Andrew Goodwin identifies key features that distinguish music videos: 1) Visuals can illustrate, amplify, or contradict the lyrics and music. 2) Music genres have characteristic video styles and iconography. 3) Videos often feature voyeurism, especially in the treatment of women, and close-ups of the main artist. 4) Videos may reference other videos or media through intertextuality.

1. Andrew Goodwin’s Theory (Applied to music videos)

2. How to analyse music videos Andrew Goodwin identifies key features that distinguish music as a form: . A relationship between visuals either Illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics . A relationship between the music and the visuals again either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the music . Music genres have their own music video style and iconography . There is likely to be voyeurism, particularly in the treatment of women . There’s a demand on the part of the record company for lots of close – ups of the main artist/vocalist. . There is likely to be intertextual references either to other music videos or to films and TV texts.

3. Evidence of close ups of main vocalist, whilst other members of the group remain in the foreground. Voyeurism taking place as woman is sexualised through limited clothing Music genre characteristics - Typical setting of a Grime music video, shot on the streets in the dark dressed in hoods, own associations are created.

4. Thought Beats – Seeing the sound in your head First step is to look at the music itself. We must take into account the structure of the song for e.g. Chorus/Verses . Secondly , the voice of the song. The artists voice is extremely unique and can form identification or trademarks that work well with the star image. Roland Barthes theory of the Grain of voice can be related to this. He sees the singing voice as an expressive instrument and therefore able to make associations of its own. Thirdly, Goodwin also points out the artists mode of address. Songs can be seen as stories and the artist the storyteller, making the music video a two communication device, them telling us a story and us listening.

5. Songs fail to give us the complete narrative! We only tend to get a gist of the meaning of the song and then tend to make up our own idea of what is being told. Goodwin explains that music videos should ignore common narrative. It is important in their role of advertising . Music videos should coherent repeatability . Narrative and performance work hand in hand it makes it easier for the audience to watch over and over without loosing interest. The artist acting as both narrator & participant helps to increase the authenticity however the lip sync and other mimed actions remains the heart of music videos. The audience need to believe this is real. Narrative & Performance

6. Star Image The star image is another vital aspect of music videos. Meta narrative which is a big story that describes the development of the star over time, it has an important part to play in the music video production process.

7. Relation of Visuals to Song There are three ways in which music videos work to promote a song Music videos can use a set of images to illustrate the meaning of lyrics & genre, this is the most common This is similar to repeatability. Meanings and effects are manipulated and constantly shown through the video and drummed into our vision This is where the meaning of the song is completely ignored

8. Technical Aspects Technical aspects hold the music video together through use of camera work, movement, angle, mise- en -scene editing, sound and special effects. Speed, camera movement, editing , cutting and post production are all forms of use of camera. Lighting and colour help set moods and emphasise key moments of the song for dramatic effect Mise-en-scene, the setting of music videos is vital, it needs to look authentic to attain professionalism . Beats, music videos use cuts to go with the beat or rhythm making the video more entertaining.