This document summarizes four main theories of pop music videos: 1) Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics through elements like stage performances or dance routines. 2) There is a relationship between lyrics/music and visuals that can be illustrative, amplifying, or contradictory. 3) Record labels demand close-ups of artists and artists may develop recurring motifs. Videos also reference notions of voyeurism. 4) Videos can allude to other works through intertextual references to films, TV, or other music videos.

1. L A U R E N T E J A D A
ANALYSIS OF THE 4 MAIN POP
MUSIC VIDEO THEORIES

2. Andrew Goodwin
 Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage
performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).
 There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either
illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
 There is a relationship between music and visuals (either
illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
 The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of
close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which
recur across their work (a visual style).
 There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within
screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment
of the female body.
 There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes,
other music videos etc).

3. Simon Firth
Music videos can be characterised by three main typologies: performance, narrative and
conceptual
Frith thought that ‘Performance’ videos were the most common (baring in mind that
this theory was conducted in 1988 so this may not be the case now). Performance videos
says it in the title, it simply means that the artist is featured in the video singing in
concert to enthusiastic fans. The goal of this type of video is to give the viewer a sense
of what a concert really feels like, and gives you a feel of the kind of atmosphere.
‘Narrative’ videos are videos that present a sequence of events creating any kind of
story, love stories seem to be the most common in narrative music videos
‘Conceptual’ music videos all rely on a poetic form, most commonly a metaphor.
Instead of telling a story in linear form, a conceptual music video created a feeling to
be evoked throughout viewing it. Each viewer may have a different feeling or opinion on
what emotion has been created, as a metaphor can be in interpreted in different ways.

4. Richard Dyer
The theory
Richard Dyers believed that 'Pop Stars' and 'Pop Performers' are different things
Pop Stars and known for being famous and Pop Performers are famous for their talent
Performances and talent can be easily forgotten about because of publicity stunts and scandals
Pop stars are constructed by management and labels to create a person that an audience will want to
love and be
The construction of Stars
Pop stars are created from 'artificial images', even if they are being represented as 'real
people' with 'real emotions'
They are told what to say and how to feel when in public, and are 'controlled' by record labels and
institutions

Daft Punk are unique for their anonymity image
Industry and Audiences
Stars serve a purpose of making money from their audiences using their various elements of their
persona that attract the audience
the music industry is well aware of the different audiences that can be targeted, such as 'Tweenies'
who are attracted to Justin Bieber
The 'conveyor belt' approach to new stars means that talent isn't developed, and a star's value may
be very short-lived

5. Steve Archer
 He suggested that their needs to be a strong and coherent relationship between
narrative and performance prompts.
 Music video will be cut between performance and narrative of the song by the
band or artist.
 A carefully choreographed dance might be part of the performance for example
Beyonce’s – Single Ladies dance routine or furthermore an extra aspect of the
video designed to add visuals.

6. The analysis of the 4 main theories of pop video helped me
develop my knowledge and understanding of the conventions in
which my music video product will need to eventually conform to
when I begin to produce it. Furthermore it increased my
knowledge on the entertainment aspects in which music videos
need to meet for the target audience to receive the full
intentions of the product, in order for them to idolise the
stars or band.