Music Video Questionnaire Analysis

Music Video Questionnaire Analysis

From the graph above, this clearly states that more females filled out the questionnaire. However, the percentages are fairly similar, with a small gap between them. This is shown with the percentage of females being 61.11% and males being 38.89%. Therefore suggesting that both genders are attracted to the Indie genre. This explains that the Indie genre is versatile and a popular choice of genre to watch. This also gives us an understanding of the mass audience towards the targeted genre and in order to make my production at its highest quality standard, we have to make it appeal to the audience and reach their expectations. 

Due to more females being our target audience, the use of an attractive male would captivate this audience and cause them to watch. This would be an example of Laura Mulvey's female gaze theory. Within my production there will be both males and females which therefore helps the individual watching feel as if they can relate to the protagonists shown. Therefore the uses and gratification theory can be applied.

There is also many reasons as to why either a male or a female would watch an Indie music video. Stereotypically, teenagers are the target audience for the Indie genre as they categorise themselves within the 'strugglers' demographic and Indie is conventional for relating to those who are 'finding themselves'.

The objective of this question is to find the results of the target audience my product will be aimed at. Due to the questionnaire being online, it was accessible for people of any age, meaning my results will be more reliable. It is also apparent that the most popular age being 15-17 are those who use social media platforms more often and therefore have more time to answer the questionnaire and also watch my final product. 

The most popular age bracket being teenagers, this categorises within the D/E demographic, fitting within the 'strugglers' category. This is a stereotypical convention of the target audience within the Indie genre as they watch the video for escapism purposes. 

The 15-17 age bracket would be able to relate to the narrative based music video due to them feeling as if they are in a stage of their life where they are discovering themselves. It is a convention within the Indie genre to narrate a relationship or friendship and problems which may occur, for example '1975- Robbers'. Therefore with teenagers being at an age where this is happening around them or to them, they will be able to relate to the video and enjoy it more.

Extreme close ups was the most popular answer with 61.11% when asking what the most expected camera shot is within an Indie music video. Within my production the use of extreme close ups will be what is most effective due to it portraying emotion. With emotion showing this creates a sense of verisimilitude for the audience. As my production focuses on topical issues which surrounds teenagers, extreme close ups will allow the audience feel as if they can relate to the situation shown. Therefore, the uses and gratification can be applied. 

It is also apparent that mid shots was a popular expectation within the Indie genre. Mid shots allow the audience to see part of the background and location and also the clothing of the individual without revealing too much. This is conventional within the Indie genre due to mystery being an on going convention. An example of a music video which is mainly mid shots is "Twenty One Pilots - Heathens". 

Extreme close ups and mid shots are mainly uses within the Indie genre to draw attention to the instruments. Within performance based music videos such as "Foo Fighters - The Pretender".  

Low angle shots are normally seen within performance based music videos whereby they shoot from a low angle to have the same point of view from an individual within the crowd. Rock music videos normally use this shot for example "Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me".

The results clearly show that a mixture of both narrative and performance within an Indie music video is what is expected from the majority of the audience. It is conventional within the Indie rock genre to have both narrative and performance within their music videos due to Indie being a sub-genre. Aspects from the rock genre such as a mainly performance based music video collaborates with conventions within the Indie genre whereby a narrative is set. Performance is a key part within this genre as it creates the audience's attention to be towards the instruments such as guitars and drums. With the audience being exposed to the instruments this allows them to be aware of the creation of the music and strip back to what is most important, the lyrics.

Narrative is slightly behind, this shows that audience members enjoy following a concept within the music video. A narrative based music video is more interesting to follow. The Indie genre takes inspiration from many films, such as "Thirty Seconds to Mars - City of Angels". This therefore explains why narrative is a popular convention within this genre. 

With the most popular answer of this question being 'Drug Use" this links to how many would expect the Indie genre to be. As it is conventional for the Indie genre to be aimed towards the demographic of 'strugglers' they would conform more to a drug use narrative within a music video. The Indie genre takes inspiration from pervious eras such as the 'flower power movement' in the 80's, whereby drugs played an important role in bringing people together. 

With Indie being a sub-genre, this therefore means that factors from different genres have been incorporated, for example, the rock genre plays a continuous role when inspiring the Indie genre. As drug use is seen as the most popular answer this links closely to the rock genre and the rebellious teenager ideology that is stereotypically linked to rock music. 

With the second popular answer being 'Religious Themes' this therefore indicates that an audience who watches Indie would expect a narrative to be along the lines of reforming ones self. This may be due to the stereotype of an Indie listener being faced with many problems due to them categorising within the 'strugglers' demographic. Religious themes is also a popular answer due to the Indie genre focusing on issues that aren't spoken about often within the music industry and heightening awareness on topical issues. Within my own production, inspiration will be taken from this questionnaire and religious themes will be an ongoing factor within my music video. Also, drug use is something that will be mildly shown as this makes my music video more conventional and categorises itself comfortably within the Indie genre.  

