Goodwin proposes that there are 6 key features and 5 ways to analyze music videos. The 6 features are that videos demonstrate genre characteristics, show relationships between lyrics and visuals, between music and visuals, demands of record labels, references to looking/voyeurism, and intertextual references. The 5 ways to analyze are through thought beats, narrative and performance, the star image, relation of visuals to song, and technical aspects like mise-en-scene and editing.

1. Goodwin's theory
By Beth Carter

2. ANDREW GOODWIN (1992)
 Goodwin wrote a book called ‘Dancing in the
distraction factory’
He suggests there are:
 • 6 key features of a music video
 • 5 ways to analyse a music video

3. The 6 features of a music video:
1) Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
Certain features are expected out of a video depending on
the genre of the music, for example a girl bands/artists
are expected to have dancers and close up singers which a
rock video would be darker and no dancing.

4. 2) There is a relationship between lyrics and
visuals. The lyrics are represented with images
Theme, mise-en-scene and events of the video
match with lyric of the song, to help to portray
the message of the song.

5. 3) There is a relationship between the music and visual.
The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of
the music.
The cuts and edits of the video are in sync with the
rhythm and beat of the song matching cuts and effects.

6. 4) 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 recur across their work (a visual
style)
This allows the record label to promote a set image for
the band/artist, which will help target audiences
empathise with the band/artist.

7. 5) There is frequently reference to notion of looking
(screens within screen, mirrors, stages, etc) and
particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body
The ‘male gaze’ is often used to attract a male audience.

8. 6) There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV
programmes, other music videos etc)
Music videos reference other forms of media, most
commonly film, but can also be television and other music
videos. (Katy Perry basically dressed as Tarzan so it is a
reference to Tarzan)

9. 5 ways to analyse a
music video

10.  1. Thought beats – where you ‘see’ in the sound
 Seeing the sound – take into account the structure (verse, chorus, verse)
of the song
 The voice of the song- have they got a unique voice we can recognise
this trademarks that work well with the star image
2. Narrative and performance
 Songs fail to give us the whole narrative
 We only tend to get the general gist of the meaning of the song and then
we add our own meanings to it
 Music videos should have coherent repeatability. Narrative and
performance work hand in hand, makes it easy for audience to watch over
and over without losing interest
 The artist is both narrator and participant helps increase authenticity
however the lip sync and other mimed actions remains the heart of the video
 The audience need to believe it is real

11. 3. The star image
 How is the star being represented in the video?
 Meta narrative (means big story that describes the development of the
star)
4. Relation of visuals to song
 There are 3 ways in which music videos work to promote a song:
 Illustrate-illustrate the meaning of the lyric and genre (relationships and
breakups)
 Amplify – taking the general themes and moods of the songs
 Disjunction – completely ignoring the lyrics and theme of the song
5. Technical aspects of a music video
 Mise-en-scene (authenticity), sound, cinematography and editing (matching
cuts with beats)