Theories of Andrew Goodwin

Andrew Goodwin key features of a music video

Andrew Goodwin in 'dancing in the distraction factory' 1992 has identified the following features of music videos.


















Goodwin maintains music videos demonstrates genre characteristics for example stage performance in a heavy metal video. Most heavy metal music videos feature the group on stage often in a concert.



In the past the artists had long hair, wore leather and the stage often had a lot of dry ice.
the next one is girl/boy bands, in their music videos they usually are doing a dance routine in unison.
For example New Kids On The Block and their music videos  mostly consist of dance routines.



There is a relationship between visuals and songs.


Illustrate- Music videos can use a set of images to illustrate the meaning of the lyrics and the genre. This is the most common.

Amplify- This is where images of the music video do not contradict to the lyrics of  but add additional meanings that the song doesn't intend to do.

Ignore- This is where the meaning of a song is completely ignored

The demands of a record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist. The artit may develop motifs that recur across their work for example  

In The Wanted's music video 'Walks like Rihanna' they make multiple references to classic music videos of older boy bands including N Sync and Take That. The video does tend to portray woman in a sexual way and almost objectifies them as some of the camera shots are close ups of certain body parts of the woman which is also where men are most likely to look on a woman. 

Walks like Rhianna; The Wanted

• Strung up like puppets to parody N-SYNCs famous 'Bye Bye' Video
• Parody to Backstreet Boys wearing White suits like they did in their 'I want it that way'
• They also parody Take Thats 'Back for good' Music videos in big coats in the rain infront of a car. 

There is often a reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes etc)

Goodwin says that music videos should have coherent repeatability. Narrative and performence work hand in hand which makes it easier for the audience to watch over and over without losing interest.
He refers to the artist as both the narrator and participant. He says it helps to increase the authenticity.
Lip sync and other mimed actions remain the heart of the music video as it is important to make sure the audience believes it is real.