It is conventional for the Indie genre to have a serious, dark, mysterious location, making the church most conventional. Within my own production, religious themes will be what is being portrayed, making the church location more suitable for my production. The target audience for my production is focused towards the 'strugglers'. This therefore relates closely to them due to church being linked to seeking guidance. 

The location being in a church is conventional within the Indie genre due to it being a location where modern, urban music videos would not usually shoot a music video. This therefore emphasises how the Indie genre is out of the norms and doesn't conform to current genres of music. An example whereby a church has been a main factor within the music video is in "Hozier - Take Me To Church". 

With rural areas, cities and home all following the leading option 'church', this gives my group an idea of what kind of expectations an Indie audience member would imagine. Locations where there are many people such as cities or rural areas are not often seen within Indie music videos because the Indie genre is linked to individuality and being different, therefore these types of locations would not be suitable for this genre.

The location of being at home is something that has been carried out in previous Indie music videos for example The 1975 - Sex. This allows an audience member to feel as if they can relate to the band as they are allowing their audience to have an insight to where they live and practiced their music.

Both The 1975 and Florence and the Machine are equally as popular being both 27.78%. With both of the artists being extremely different yet categorising themselves perfectly within the Indie genre, factors from their music video will be taken as inspiration within my own production. 

Within Florence and the Machines music video, being 'out of the norms' is something that is emphasised within her music video. The difference between Florence and the Machine and The 1975 is that both target their audience differently. Florence and the Machines ideology is to be completely different, this is clearly portrayed within her 'Never Let Me Go' music video. This is making her target audience smaller as less people can relate. Whereby The 1975 in the 'Robbers' music video have a higher target audience as their music video is more relatable. Elements such as the use of lighting are effective within both music videos as they set the overall atmosphere for the video. Within my own production, when trying to create a serious atmosphere, inspiration will be taken from Florence and the Machine as the overall music video is extremely dark and mysterious. However, when trying to focus on the protagonists 'reforming' within my music video, a similar use of light like how it was used within The 1975's music video will be created as it represents hope and escaping from the bad. 

Within both of these music videos, performance is not shown as they are mainly narrative based. This therefore means that a modern audience expect a narrative to be shown more than performance. However, in past eras it was conventional for performance to be seen, for example in the music video for 'The Smiths - This Charming Man'. Within my own production, performance is not going to be a factor due to it not being a highly expected convention and a narrative relates to my target audience more as they can get a sense of escapism through the video. Therefore, the uses and gratification theory is being applied to my work. 

When questioning the audience members on factors which they like about the music video they selected previously, the overall response was that the music video is unique, making it different from all the other modern music videos. This again highlights the convention of the Indie genre and it being something that stands out. This therefore attracts audience members who feel as if they don't fit in within society. Answers such as 'its really cool and weird' sums up the Indie genre and possibly the audience members who enjoy it most. 

Responses which describe the type of narrative such as 'it has a strong narrative throughout' and 'its simple' are responses which are going to influence my production. By taking inspiration from these responses this will play an important part in making my production appeal to my target audience. In order to make my own production have a strong yet simple narrative, the concept will be straight forward, however will have a message behind the narrative. This is something conventional within the Indie genre due to artists such as 'The 1975' having a strong message behind their songs, for example in the song 'If I Believe You'.  

When questioning the target audience on their preferred technical techniques, when asking about editing, black and white was the most popular response with 61.11% as it is an expected convention within the Indie genre. However, due to the Indie genre being one which is out of the norms and doesn't categorise itself within any identifiable group. Bands such as 'The Kooks' and 'Arctic Monkeys' are those who have shot several music videos in black and white and they are recent Indie bands. Therefore, within my own production in order to subvert the expectations which makes us conventional like an Indie artist. Inspiration will be taken from the band 'The 1975' and their reformation into colour. The use of colour within my production will bring a modernised quality to my music video and will go against the expectations of the audience. 

Within my production, in order to make it more appealing to my target audience, other elements within editing is something that needs to be recognised. As the overriding age bracket which answered this questionnaire are between 15-17, this implies that they would be more exposed to the Indie genre and have more knowledge of what to expect within their music videos.  

Responses such as 'old school editing' is a technique that has been picked up from modern music videos such as 'Arctic Monkeys - Arabella'. With the Indie genre going back into the 80's with bands such as 'The Smiths', it is conventional to focus on past techniques as this emphasises how the Indie genre do not fit within modernised trends. 

Slow and sped up shots are also an on going convention within many Indie music videos for example this is seen in the song 'City of Angels' by Thirty Seconds to Mars. Within my own production, slow motion shots will occur as this adds a dramatic effect overall. Inspiration was taken from the song 'Alt J - Breezeblocks'.