This document summarizes Andrew Goodwin's music video theory, which proposes that music videos tend to demonstrate typical genre characteristics. It gives examples of how rock music videos often reference horror films, and how Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" highlighted stereotypical representations of women. Additionally, the theory notes there is usually a succinct relationship between the music and visuals in a video. Record labels tend to have demands for their artists' videos as well, such as close-ups and a recurring visual style. Finally, music videos commonly make intertextual references to other works, like Will Smith's "Men in Black" video drawing from the film.

1. ANDREW GOODWIN'S MUSIC
VIDEO THEORY
Theoretical Analysis/ Examples in real media text

2. 1. MUSIC VIDEOS TEND TO
INCLUDE A DEMONSTRATION OF
TYPICAL GENRE CHARACTERISTICS.
• This is frequently seen in music
videos that belong to the rock
genre. This is because they quite
frequently reference the horror
genre of films. Panic! At The
Disco: New Perspective is an
example of this. This indie rock
band made this song for the
horror film ‘Jennifer’s Body’
which is a teen horror film. The
video shows a number of
horrific scenes from the film.

3. 2. THERE ARE FREQUENT
REFERENCES TO THE
NOTION OF LOOKING AND
THE VOYEURISTIC
TREATMENT OF THE FEMALE
BODY.
An example of this aspect of the theory is
Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball. This video was
developed with the intent of highlighting
the stereotypical representation of women
in the media.

4. 3. THERE IS A SUCCINCT
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
MUSIC AND VISUALS.
• There are lots examples of this in ’The Wanted-
Glad you came’.
“The sun goes down, the stars come out”
“I’ll Take you by the hand”

5. 4. THE RECORD LABEL WHICH THE ARTIST
IS ASSIGNED TO TENDS TO HAVE CERTAIN
DEMANDS. THEY OFTEN INCLUDE THE NEED
FOR LOTS OF CLOSE-UPS OF THE ARTIST
AND THE ARTIST WILL HAVE A VISUAL
STYLE WHICH RECURS ACROSS THEIR
WORK.
Examples of this can be seen
with all of Ariana Grande’s
music videos. Her image
consists of a high ponytail and
minimal clothing which has
become her recognizable attire
across all of her productions.
Another example is David
Bowie.

6. 5. THERE IS OFTEN INTERTEXTUAL
REFERENCES.
An example of this is Will Smith- Men In Black. Will Smith was the artist
for this song which was the main song in the film ‘Men In Black’. He also
played the main character in the film. This music video is and displays
intertextual references to the film it is based on.