Music Video Theory

1. Andrew Goodwin’s
Music Video Theory

2. Andrew Goodwin
Andrew Goodwin, a director
of music, noted how music
videos feature certain
elements. Goodwin addresses
these six steps in his book
‘Dancing in the Distraction
Factory’ to bring it to the
audience’s attention as well as
assist music video directors
when creating a music video.

3. Nº1
Music Videos demonstrate genre
characteristics

4. Nº2
There is a relationship between lyrics and
visuals. The lyrics are represented with
images.

5. Nº3
There is a relationship between music
and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of
the visual reflects that of the music.

6. Nº4
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 reoccur across their work.

7. Nº5
There is frequently reference to notion of
looking (screens within screens, mirrors,
stages) and particularly voyeuristic
treatment of the female body.

8. Nº6
There are often intertextual references (to
films, tv programmes, other music videos)
etc.