American Beauty American Psycho

1. Fall Out Boy – American Beauty American
Psycho Music Video Analysis

2. Andrew Goodwin’s Theory
Andrew Goodwin presented Seven Factors based on his theory regarding what should be
considered and what has been used in previous examples when creating a Music Video. The
Seven Points are taken from Goodwin’s Book ‘Dancing in The Distraction Factory’ from 1992:
1. Music videos demonstrate Genre Characteristics. (E.g. Stage Performance in Metal Videos,
Dance Routines for Boy/Girl Bands and Aspiration in Hip Hop).
2. There is a relationship between Lyrics and Visuals. The lyrics are represented with Images.
(Either Illustrative, Amplifying and Contradicting).
3. There is a relationship between Music and Visuals. The Tone and Atmosphere of the Visuals
reflects that of the music. (Either Illustrative, Amplifying and Contradicting).
4. The demands of the Record Label will include the need for lots of Close-Ups of the Artist, and
the Artist my develop Motifs which recur across their work. (A Visual Style).
5. There is Frequent Reference to Notion of Looking. (Screens within Screens, Mirrors, Stages
etc.) and particularly Voyeuristic Treatment of the Female Body.
6. There are often Intertextual References. (To Films, TV Programs, Other Music Videos etc.)
7. A Music Video can either be Performance, Concept or Narrative Based, but some Videos do

3. ‘American Beauty American
Psycho’ is the title track
from the debut album
released by Punk Rock
Legends ‘Fall Out Boy’ in
2015. Compared to their
older material, this track
especially has more of a
Pop Vibe, however the
band are primarily
Rock/Punk; and have only
recently released material
that will appeal more to the
Mainstream Music Scene
Fans. The Track is very fast
paced, and the use of
Electric Instruments (Main
Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass
Guitar and Drums) is
evident. There are a variety
of shots in the video, and
the concept is more about
the featured actors, and not
the actual Band responsible
for the track.

4. 1. Music videos demonstrate Genre Characteristics. (E.g. Stage
Performance in Metal Videos, Dance Routines for Boy/Girl Bands
and Aspiration in Hip Hop).
As Fall Out Boy primarily fall into the Punk Rock/Emo Genres, there are several Characteristics
within the Video that suggest that the band are relevant to both of these styles of Rock Music.
Not only does this support Goodwin’s Theory that Music Videos are created to reflect on the
Specific Genre, but it also connects with the fans of the Music more, and resulting in them
actually enjoying it. First of all, specifically looking at the Main Character; The Young Boy:
Main Character –
Young Boy
The use of a Hammer with intentions to destroy the Music
Ballerina Box – Fans of Rock Music (General Rock and not
a specific Genre) are stereotyped as being quite Violent
and Crazy, and the fact the boy is about to use a Hammer I
think portrays these Presumptions very well; as the Boy
then almost cowards out of doing it, which shows that not
all people associated with Rock Music are Violent and
Crazy.
Another typical Characteristic of Rock Music (this time
more specifically the Emo Genre) is people being
miserable. And you can see in this Screen Shot and
throughout the video that the featured Boy has a
constant glum look on his face. I can guess that the boy
isn’t in the greatest of situations as part of the
Narrative, and this is evident through his Facial
Expressions.

5. In this one Shot alone, there are a
few Rock Music Characteristics that
are evident and can be picked out:
- The Face Paint on the Boy’s Face is
Black. Dark Colours are often
associated with Rock, and Black is
known as the ‘Goths’ Colour, who
also are associated with Rock
Music.
- The Boy’s Surroundings appear to be quite dilapidated. ‘Rock’ Music is referred to
as ‘Rock’ due to the fact it can be quite hard on your ears
most of the time and is very Rough. People also describe Rock as being ‘Unfinished’
and ‘Unclean’, which Characteristics can also be interpreted from the Worn Out
Scene.
- Linking back to the idea that ‘Emos’ are Miserable and Emotional and associated
with Rock Music, the Boy’s Body language suggests that he is scared whilst trying to
hide. It may only be a small Characteristic, but you can see it in the Video.
- The Boy is wearing a T-Shirt that appears to possibly have had the Sleeves cut off.
Hundreds of Rock Bands when performing go for this kind of Clothing Item.
1. Music videos demonstrate Genre Characteristics. (E.g. Stage Performance in Metal
Videos, Dance Routines for Boy/Girl Bands and Aspiration in Hip Hop).

6. 1. Music videos demonstrate Genre Characteristics. (E.g. Stage
Performance in Metal Videos, Dance Routines for Boy/Girl Bands
and Aspiration in Hip Hop).
- In terms of the Rock Genre, the Ballet Dancer is wearing an All
Black ¾ Sleeved Tutu. This links in well with the genre, because as
well as Black being an associated Colour within the genre, the
Meaning of the Video is quite Mysterious and Dark; just like the
Colour Black. Linking in with the Video Concept, I find the Girl to be
quite Ominous and a ‘Lone Wolf’ almost, which also continues with
the Colour of her Tutu.
Shortly into the Video (0.33 Seconds in), there are Extreme Close Up shots of the Dancer’s Hands, Feet
and Back. I believe that this has been done to show the Technique, Beauty and Discipline the Girl has. In
terms of Genre Characteristics, I believe that no matter which Music Genre you are looking at, it is quite
popular for Females to be the Centre of Featured Male’s attention, and this is obvious in this video, due
to the fact the Young Boy seems to be transfixed by The Dancer at one point, and later in the video, she
attracts a group of Older Men, who are all stood around her watching her every move whilst she is
performing in the middle of the circle the Group have formed.

