Research for Music Video: Andrew Goodwin

ANDREW GOODWIN’S THEORY

Goodwin’s theory is strongly based around narrative analysis, depending on what genre the music is from formulates his ideas in what to expect in certain types of videos. He feels that traditional narratives analysis doesn’t apply to pop videos, simply due to the fact that traditional videos approach their narrative from different angle to novel and films.

·         Pop videos are built around songs

·         Pop videos uses a singer both as narrator and as a character – multiple roles

·         The singer often looks directly at the camera breaking the forth wall, this is an extension of performance trying to involve the viewers at home

Pop videos rely on repetition for example the chorus or a particular line. Pop videos have certain expectations as most of them are familiar or focus on intersexuality between men and women.  They do not have a form of closure or ending however they aim to build a climax or constant repetition before fading away.  Sometimes the visualisation of a song may go beyond the original meaning to provide visual pleasure on the audience, which also helps promote the music. There are three types of relations between the song : Illustration, amplification and disjuncture.  Pop videos have easily recognisable features, they also try to appeal to as wide of an audience as possible.

ILLUSTRATION – video tells a story of the lyrics, dance is often used to express the feelings/moods in the song.

‘ Drake – Hold on, were going home’

This fits into illustration category because as well as expressing their feelings and mood through dance, it also tells a story from the beginning of how they got to where they are and how the main character will save the love of his life no matter what, within the story there is a deeper meaning.

AMPLIFICATION – occurs when the videos introduce new meanings that do not contradict with lyrics but add layers of meaning

‘Its Tiffany ft. Fuse ODG – Spanner’

This fits into the amplification category because the music video reflects the characters actions. The lyrics are sync to what the singers are doing, so this does not contradict what they are saying, it emphasises instead.

DISJUNCTURE- where there is little connection between the lyric and video, the video contradicts the lyrics.

‘Micheal Jackson – Man in theMirror’