Andrew GOODWIN’STheory.Charlotte Holland

Genre CharacteristicsRelationship

between lyrics and visuals

Relationship between music and visuals

Star image motifsNotion of looking

Intertexual references

Performance, Narrative or Concept-based?

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Genre Characteristics

Music videos often reflect their genre through the demonstration within the videos using specific characteristics, kind of like a stereotype. (A typical girl band would include a dance routine).

For example: Girls Aloud – Promise this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qxUqwrNDA

Relationship between lyrics and visuals

The meaning of this one is quite obvious… a connection is shown through the visuals relating to the lyrics. Either being Illstrative: explaining the lyrics visually, amplifying: exaggeration of the lyrics linking to the video – therefore making sense and also contradicting: being the opposite, not such a strong relationship.

An example of this is in Justin Beiber – Boyfriend video. The picture relating specifically to the lyric “I got money in my hands that I’d really like to blow” because he is looks like he has “money to blow” showing wealthy aspects like the shiny car, bling jewellery and sunglasses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GuqB1BQVr4

Relationship between music and visuals

Again this simply means that the visuals show a connection to the actual music. These are also either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting.

A music video that I thought showed this feature was Lawson – When she was mine. This is because a majority of the video shows the band, main singer, guitarist’s and drummer: which reflects the upbeat instrumental music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmQRAXJoHg0

Star image motifsThe music videos will need to include many close-up shots of the artist, demanded by the record labels, then the artists may develop motifs, these will recur across there work.

An artist that came to mind when thinking about this was Lady Gaga because throughout her career she has built up a crazy reoccurring image.

These images I have collected are from three of her popular music videos, including: Born this way, Poker face and Bad romance. They all reflect her strange, unique to say the least and weird costumes/visuals.

Notion of lookingThere are a few meanings by this heading, firstly is ‘screens within screens’ Many music videos include televisions, mobile phones etc. Like the one I have chosen: Ne-Yo – Because of you (Right).

The other meaning would be particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body – women that are seen as a sexual object. There are a huge amount of music videos that could fit into this section nowadays. E.g. Rihanna – We found love music video has a lot of sexual references and also shows her quite exposed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atz_aZA3rf0&feature=g-vrec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg00YEETFzg

Intertexual referencesIn many music videos you will find there are often links to other films, TV programmes or other music videos etc, this is called an intertextual reference.

Madonna (ft. Nicki Minaj and M.I.A) – Gimme all your luvin’ shows intertexual reference to Marilyn Monroe: By all three of the artists dressed up in a white dress with a curly, blonde, short and classy wig, red lips and also her beauty spot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cItHOl5LRWg

Performance, Narrative or Concept-based?

Performance-based means the focus is solidly on the artist/band. E.g. Beyonce – Single ladies, where the focus is on her body, this can be done because she is popular and already has her fan base built-up, also shows female empowerment.

Narrative-based means that it has a story attached related to the lyrics of the song. Artic Monkeys – When the sun goes down shows elements that would fit into this section e.g. “So that she had to roam the streets” with the image (to the right) where she looks homeless, scruffy, roaming streets.

Finally concept based is usually single concept – obscure/surreal for the audience, more than likely including special effects. The Prodidgy – Warriors dance video shows no relationship with the lyrics or music therefore is random, different and concept-based.