2. “Music videos ignore common narrative as they
are essentially advertisements. As
consumers, we make up our own meaning of
a song in our minds: a music video can
anchor meaning and gives the record
company/ artist a method of anchoring
meaning”
-Andrew Goodwin, Dancing In The Distraction
Factory

3. After many years of studying music videos , Andrew
Goodwin published a book containing his music
theory called Dancing in the Distraction Factory.
This theory is as follows:
There is a relationship between the lyrics and the
visuals
There is a relationship between the music and the
visuals
There is a demand on part of the record label for a
lot of close ups of the artist
Iconography is present in artists within genres
There is frequently references to the notion of
looking
There is often intertextual reference

4. There is a relationship between
the lyrics and the visuals
Goodwin noticed that the visuals in music
videos can either illustrate, amplify or
contradict the lyrics.

5. There is a relationship
between the music and the
visuals
Goodwin also noticed that like with the lyrics
the music also be illustrated, amplified or
contradicted by the visuals.

6. There is a demand on part of
the record label for a lot of
close ups of the artist
The best way for record labels to sell their
artists, particularly females, is to show them
regularly close up throughout the video
(most often in a provocative fashion).

7. Iconography is present in
artists within genres
Goodwin noticed that artists often had a
trend of repeating certain actions throughout
each music video they feature in, making
them recognisable.

8. There is frequently
references to the notion of
looking
Goodwin noticed that artists often look into
the camera to give a direct approach. This
give the feel of the artist singing to us, the
audience.

9. There is often intertextual
reference
He also realised that sometimes you can
recognise the lyrics or visuals referring to
another text, within the music video.