Music Genre

Comparison
BY TOBIAS PUGSLEY
Indie Folk Acoustic (Keep your head up by Ben
Howard)
for this genre i have chosen to use the video called keep your head up by artist Ben Howard as this
video uses the correct micro codes for the most typical video expected.

Mise en scene: The mise en scene in this video is conventional to the genre as it uses a combination
of props and settings to showcase the vibe that the music reflects. The setting choice in the video is
a forest area which is in the sun so it was probably filmed in summer which is a perfect choice as it
reflects the happy vibe in which his music gives. The props that this video uses are typical
countryside items such as a pitch fork, hay bales and a horse feed bucket and these all create a
semantic field of country living and country adventure which means this video is highly conventional
but only using subtle items to represent this. The lighting choices in this video vary from the dawn
light giving a soft picture then progressing throughout the day when the music is most up beat. this
variation in lighting is often shown in these more acoustic videos as they show a narrative or
concept other than a lip syncing style so the change in lighting shows the narrative progression as
the time continues. The casting choices for the actors withing the video are only those involved in
the band and we would expect this to be the case as this genre is slightly niche meaning the
audience would only expect to see the artists as that is who they are buying into as the budget is
usually quite small (hence the use of the natural surroundings). the hair and makeup used for the
characters is very basic as this shows by the way they are dressed the aspect of adventure and a
basic style of living so it is raw just like the music is aswell. Finally, the proxemics of the characters
varies completely as they start off far apart from each other but then as the song progresses they
become much closer showing the positivity of the genre.

camerawork:the camera work within the video is using a complete range such as extreme longshots
to extreme close ups showing the diversity of the genre as the typical concept is around adventure
so it is only captured to full potential by using a variety of movements and shots. there is a lot of
use of tracking when they are going down the water slide and this could be to create an element of
speed as the songs tempo is at its fastest.

Sound:The sound of the video is a very soft and summery vibe which is illustrated perfectly by the
concept idea of summer which helps to create the most typical and conventional performance for an
acoustic audience. the video at points also uses muffled sounds which are diegetic to the scene such
as the splash of the water and this could be because the concept is all about adventure and it is only
captured fully by the sounds being included.
Indie Folk Acoustic (Mumford and Sons)
For the Indie Folk genre, I have chosen the song Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons as it uses the typical
codes and conventions expected in a indie folk music video.

Throughout this music video, there is a variety of different aspects of Mise-en-scene used. One aspect of this
would be the settings used. The music video clearly shows a variety of different locations which all have a link to
the acoustic genre. Stereotypically, an acoustic themed music video would be set in a rural, quiet and rustic area
which clearly reflects the happy vibes in the summer season. A second aspect of mise-en-scene used would be
the props. Throughout this music video, a variety of acoustic themed instruments are used which helps portray
the idea of it being an acoustic themed song and helps tighten the relationship between the music video and
lyrics which was discussed by Andrew Goodwin. Stereotypically, the props used would be instruments and
countryside objects like hay bales etc as they help build a semantic filed of country living and music. This means
the props used are highly conventional.

Also used throughout the music video is a variety of camerawork. These vary from close ups of people playing the
guitar to longshots of the whole band. A variety of camera shots and angles are used to show the diversity of the
genre as the typical concept is either the band playing or following an adventure or story of an individual as seen
in the majority of Ben Howards music videos.

Typically found in Acoustic genred music videos, the sound can be heard to start off slowly at the start whilst
slowly picking up to the chorus where the tempo of the song is much different to the start. The soft sound of the
song helps build on the concept idea and helps strengthen the summer vibe coming from the song itself.

The editing choices within this particular song also help create a summery atmosphere. This is clear as the pace
of the cuts at the start of the music video are seen to be slow and in time with the beats in the song whereas if
you skip further ahead, the pace of the cuts fasten to keep in time with the music. This could be a direct contrast
with the idea of summer: Takes ages to arrive, but as soon as it does arrive, it'll be gone before you know it.
Pop Rock (The
Killers)
For the Pop Rock genre, I have chosen the song Human by The Killers as this also uses the stereotypical
codes and conventions expected in a Pop Rock Music Video.

Throughout this music video, there is again a variety of different aspects of mise-en-scene to help portray the
genre. One clear aspect used would be the setting. Throughout this music video, only one setting is used
which is a desert. The whole song is about whether we are human or not and the desert setting helps add to
this as the desert is usually seen as an extraterrestrial place. It makes you think that if we where to go back
to living in a desert, then we would learn again what it means to be human. A second aspect of Mise-en-scene
used would be the prop instruments used. The instruments used all have a link to rock music and are the
general stereotyped instruments used in a rock song. This could be done to add a rock side to the pop rock
genre song which could build on the idea of it being in an extraterrestrial place.

Also used throughout the music video is a variety of camerawork. These vary from close ups of people playing
the rock themed instruments to longshots of the whole band. A variety of camera shots and angles are used
to show the diversity and meaning of the genre as again, the typical concept is either the band playing or
following a story of an individual as seen in Spaceman By The Killers.

Also found in Pop Rock music videos is a variety of different sounds. One example of this would be the idea
that the song starts off slow at the start of the video but dramatically picks up as it gets closer to the chorus.
The soft sound at the start of the song helps build on the idea of it being in a desert as there are not normally
many loud noises to be heard in the desert whereas when it gets to the chorus, this completely changes as
the song picks up and gets louder which negatively portrays the idea of a peaceful and deserted desert.
Comparison
Overall, whilst there are some clear differences between the two genres, there are also some clear
and visible similarities. One similarity between the two genres could be the setting. Throughout all
three songs, the settings are all similar as they all consist of a quiet area (Desert, Barn, Field) with
the sun and lights being used to create a certain atmosphere. This maybe similar throughout the
three genres as they all try to contradict the same story and idea.

A second similarity between the two genres would be the camerawork. This maybe because
throughout the music videos, they all follow a similar story and all follow the concept idea. The
camera work may all be similar as the cameramen and directors of the music videos may of wanted
to use the sunset to there advantage so used as many camera angles and shots that had a clear shot
of the sun in.