7. 1. Music videos demonstrate Genre Characteristics.
(E.g. Stage Performance in Metal Videos, Dance
Routines for Boy/Girl Bands and Aspiration in Hip Hop).
As you can see, the Group of Men who are surrounding
the Girl Dancer portray very strong Rock Genre
Characteristics. Like the Young Boy, they are all wearing
Vests, except these Vests are a lot tighter and as
a result, the Men look quite Muscular and Refined.
Most of the Men also have Tattoos and Facial Hair,
another strong presumption made by people who
are not a part of the Genre, and this is what they
expect Males linked with Rock to be like. Also, the
Men appear to be acting very tough (EG: Cracking
Their Knuckles and Rolling Their Shoulders Back)

8. 2. There is a relationship between Lyrics and Visuals. The lyrics
are represented with Images. (Either Illustrative, Amplifying and
Contradicting).
* ‘I Think I Fell In Love Again, maybe I Just Had Too Much Cough Medicine’ – I think that this
lyric represents the Young Boy in the video very well. Due to the fact, he appears to be
quite intrigued by the Girl Dancer, and as he is not legally old enough to drink Alcohol,
Cough Medicine is something that many Children have in order to prevent them from
Coughing, and he could be blaming these feelings of affection on the fact he may have mad
too much of the medicine.
‘She’s An American Beauty’ also supports this idea that
the Boy appreciates the appearance of the Dancer. And
the ‘I’m an American Psycho’ I believe is the Boy
thinking he is crazy for being attracted to the Girl.

9. 2. There is a relationship between Lyrics and Visuals. The lyrics are
represented with Images. (Either Illustrative, Amplifying and
Contradicting).
Throughout the Video, there are several examples
of Over Laying that has been edited onto the Video
after the Filming Process and during the Editing
Process. This links in with the ‘American’ Lyric that
is repeated throughout the chorus of the Track.
Having the American Flag Black White (and not the
traditional Red, White and Blue) links in more with
the Face Paint on the Young Boy’s Face, as well as
the Album Cover (The Portrait of the same Boy).

10. 3. There is a relationship between Music and Visuals. The Tone
and Atmosphere of the Visuals reflects that of the music. (Either
Illustrative, Amplifying and Contradicting).
Throughout the video, you can hear
the Music that is coming from the
Ballerina Box. It like a piece of Music
that is quite Classical, and most
people who are familiar with Ballerina
Boxes will know that the Music Clip is
associated with them boxes, as well as
Ballet; which is a very elegant form of
Dance, with Classical Music associated
with it. And, when the box is closed,
the music cannot be heard, and when
it is opened, the Music plays.

11. 4. The demands of the Record Label will include the need for lots
of Close-Ups of the Artist, and the Artist my develop Motifs
which recur across their work. (A Visual Style).
Despite Fall Out Boy not being featured all the way throughout the video, for the time
they are on the screen, there are close ups of each Band Member by themselves at
one point; whilst they are dragging the bodies of the Men away. So in a sense, this
video does slightly go against Goodwin’s views, but they are featured at one point at
least.

12. 5. There is Frequent Reference to Notion of Looking. (Screens
within Screens, Mirrors, Stages etc.) and particularly Voyeuristic
Treatment of the Female Body.
There are shots in the video where
the Young Boy is looking in the Mirror
that is inside the lid of the Ballerina
Box, so this is one example of Notion
Looking. Also, having the Ballerina
dance in the middle of the circle of
Men is also an example of Notion
Looking, as the men are watching her
as she is performing.
Also, the Ballerina is
objectified throughout the
video (as I have previously
mentioned). Including Close
Ups of her Back, Feet and
Hands. It is clear that she is
the centre of attention of
the Males in the video, as
she is the ‘American Beauty’.

13. 6. There are often Intertextual References.
(To Films, TV Programs, Other Music
Videos etc.)
There was one main Intertextual Reference that I
noticed straight away when I fist watched this video,
and it came onto the screen towards the end of the
video (3.03) when the actual band; Fall Out Boy make
an appearance for the first time. Metal Legends
Slipknot, have an iconic look that involves them
wearing Matching Boiler Suits for their live
performances. As you can see in the top image, Fall
Out Boy enter the scene in Matching Boiler Suits, and
you can see in the third image that their suits have the
Black American Flag Logo printed on them, similar to
the logo on the Young Boy’s Face; another example of
an Intertextual Reference. Granted it is from the same
video, but a portrait of the Young Boy is the Album Art
Work, ad having this logo on the back of the Boiler

14. 7. A Music Video can either be Performance, Concept or
Narrative Based, but some Videos do incorporate more than one
of the three areas listed.
Narrative/Concept Elements:
- At the end of the video, you see a shot of another Boy standing in the Doorway
with a Baseball Bat. You also see the Ballerina close the Box and get back into the
position she is in at the beginning of the video. This demonstrates that there is a
Narrative Twist on the video, due to the fact the story is carrying on after playing
through out the video in its entirety.
- The Video also has a very strong concept. I am not entirely sure of the exact
meaning, but there is clearly something abstract going on, and Fall Out Boy are
good at creating unclear concepts for their videos.

15. 7. A Music Video can either be Performance, Concept or
Narrative Based, but some Videos do incorporate more
than one of the three areas listed.
Performance Elements:
It is clear that this Video is partly Performance Based, as
there is a Ballet Dancer featured. Throughout the video, you
see the Girl dancing away and performing to both the group
of Males and the Young Boy. In a sense as well, every
character is also Performing in this video, as they are playing
Characters that are not themselves, and acting it out for
thousands of Music Fans to see.