How To Analyse A Music Video

A theory of how to analyse a music video, devised by Andrew Goodwin writing in "Dancing in the Distraction Factory" (Routledge 1992)

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).

-Our planning for our music video doesn't demonstrate any of this, we would think an acoustic song would have the artist playing his/her guitar, a simple video. However, we have chosen to contradict this by making the video more interesting and dynamic. 

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

-We believe that this is the main importance of a music video, otherwise, the two have little relevance with each other. We have analysed the lyrics in depth so that the lyrics and our story board are linked together, making it simple for the audience to understand, but still being ironic. The song we have chosen is the narrative to our music video, which is why we believe this point is necessary for a music video.

There is a relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)

-Our music video, which we have planned, will have quite a fast paced flow of shots, however we have chosen an acoustic song, which is quite slow and calming. This is where we have differed from the theory, as we wanted to create irony and make the filming different and alternative, rather than having a slow paced video, making a strong relationship with the music.

The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style). 

-Our music video doesn't include the artist, so this differs from this theory, and our story board doesn't outline any major close ups where you can see all of the actors face. We thought this would be better as it keeps the facial emotion minimal, and creates a mystery for the audience, not knowing entirely who they are watching. 

There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screes within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

-Our planning shows actions through mirrors,