Goodwin suggested that music videos can illustrate, amplify, or ignore the meaning of the song. Music videos that illustrate use visuals to directly represent the lyrics, like Katy Perry's "Walls" video depicting feelings of being trapped. Videos can also amplify meaning by adding context without contradicting the song, like Michael Jackson's "Man of the Mirror" highlighting political issues. Sometimes videos contradict the song, like Carly Rae Jepsen's "I Really Like You" video featuring Tom Hanks unrelated to her love life. Key features of music videos include developing motifs part of the artist's image and using the male gaze with women in revealing clothing.
2. Goodwin suggested that music videos demonstrated consistent genre
characteristics. A example of this could be heavy metal bands having dance
routines that are suited to their music video.
3. Relationship between Visuals and Song
Three keys of relationship: Illustrate, Amplify, Ignore
Illustrate - Music vids can use set of images to articulate the meanings of lyrics
Amplify - Where images in music vid contradict the lyrics but add additional meaning
Ignore - When the meaning of song is completely ignored
4. When a Music Video illustrates song
This music video contains various representative aspects to illustrate the feelings
Katy Perry is portraying in her song
- The walls in the video represent a particular mood, ‘walls closing in on her’
meaning she felt trapped
- In real life, Katy divorced Russel Brand and was going through a tough time
as she abandoned her previous female empowerment character.
- This was rather an apology to her fans through a song.
5. Contradicting the meaning of the song
Sometimes a music video can have a blurred meaning that contradicts the point of
the song. An ideal example of this is Carly Rae Jepsen’s “I Really Like You” video.
- Actor Tom Hanks agreed to be apart of the video that was
mainly constructed based on the various stages of his
fame.
- This has nothing to do with the lyrics in the song as he is
much older than Carly Rae Jepsen, it’s about her early
stages of love life.
6. Amplifying the song
Goodwin states that some videos don't contradict but they can provide additional
meanings. Michael Jackson’s “Man of The Mirror” is an example of this.
- The message in the song is not contradicted at all, in fact it is shown more
explicitly through the images shown in the video of political events, poverty
and violence.
7. Key Features of Music Video
Artists can develop motifs that reoccur in their music videos, almost apart of their
image. P Diddy uses this as well, his ongoing motif is sexy girls, expensive cars
and lavish clothing to portray his wealthy lifestyle to an audience.
8. Features of A Music Video
Laura Mulvey’s male gaze:
- Women viewed as sexual objects by men to the audience
- This can be seen as used a lot within music videos
- Women wearing revealing clothing to be accepted by men
Beyonce’s music videos usually
have her wearing revealing
clothes that can reflect the
patriarchal society women live in
now to please men.
9. Goodwin says Music Videos should have coherent repeatability. Narrative and
performance work hand in hand. It makes it easier for the audience to watch
without losing interest.
- refers to the artist acting as both narrator & participant. He says this helps
to increase the authenticity.
However, the lip synch and other mimed actions remains the heart of music
videos. The audience need to believe this is real.
