Song genre and its conventions.

The song I have chosen falls within the indie/rock music genre. Below are some music videos by artists within that genre.

Arcade Fire - Rebellion.

Coldplay - Yellow.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle.

Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don't Stand a Chance.

The conventions of music videos in the indie/rock genre are as follows:

Form
-Narrative is often used in the indie/rock genre as if to convey a deeper meaning behind the track by creating a storyline. Care-free spirit is often signified with the use of casual settings to effectively convey the attitude behind the genre and to make the artists come across as almost 'student-like'/unafraid of being individual - contrasts greatly with the pop genre; often no narrative, expensive music videos taken very seriously and to emphasise the artists capability (dance moves etc)
-Lip syncing sometimes used but not always (Bombay Bicycle Club's Shuffle video is one which is without syncing - almost like a 'background' track and portrays the personalities of the band.
Arcade Fire’s track includes a storyline (artists on a mission) but also includes lip syncing. This allows the song to promote the artist as well as having 'individuality' with the choice of narrative. Although often used, I don't feel it is essential with this genre.

Cinematography
-Long shots/ close-ups and extreme close-ups are continuously used – long shots to establish the setting of the video (such as in the Coldplay - Yellow music video). Close-ups  are used to establish character/artist’s emotions – not necessarily used for lip syncing as shown in Bombay Bicycle Club's Shuffle music video.
-Pans, crane shots, tilts, hand held, zoom often used – establishes movement of the character/artist’s. However these shots will not be used for dance purposes (conventional of pop/dance genre artists) as the artists within this genre do not stereotypically produce dance videos.
-A hand held camera can be used to establish a care free manner - as in Bombay Bicycle Club's Shuffle video - although doesn't look particularly professional, done purposefully to seem careless and casual.
-High/Low angles can be used for effect also (heightening vulnerability/capability within narrative).

Editing
-Jump cuts are often used to jump from a scene of the location to artist performance etc or another location within the narrative.
-Pace of the editing is always in sync with the beat of the track.
-Some special effects may be used – slow motion/discolouring/black and white effect to emphasise the artists 'individuality' or for expression within the meaning behind the track. (Shown in Arcade Fire's Rebellion video)

Mise en Scene
-Characters or artists wear stereotypical individual, quirky (indie) clothing such as skin tight jeans, denim, acid dye, bright colours etc or may wear clothes which effectively represent the meaning behind the track/coincide with the narrative/represent the care free individuality of the artist or character/
-Often natural/every day setting with natural lighting (shown in Bombay Bicycle Club's Shuffle video) in order for the video to seem as casual as possible - concentration given to the track. However Arcade Fire's music video for Rebellion shows a deliberate set-up which doesn't come across casual; done for narrative purposes and purposefully portrays an image to the audience about their track.
-Props used to reinforce the storyline/instruments may be used but not always.

Sound
-Often the track is used as almost 'background sound' in non-diegetic sound to everyday life in order to emphasise the casual/care free feel (effectively used in Bombay Bicycle Club's Shuffle video) - the content of the video complimented by the song.
-Also used as diegetic sound in the form of performances through lip syncing (Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don't Stand a Chance) but mostly mixes non-diegetic and diegetic sound to tell the story of their track but including the lip syncing artists as seen in Arcade Fire and Coldplay's tracks.