This document outlines Andrew Goodwin's 6 key features of music videos: 1) Genre characteristics, 2) Relationship between lyrics and visuals, 3) Relationship between music and visuals, 4) Close ups of artists, 5) References to looking/voyeurism, and 6) Intertextuality. Examples are provided for each feature, such as a metal band video exemplifying genre characteristics through clothing, instruments and setting. The document aims to identify common conventions in music videos that can help in their production.

1. Andrew Goodwin’s 6 Features of Music Video

2. 1.GENRE CHARACTERISTICS
(e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in
Hip Hop, clothing, instruments).
This is an example of what a metal bands
music video would look like. The dark clothing
and long hair with the whole band together
playing their instruments, helps identify the
genre characteristics. Practically all metal
band videos are performances in dramatic
settings, like the desolate burning woods in
this video. The flames at the front has
connotations of hell and satan which is a
common theme in this genre.

3. 2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LYRICS
AND VISUALS
The lyrics are represented with images.
(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
This an example of when the lyrics are represented
with something happening on the screen. The
lyrics say ‘All of a sudden there shined a shining
demon’ and a demon suddenly appears on the
screen in sync with the lyrics. Tenacious D often
have narrative based videos that are humorous.
Especially the song ‘Tribute’ as seen on the left,
which is a story being told as a song so the sync
with lyrics and visuals helps tell the story.

4. 3. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSIC
AND VISUALS
The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music.
(Either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
This is an example of when the music changes so does what is happening on screen. In Rhianna’s song the
room is coloured when the music first starts playing and when the main part of the song comes on and the
beat changes the room suddenly goes black in sync the change of music. This use of lighting helps kick start
the song. The actual music is dance and the dance genre is associated with strobe lights to resemble a
dancing in a club, so this helps target the audience.

5. 4. CLOSE UPS OF THE ARTISTS
Lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across
their work (a visual style). These include CUs of the star’s face, iconography of band
image, visual trademarks and motifs.
This is Wiz Khalifa, he often has close
ups in his music videos with a lot of
hand gestures and casual clothing,
this gives him a visual style. Close ups
of artists help give the artist a visual
style as well as show their confidence.
It’s also a way of attracting the
audience as they are in awe of the
artist.

6. 5. REFERENCES TO LOOKING
There is frequent reference to the notion of looking: screens within screens, mirrors,
stages, voyeurism, etc… and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
This is an example of an artist looking at topless women
dancing, which is example of voyeurism. Another
example is when the audience watches the artist as I said
in the previous slide it’s a way of attracting the audience
as they are in awe of the artist. This has links to the male
and female gaze. For example lots of female artist have a
limited amount of clothes on as they dance in front of the
camera which attracts he male gaze. When we see
characters looking at something or someone it helps us
see through their eyes and shows the artists
characteristics. As you can see on the left Snoop Dogg is
watching half naked women dancing identifying his
power but also his sexuality.

7. 6. INTERTEXTUALITY
There are often intertextual references to films, tv programmes, other music videos,
mythology, news reels, etc.
This is an example of intertextuality, Red Hot
Chilli Peppers – Californication music video
takes the styles of different popular games like
Grand Theft Auto and Tomb Raider for the
content. This example is iconic and helps
promote the video even more.

8. MY PRODUCTION
Having looked at the six features this will help me to choose features to use in my
production to help it seem more like a music video.