthetics to the deliberate choice of attire, all while presenting an opportunity for creative exploration through the adoption of visually engaging techniques like scene overlap.
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