Goodwin’s Theory – Music Video

Jordan Nettley

1. Music Video tend to include a demonstration of the typical genre characteristics

For example:

A music video which features a lot of stage performances is typical of the heavy metal genre.

A music video which features a dance routine is typical to a girl/boy band

A music video the features a group of young, attractive women in bikini’s by the pool or expensive sports cars, is typical of a rap video.

Music Videos can also link to film genres, this is known as intertextuality:

For example rap songs are influenced to ‘gangsta’ films.

2. There are frequent reference’s to the notion of looking and voyeuristic treatment of the female body

The notion of looking includes men or women being portrayed seductively or it there is eye contact with the camera. The notion of looking can also be referenced by the use of props.

Voyeurism is widely used to sell the artist's music through sec appeal, a good example would be the music video – Wrecking Ball, produced by Miley Cyrus. The video contains a lot of the artist in little clothing

3. 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 movements 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.

4. Narrative & Performance 

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 – An negotiated view of a text.

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 its make 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.