Vance Joyce- Riptide, Codes and Conventions

Code and Conventions of Indie folk:

Every music genre has various codes and conventions which are followed when creating music videos. With regards to camerawork there is a frequent use of long shots, which show the artist playing an instrument; establishing shots and shots of scenery (for example country side etc.) and close-ups of the artists.

In terms of miss-enscene, lighting is varied - ambient lighting or fairy lights/lanterns are also used - the lighting choices usually match the mood of the song; the choice of clothing is usually fairly mainstream/normal, this varies from pop music as artists usually dress up with this genre.

Editing for indie folk music videos is usually described as 'subtle', soft focuses are used often and are predominately used on the artists' face and the location and videos usually end with a fade to black.

In terms of general codes and conventions, there may not be a strong link between lyrics and imagery but there is a more predominate link between music and images. Artists are also commonly seen singing at certain points in their music videos.

1. Are there any elements of coherence in the narrative? (Potential theories/ideas to use: Todorov and Postmodernism) 

Todorov's narrative theory suggests that all narratives follow a three part structure where they begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when equilibrium is restored. In Riptide this can be seen in the chorus as there is a state of equilibrium which we keep returning to, in terms of post modernism the line between media and reality is blurred as there is a series of completely different images.

2. What ‘message’ does the video contains? Refer to Barthes in your notes.

Barthes theory says that media texts communicate meanings through signifiers, the audience breaks them down into denotations (literal meaning, what the audience can see) and connotations (the meaning behind the denotation). The music video follows a denotation method where the lyrics will generally match up the lyrics, 'Lady running down to the riptide'- will have a lady running down to the riptide.

3. It is a convention of music videos to have song lyrics interpreted on screen. The over

way the lyrics are interpreted in this video challenges this convention. Analyse the

opening line: “I was scared of dentists and the dark”explain how this interpreted on

screen and analyse the semiotics (Barthes)of images, which accompany the lyrics.

The big close-up of the woman with the mouth piece laying on a white sheet with her eye

frantically looking forward and backwards could be said to be a denotation of the lyrics as the

connotations from the image without the sound would be that the woman is at the dentist and

is scared. Similarly, with the shot of the light going out the element of darkness could be

denoted. However, the connotations of the image aren’t as straightforward as the dentist as

there are many connotations of darkness. 

4. This overt graphical representationof the lyrics is repeated throughout the video.

Make a list of the other overt interpretations of the lyrics.

5. There is a reoccurring montage used at the start of the chorus of a woman running

before it cuts to a close up the sea. What ideas are being communicated by the use of this

montage?

The use of montage communicates the idea that there is a link between the two shots. Suggesting that the shot of the woman running links to the following shot of where she is running to, the sea. This is shown in the lyrics as the woman is shown running when the words “Lady, running down…” it then cuts to the shot of the water and the line continues “…to the riptide”.

6. The opening shot uses cinematic style credits and information about the music is

presented with a title at bottom of the screen. This title is similar to a “billing block”

which is often seen on film posters or in trailers. Explain why this style might have been

copied for film and summarise audience response it creates. Is the video presenting itself

as a short film or a music video? How could this be related to the type of music video it is?

There is an element of hyperreality to the music video. It starts off in the clouds with has strong connotations of dreams and hopes. Movies/Films are often seen as dreamlike in the sense that they reflect reality but are not real. This has links to postmodernism in that reality and media and the line between them is being broken down. The non-linear sequence of the music video further adds to this idea of hyperreality.

The music video is presenting itself as a short film. The song is sending its listeners a message about the inevitability of a relationship, and how you cannot rely very much on an acquaintance that you have, as you will probably be let down and disappointed. It's saying that we shouldn't rely too much on something.