Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

I like the way 'I Am A Scientist' by Guided By Voices combines black and white filming with very colourful, abstract found footage. Rather than filming and leaving it unedited, I plan to shoot in black and white but add or enhance existing colours to certain aspects of my video, as shown in 'I Am A Scientist' and also 'Basket Case'.

Name of track:
I Am A Scientist

Artist:
Guided By Voices



Genre Characteristics:
Alternative/Indie Rock, black and white, performance, guitars, shaky cam, dark/abstract colours, etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals:
The lyrics "I am a scientist, I seek to understand me" are expressed through the use of found footage, which in the simplest terms illustrate a number of different scientific happenings, such as the use of the satellite etc. Other than that, the video is simple and bears no relevance to the lyrics in the song.

Relationship between the music and visuals:
As with other videos, the editing and the performance element of 'I Am A Scientist' reflect the pace of the music used to accompany the video, and there are also shots of the vocalist as he is dancing to illustrate this further.

Are there any close-ups and star image motifs?
As before, no star image motifs.
Close-ups:

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
Generally, the band members, including the vocalist, are glancing away from the camera; either to convey a naturalistic style, for example as the band are playing their instruments, or to illustrate a sense of "losing sight", as the lyrics suggest.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video begins with a close-up of a guitar, and focuses on the band as they play/hang out in different locations. However, the video is not solely a performance piece. The meaning of the song is conveyed through found footage; shots of nuclear explosions etc., and there are also a few shots that are completely irrelevant to the song and video, for example as the band play a game of basketball. There is no set concept or narrative element.

Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

I like 'Bright Yellow Gun' by Throwing Muses because of the editing. The shaky camera style and different angles/shots, such as tilt shot, dutch angle and whip pan, as well as the psychedelic colour palette, make the video interesting to watch. The camera zooms in and out and spins around, often cutting out the subject it's focusing in on, for example filming half of someone's face or the vocalist's mouth in the corner of the screen.

Name of track:
Bright Yellow Gun

Artist:
Throwing Muses



Genre Characteristics:
Alternative rock, psychedelia, guitars, dark colour palette, grunge, disorientation, shaky cam etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals:
The shakiness of the camera and the way it pans round in different directions creates a sense of disorientation, which is reflected in the lyrics, for example "And I think I need a little poison to keep me tame, keep me awake; I have nothing to offer but confusion, and the circus in my head..."

Relationship between the music and visuals:
As before, the editing matches the pace of the song, and instruments are included in the video to illustrate the performance of the song.

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
Once again, there are no star image motifs. I have found that smaller rock artists do not tend to use these, as those who are not aware of the band would not recognize the references. There are many close-ups of the band throughout the video, however, as this is a general convention of a music video.

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
The vocalist looks directly into the camera and follows it around, although the other band members tend to avoid eye contact. This, once again, is common in most videos, as the vocalist has to connect with the audience through the lyrics of the song.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video is set in a dark room with red walls, and tracks the band as they play. It is without a set concept, although the camera styles and the colour palette of the video reflect the song and its meaning.

Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

As I have chosen which song I want to use, I have decided to analyse other videos of the same genre to gather inspiration and become aware of the typical characteristics of an alternative rock video.
I like 'Shocker In Gloomtown' by The Breeders (cover of Guided By Voices track) because of its performance style. The simplicity of the video allows the audience to get a feel for the band's style and strips right back to just the music, as if you were watching the band play live.

Name of Track:
Shocker In Gloomtown

Artist:
The Breeders



Genre characteristics:
Alternative rock, instruments, performance, unkempt, scruffy style, etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and the visuals:
As the video is solely performance and is without a set concept, the lyrics of the song are not expressed through visuals at all.

Relationship between the music and the visuals:
Editing is quick to match the pace of the song. Instruments such as guitars, drums etc. are included within the video to illustrate the music which is being played.

Are there any close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
No star image motifs. However, close-ups of the band are frequently included:

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
The lead singer, Kim Deal, often looks directly into the camera as she sings, although the other band members gaze in other directions throughout so as to convey a naturalistic style of video.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video begins with a group of people walking down the street. Hearing the band begin to play, they stop outside the garage and watch the band practice through the windows.