Conventions Within a Music Video of the

Indie Folk Genre

Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

Sauzanne Micael

Grizzly Bears – Two WeeksGrizzly Bear are an indie-rock musical band that came together in 2002, originatingfrom Brooklyn, New York. Their music is heavily used in advertisements and theirinternational success is recognised, specifically in the UK, appealing to a widerdemographic. Although they belong to this genre, they also elect traditional andelectronic instruments, creating a sound that can easily elevate them into differentgenres. By analysing a music video by Grizzly Bear, I will essentially be able to transferdifferent aspects of music videos.

There in no camera movement in the duration of the music video as itsolely relies on the build up of shots and angles in jump cuts to reflectwhat is occurring. Many close – up shots of the artists are used tocapture the artists which displays their heads directly at the centre ofthe screen repetitively, using the rule of thirds. Each member of thebands looks directly in the camera, using direct mode of address tospecifically target the individual that is watching the music video. Thisis a very intriguing technique, coupled with the editing of their eyes asit creates a connection between the audience and the artists. Theseclose-up shots also capture the eerie, humorous smiling that creates ahappier motif.

Camera (Angles/Shots/Movement)

The constant jump shots that show the different artistswithin the band in a non-linear way effectively presentswhich of the artists is singing at a particular time. This isessential and practical as it allows the audience to gatherwho they are listening to at a given time. There is ahumorous element to the music video as the artists eyesand facial features have been enlarged in a dramatic way.Big eyes often connote curiosity and the idea of being veryreceptive. In a way, big eyes are also associated withinnocence and children often have larger eyes at a youngerage. Therefore for these adult males to have oversized eyes,the audience feels compelled to sympathise for them. Thecaptivated by the ending of the music video as CGI as part ofthe editing process to appear as though the artists are onfire, sparks flying from their bodies. This ties is with theidea of the artists being receptive as when individual have tomuch on their plate, they are often described as going up inflames. This could metaphorically mean they have a lot oftheir mind, hence their facial features being enlarged. Theediting of the music video is seemingly slow paced andincludes the use of many sharp cuts.

Editing

Although the hybrid genre of the song is indie rock,the same technique of a progression in the volumeis evident. The music artists are featured in theentirety of the music video, singing along. Thesimplistic style of the music video contrastsdramatically to the increasing pace of the song.This allows the audience to take in the music andallows little distraction, that could potentially takeaway from the song. However, the ending of themusic video eventually supports the songsenergetic feel as the artist burn in flames. Thisproduces a sense of excitement which is odd,considering people burning and sparking in flamesis arguably scary. This is because the music videocreates a calm build-up and the audience wereprepared slowly for something to happen; which itdoes.

Sound

JUXTAPOSITION

Location - Straight away, the audience is able to identify the location of the

music video. They are able to question within the first 6 seconds why the members ofthe band appear to be in a Church and what relevance this has to the narrative or thelyrics to the song. This immediate introduction to a location sparks interest from thestart. By the end of the music video, it is still somewhat unclear why there seems tobe no real relevance for the location to the song. This allows the music video toremain memorable as audiences have the chance to discuss what they witnessed.

Lighting - Artificial lighting is predominantly injected within this music

video. For instance, in the foreground of the shot, a surreal looking light isreflected onto the artists faces that gives them a glowing effect. This lightmakes them look more empowered. As well as this, artificial light is alsoused in the editing process to light up their cheeks which eventually lightsup their whole head leading to them catching on fire.

Facial Expressions and Body Language - With very

little body movement, the music video still manages to create an amusingatmosphere as the artists all begin smiling mid way. This is exaggeratedwith the editing involved as their eyes and mouth are adjusted. This in turnmakes the audience smile as their facial expressions are contagious.

Mis-en-Scene

Lyric Break DownSave up all the daysA routine malaiseJust like yesterdayI told you I would stay

Would you always?Maybe sometimes?Make it easy?Take your time

Think of all the waysMomentary phaseJust like yesterdayI told you I would stay

Every time you tryQuarter half a mileJust like yesterdayI told you I would stay

Would you always?Maybe sometimes?Make it easy?Take your time

Would you always?Maybe sometimes?Make it easy?Take your time

AlwaysSometimesEasyTime

The constant rhetorical questions included in the lyrics which are highlighted createsan automatic link between the audience and the band as they feel compelled toanswer them. Therefore the audience should expect a sense of direct mode of addressin the overall music video.

• Direct mode of address

• Artificial Lighting

• Close-up Shots and Establishing shots

• Absence of a narrative

Conventions Used Within the Music Video