conventions of acoustic and alternative rock genre

My song is originally alternative rock, some bands that are of this genre include kasiban, muse and coldpaly.
Conventions include lyrics that tend to address topics of social concern, such as drug use, depression, and environmentalism, this is also a convention of the acoustic genre, My song will be song in acoustic. Dark clothing is conventional to alternative rock videos, this echoes the dull lightening that is also conventional to alternative rock music videos, dark clothing is used to express emotion, alternative rock videos usually convey unhappy emotion, that echo the lyrics of social concern, so dark clothing helps to convey this. Close ups of instruments, are used throughout alternative rock videos, this maybe to show that they artists play there own interments, or the may be used to stress the instrumental of the song behind the lyrics.

Tim O'sullivan et all argues that all media texts tell us a story, acoustic music videos do this through narrative this is because a convention of acoustic music video is, narrative, narrative is the structure of a story, as acoustic is not as high pace as other genres such as pop and dance, the narrative within acoustic video's ensures that the audience is still entertained. Kate Domaille believes that every story told can be fitted into the eight narrative types; it is mostly conventional for acoustic music videos to follow any one of these eight narrative types. This reinforces David Boswells argument that any theme may appear within any genre. The narrative within acoustic videos reflect the audiences lives, this creates a relationship with the audience and therefore the narrative reflects emotion, this echoes the cinematography used within acoustic music videos, as it is conventional throughout acoustic videos to show close-ups, this is so the audience is shown emotion through facial expressions, such as crying. To reinforce the emotion within acoustic videos another convention would be dull lighting, this is again to show emotion, and create feeling.
Also performance is sometimes conventional to an acoustic music video, this is because acoustic is the singer, with only a guitar, therefore by showing the artist performing with a guitar whilst singing (performing) it stresses the point that the video is an acoustic video. Also a music video is used to promote the artist, so by showing the artist performing it promotes them to their audience.

Editing such as, fades and cuts are conventional too an acoustic music video as they match the pace of the song, a fade is slow and soft, as is acoustic music, the cuts keep the audience entertained, as the video changes scenes. Another convention of acoustic music videos would be documentary style camera movement; this helps show emotion, as it conveys realism.


After looking at the conventions of the acoustic and alternative rock genre i have decided to make my acoustic music video, both conventional and un-conventional, this is because although i want my genre to be reconisile i also want my video to be interesting.

I could use  the social concerns that are conventional to alternative rock videos to create narrative,his taking conventions from both genres and allowing to to fit together. Instead of dark clothing that is originally conventional to the alternative rock genre, i plan to have my artist in casual clothes as this is conventional to acoustic, and with the song being song in acoustic form, it allows the song to be more laid back and relaxed, the casual dress will echo this. I plan to have close up of instruments as this is conventional to both acoustic and alternative rock genre, therefore i will be making my music video's genre recognisable to the audience.