Andrew Goodwin identified 6 key features of music videos in his 1992 book "Dancing in the Distraction Factory". He suggests that music videos demonstrate genre characteristics, establish relationships between lyrics and visuals as well as music and visuals, and frequently reference other forms of media. Goodwin also outlined 5 ways to analyze music videos, focusing on thought beats, narrative and performance, the star image, the relationship between visuals and songs, and technical aspects like camera work, editing, and lighting.

1. AndrewGoodwin(1992)
A mediatheoristwhowrote abookcalleddancinginthe distractionfactory
He suggeststhatthere are:
6 keyfeaturesof amusic video
1. Music videosdemonstrategenre characteristics –Certainfeaturesare expectedoutof the
musicvideodependingonthe genre of it,forexample agirl bandwouldhave some sortof
dancing.
2. There isa relationshipbetweenlyricsandvisuals,the lyricsare representedwithimages.
3. There isa relationshipbetweenmusicandvisuals. –The cuts andedits of the videoare in
sync withthe beatand the rhythm, matchingcutsor effects.
4. The demandof the recordlabel will require lotsof close upsof the artist – thisallowsthe
record label topromote aset image forthe band/artist whichwill helptarget audiences
empathise withthe band/artist.
5. There isa frequentreferencetonotionlookingandparticularlyvoyeuristictreatmentof the
female body –The ‘male gaze’ isoftentoattract a male audience.The male gaze isafocus
on presentingthings thatappeal tomenthisoftenmeans a voyeuristicview of andan
objectificationof women.
6. There are oftenintertextualreference - musicvideosreferenceotherformsof media,most
commonlyfilm,butcanalsobe televisionandothermusicvideos.
5 waysto analyse amusicvideo
1. Thoughtbeats – where yousee the sound – To lookat the musicitself.Have tolookat the
structure of the song.The voice of the song,the artist’svoice isextremelyunique andcan
formidentificationandtrademarks.Goodwinpointsout the artistsmode of address,songs
can be seenasstoriesandthe artist the storytellers.
2. Narrative andperformance –songs fail togive usthe complete narrative,we onlygetagist
and have to make upour own idea.He explainsthatwe shouldignorecommonnarrative.
Music videoshouldhave coherent repeatability,makesiteasierforthe audience towatchit
overand overagain.The artistactingas both narrator and participant helpstoincrease the
authentication,the audienceneedtobelieve itisreal.
3. The star image – The star image is anothervital aspectof musicvideos.Metanarrative has
an importantpart to playinthe musicvideoproductionprocess,how isthe star
represented?
4. Relationof visualstothe song – Music videoscanuse imagesto portraya meaningof the
lyricand or the genre.However,sometimesthe meaningof the videocanbe completely
ignoredwhichleadstoa poormusicvideoas itis notrelevant.
5. Technical aspects – Can holdthe musictogetherwiththe use of cinematography.Theycan
do thisbythe use of camera work,angles,mise-en-scene,editingandsoundeffects.The
lightingcanalsohelpseta moodand emphasise keypartsandmovementsof the video.
Music videosalsouse cutsto go withthe beator the rhythm of the song to make itmore
engaging.