GENRE RESEARCH TASK
FIRSTLY IDENTIFY THE GENRE OF MUSIC TRACK YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO DO FOR YOUR VIDEO:
The objective of this research is two-fold:
To show to the examiners that you understand the genre you are working to the extent that you can clearly identify its codes and conventions
To show that you have researched the genre in order to have a comprehensive knowledge of who is the potential audience.
Here’s a few tips and activities
ORIGINS
All music genres grow and develop from other types of music genres as musicians blend different styles and influences together. So where does your genre come from – which styles is it melding?
Who is seen as the main practitioner? Who are the main influences? Does the genre come from a certain scene/place/time?
When you’re researching this think about how all these influences work together – do the various musical influences affect the style/fashion/iconography of the genre? Does it influence what sort of audience it attracts?
Tips: Start at Wikipedia – use the references down below
Look on google videos – are there any relevant documentaries about the genre?
Have a look at this amazing Guardian Music Timeline. Or at this great music history documentary. It's from the 90s so stops at that point but goes from Rock'n'Roll to dance and hip hop - with each genre of music having it's own episode.
FASHION
Is there a certain look to the genre in terms of clothes? How can you describe it? Why do they dress this way? Are there any key influences? Are there any key labels? Is it a DIY culture? Is the music used to advertise certain brands?
Tips: collect images of fans and bands of the genre – line them up and look for common threads and themes?
COMMUNITIES
Are there any key scenes for the music (for instance is there an acknowledge capital of the genre (think Seattle for Grunge, London for grime etc). Why do you think this is the case?
How do fans communicate – is it a local scene? Is it a global scene – do fans have specific websites? Which ones are they What makes them different?
Are there Facebook and Myspace pages? What sort of people are fans of this?
Tips: Look at the Myspace pages for the bands – look at the sort of people who are fans of this – what do their myspaces look like? Are there key colours, images, interests? Is there a certain language that they use? Are there common references? Are there any clues to types of films/comic/books/tv they are into?
TV AND FILM
Are there any films that use this type of music as its soundtrack? Are there any practitioners of the genre that act? Find them – look at the trailers and clips – is there a theme/content/style that is relevant to the genre?
Where are fans of the this genre represented on TV and film? (for instance, the main characters of Juno all like folky-indie stuff, is there film where they all are like R’n’B or Britpop or Pop Punk)? What do they look like? What are the stories about?
Tips: look for the key artists on imdb.com where do they show up? Is this any use? Is the film influenced by the style of music? Is it a mainstream film? Is the film designed to attract fans of the genre?
RADIO AND TV STATIONS
If you want to hear the genre of music, where do you go? Where is it visible? Are there key radio shows or stations, or TV channels? If so look them up – how are they marketed? What images/fonts/iconography are used? What colours? What sounds? What references?
Who are the key personalities promoting this music? How do they represent themselves? What interests do they have?
MAGAZINES & FANZINES
Where do you read about this genre or find out about new artists?
Tips: look for links off fansites? Type in specific searches in google – search creatively.
CLUB NIGHTS & GIGS
Are there key (or even local) club nights that play this music? How are they marketed? What are the called? What sort of venue do they use? What sort of people go? What sort of stuff do they wear/drink/talk about?
Are there key festivals? How are they promoted?
Tips: Look for official sites – take screen shots of the web pages – look at the images and the set lists.
LABELS
Are there key brands associated with the genre? Clothes, shoes, drinks, snacks, hair products, hats, anything?
ACTIVITIES & LIFESTYLE
Is the genre all about good living? Partying? Being political? Angst? Productive? Silly? Creative? Being active? Being rich? Being poor? Being angry? (A lot this can be seen in the videos)
TECHNOLOGIES
Are there key technologies – either in the music (electronic instruments – think autotune for current r’n’b and pop) or related to the lifestyle.
Tips: Read reviews about music, look for tutorials about how to replicate the sound, look at the videos and at the mise-en-scene.)