This document analyzes and summarizes different theories about the music video for Garth Brooks' song "The Thunder Rolls" in 3 sentences or less per theory: 1. The lyrics establish the mood while the visuals clarify the setting and conditions, and digital effects allow three video clips to occupy the screen without merging. 2. The video contains genre characteristics of country music as the singer wears a cowboy hat and the lyrics and visuals illustrate each other. 3. Shots allow the viewer to see the character and lightning out the window, there are no intertextual references or voyeurism.

1. GARTH BROOKS- THE
THUNDER ROLLS

2. Analysis
 The songs lyrics establish the overall mood and
general feeling of the video more then the meaning,
but still establish some of it as it tells the story. Where
as the visuals just clarify the setting and conditions
described in the narrative.
 The mise en scene and the performance of the song
reflect the genre the best as the slow style of playing
the guitar used in the video and the clothing the singer
wear are typical of the country music genre.
 Digital effects are used in this video to allow three
clear video clips to occupy the same screen without
merging together which complimented the narrative
of the video beautifully.

3. Andrew Goodwin’s theory
 1. This video contains genre characteristics of a
country musical as the character wears a cowboy
hat
 2. The relationship between the lyrics and the
visuals are illustrative.
 3. There are allot of mid shots in this video to
allow the viewer to see the character and the
window of the room were the lightning is visible.
 4. There are no intertextual references in this
video.
 5. There is no voyeurism in this video.

4. John Stewart’s theory
 1. There are a few close ups used in the video
but most of them are used to focus on the
weather out side and the lighting is dark which
hides the singers face.
 2.This video does not have a clear cinema,
fashion or art photography influence.
 3.The visual style of the videos, Dark and
shady, lightning is a constantly reoccurring
motif in this video.
 4. There is no Voyeurism in this video.

5. Steve Archer’s theory
 1.There is a strong coherent relationship
between the narrative and the performance of
the song as the narrative of the video reacts to
the song e.g.. When he describes the storms as
getting out of control the lighting in the
window strikes more frequently.
 2. There is no sign of dancing or choreography
in this video. But the use of animation is
impressive.

6. Sven E Carlsson’s theory
 1. This point is not valid for this video as the
main character in the video is almost
completely cover by the shadows.
 2. The singer does use the images shown in the
video to tell a story instead of personal images
as he uses the full moon to show the time of
day and the window scene to show the
weather outside.- uses this to set the scene.

7. Laura Mulvey’s theory
 Is not valid to this video as this video does not
contain any women/ female characters.

8. The End