Blog 5: Key Features - Andrew Goodwin

Andrew Goodwin was a very important figure in our media research role for the main reason of his features and references that are contained within his book, "Dancing in the Distraction Factory".

In this book he explains all the key features and stereotypical occurrences throughout different types of music video. This really helps us with our understanding and throughout the year we can refer back to these points that made great films we all know about today.

These are: 

-Music videos that demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g stage performances in metal songs, or dance routines for boy/girl bands etc.) 

An example of a music video that perfectly fits these guidelines is his, All American Rejects - Gives You Hell. this video shows them as a relatively popular rock band having fun and showing off their musical abilities through the form of this very catchy and repetitive song. The frequent use of close ups of the lead singer as well as overall shots of the band preview and showcase their ability as a band whilst still allowing the song to draw you in. The mise en scene is more or less scruffy, therefore also giving off a rock band feel to it and correlating with the song.They also have a narrative version that shows more of a story. This also fits the genre characteristics that Goodwin speaks about.

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Another characteristic of music videos that Andrew Goodwin described to us through his book is that of the relationship between the music videos synopsis and the story that the lyrics are portraying either through illustration, amplifying, or contradicting. 

An example of this characteristic in a music video is that of: Adele - Someone Like You

This videos story line dictates a very sad love song where Adele who plays herself in the video is singing about someone she once lost(break up and that she will never find again,) it is a very sad song and the video reflects this through the constant black and white theme giving off a very sad motif throughout the song, as well as the constant takes of Adele on her own with no one else, also reflecting the very sad mood of which the song and lyrics also portray, they are correlating.The black and white really shows the illusion that the song is sad and has a sad story. The water also helps portray this.

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The video will need lots of closeups within the context of the video in order to please the record label and preview the artists full potential in order to make as much money as possible. the close ups will portray the artists brand identity for example, lady gaga weird sense of style.

This video by Lady Gaga features a lot of closeups which highlight and draw special attention to her style and fashion sense,of which being her brand identity that she has built up.This can also be liked back to Laura Mulveys ideals of feminism, as in almost every scene within this music video she is practically half naked, purposely trying to show as much "allowed" skin as possible in order to attract more male viewers and appeal to her male audience. this really shows her brand identity as she shows it in nearly very way, location, shot choices, looks, and even dance types.

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There is also frequent reference to 'the notion of looking, screen within screen, looking into Iphone, computer, phone, or tv screens as well as generally any technological advancement that is being abused in order to redirect your attention to it. An example of this is within the video made by the killers- "just another girl" nearing the very end of the video we see a reference to looking through looping tv screens all showing the same picture.

This video doesnt contain lots of these looking notions, like looking at screens through a screen, However does have a very good example near the end of the video. This is where the singer of the band leans over a monitor which is filming him, making a repeat image on the screen.

There is an intertextual reference to other music videos or generally other forms of media such as films ect. This cause other people to relate said music to other music videos thus refering to as well as it would also make their video more popular because of the use of famous examples well known films, ect.

'Walks Like Rhianna' by The Wanted uses many different references to many different famous music videos thoughout the course of their video. This contains references to bands like Take That and Backstreet Boys; therefore proving how popular this can make a video just because of its well known references.