The document analyzes a music video for the song "Common People" by the band Pulp based on film theorist Tim Goodwin's concepts. It summarizes the scenes and argues they establish the time period of the 1960s, portray the artist as important through close-ups and positioning, and show a relationship between the lyrics and visuals through scenes of common people and a grocery store. Multiple shots of the artist reinforce Goodwin's theory of promoting the artist's image. The rapid editing at some points of the music also connects to the faster pace of the music.

1. COMMON PEOPLE
Pulp

2. The opening scene involves a brightly
coloured disco which immediately
presents the video is set in the
1960‟s. this is quite conventional of
the indie genre as it is set at a
different time to what it was created
in. A person then begins to walk
through the centre, people move out
of his way which shows he is of high
importance. It soon becomes
apparent it is the artist as there is a
close up, this shot presents some of
Goodwin‟s theory including the
demand of the record label will
include the need of close ups of the
artist and the relationship between the
lyrics and the visuals.

3. A shot involving the artist on stage is very
conventional of the indie genre as it
represents live performance. This follows
Goodwin‟s theory as the video follows genre
characteristics.
A two shot can be portrayed as a
conversation and uses Goodwin‟s theory
involving a relationship between the lyrics
and the visuals. The next shot shows an
unrealistic grocery store, this can reflect the
creative of the indie genre. It also continues
with Goodwin‟s theory about the relationship
between lyrics and visuals as it shows
common people living their everyday lives
which connects with the line “I wanna do
what common people do.” In the background
we also see a man stealing a box and hiding
it under his coat, the fact the box says Pulp
suggests the people should only consume
this band, and they are so popular the
“common people” have to steal in order to
consume them which shows the band image

4. The fact he is being pushed around,
and is positioned in the centre
foreground of the shot continues to
show he is of high importance. It
also continues a relationship
between lyrics and visuals “I took
her to a supermarket.”
Again in this shot the artist is in the
foreground making him more
superior than the “common people”
in the background.
Multiple visuals of the artist
reinforces Goodwin‟s theory and
promotes his image to the audience
– showing he is an important
person.

5. The music has a relationship with the
visuals as we can hear a guitar and
then visually see one; this shows
Goodwin‟s theory continuing to be
present.
Even though this shot has the artist in
the background the images names is
still present and clearly seen „Pulp‟.
There continues to be a relationship
between the music and visuals, we
can see this when the music begins to
have a faster pace the shots begin to
change more rapidly.

6. It can be considered that Goodwin‟s
theory involving voyeuristic treatment of
the female body is present in this shot as
the woman is positioned in the centre
foreground and is moving to the music.
We then see a shot involving the artist and
people in the background going through
motions in sync, this could connote how
he is becoming more like them.
However, he is yet again positioned in the
foreground and so continues to be of more
importance. The ending shot acts like a
blink which is similar to the opening
shot, the effect of this creates a beginning
and an end. Overall I feel this music video
presents how our video follows the
conventions of the indie genre as it
involves creativity, however ours will not
focus on the bands image but the music
itself.