Detailed analysis of music videos

Use the below table to help structure your notes when analysing music video. High grade responses make sustained reference to appropriate theory.

Andrew Goodwin - 7 key ideas to identify

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. Stage performances in metal videos, dance routines for boy/girl bands)

2. There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals (Either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)

3. There is a relationship between the music and the visuals (Either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)

4. 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 (e.g. A visual style)

5. There are frequent references to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic (sexual) treatment of the female body

6. There is often intertextual references (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)

7. Whether the video is primarily performance-based, narrative-based or concept-based and how element of each is used in it

Artist:TAYLOR SWIFT

Song title:WILDEST DREAMS

Concept/narrative:LEADING ACTOR AND ACTRESS (TAYLOR) FALL IN LOVE BUT HAVE A DISPUTE THAT

AFFECTS THEIR ACTING ON SET.

Features Observations Examples

Genre characteristics Followed: Fashionable costumes on

artist that fit in with the storyline

Lyrics usually based around love/relationships

Close ups of artist singing Bright and neutral colouring Vocals usually dominate

soundDefies:

Artist usually portrayed as happy

LS of dancing scenes

Relationship between lyrics and visuals

Staring at the sunset babe’ ‘Red lips and rosy cheeks’ ‘No one has to know what we

do’ ‘His hands are in my hair.’

Relationship between music and visuals No set number of beats before the

shot cuts. However, the shot always cuts on a beat.

Are there close ups of the artists and star image motifs?

Several close ups of the artist that show her singing the lyrics – convention.

Red lipstick and retro look.

Is there reference to the notion of looking?

Through mirrors, curtains.

Are the examples of intertextual references?

No

Is the video category illustration, amplification or contradicting? How much of each?

80% Illustrative and 20% Amplification

Examples in second box down.