1. Exploring Goodwin’s theory in the real
music video world….

2. Mr Goodwin theorised key aspects in a
music video…
• Demonstrate typical aspects of that genre
• A thought through beat
• Relationship between song and visuals
• Narrative and performance of song
• Technical aspect of music video
• Intertextual references
• Encouraged voyeurism

3. Demonstrating typical characteristics of
genre
Rock – Band performance
Linkin Park “Numb”
Dance – On stage DJ
DJ Tiesto “Insomnia”
Indie – Acoustic Guitars
Mumford and Sons “Little Lion Man”

4. Rap – Half naked women
Snoop Dogg “Wet”
Pop – Dance Routines
Beyoncé “Single Ladies”
Electronica – SFX/Cartoon
Dye “Fantasy”

5. Thought through beat
• This involves getting to grips with the actual
structure of the song - analysing the beat, lyrics and
skeleton of the song
• Next the music video has to identify the main
singer/star image – one cohesive with the voice –
this makes it easier for the audience to identify with
the song
• Next would be the actual narrative of the song –
what is the message/story the star image is trying
to get across – this enables the audience to see the
star image as a protagonist in the situation

6. Relationship between the lyrics and the
video
He believed the video can
promote the song through
the way it analyses lyrics…
This can go one of three
ways:
Illustrate – the music
video explains the song
and the lyrics and the
Amplify – When certain
shots are repeated in a
music video to amplify a
meaning
Contradict – The music
video completely ignores
the lyrics/meanings of the
song
“The Salmon
Dance” The
Chemical
Brothers is just
fish doing the
salmon dance
“Piece of Me”
Britney Spears
features
frequent shots
of the paps
“Swoon” The
Chemical
Brothers is a
pretty irrelevant
video to the
lyrics..

7. Narrative and performance of a song
• Goodwin believed in making the artist a part of the video – by performing and
acting the song as it helps with their public image
• Furthermore, it helps with realism, connection and entertainment for the audience
• The star image is VITAL – they help make the video appealing
• They are usually presented in very extravagant and striking ways
Bjork
The
Beastie
Boys
Lady Gaga
Michael
Jackson
AC/DC

8. Technical aspects
• He also states that the mise en scene is pretty much what holds a music video
together
• Lighting and colour especially help create mood and drama for a music video -
R&B – N-Dubz “Number One”
Features strobe lights for a nightclub effect
Metal – Metallica “Enter Sandman”
Dark lighting to fit with heavy metal/scary theme
Pop– Katy Perry “This
is how we do”
Happy bold bright
colours

9. Intertextual references
• SO MANY music videos of various genres use intertextual references
(through other media platforms) to sell and brand themselves.
DJ Yoda “Sega RIP”
Sega and Nintendo references
Chase and Status “Let You Go”
The Jeremey Kyle Show references
Destiny's Child “Independent Women”
Charlie’s angels references
Robbie Williams “You Know Me”
Alice in Wonderland references

10. Voyeurism in music videos
Voyeurism is the pleasure of watching
someone else’s sexual behaviour –
through undressing, dancing, eye
contact etc.
This includes both men and women
being portrayed seductively or having
eye contact with the camera, forcing
the audience to ‘look’, which
encourages voyeurism
Mirrors, television screens, cameras,
binoculars are often used
This idea of voyeurism is often used to
brand an artist and make record sales
through sexual appeal
Guru Josh Project
“Infinity”
Kanye West
“Bound 2”
Eric Prydz
“Call On Me”
50 Cent
“PIMP”