Andrew Goodwin 'Dancing in the Distraction Factory' (1992)

In His Book Dancing in the Distraction Factory Andrew Goodwin points out characteristics and features that can be found in music videos. Looking at a selection of music videos which can be recognised

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.
(e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop). For example, this helps show you the definitive characteristics of a certain genre, for example in a metal music video their stage performance should be reflected, in a hip hop music video you would expect the artist to be mentioning how they came from the bottom and worked their way up.

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images.
(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). If the music video is a narrative then the music video will help portray the song in the light in which the band/artist wished it to be, instead of leaving the song ambiguous and leaving people guessing what the meaning is.

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). Again if the music video is a narrative then the music video will help portray the song in the light in which the band/artist wished it to be, instead of leaving the song ambiguous and leaving people guessing what the meaning is.

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 (a visual style). Artists of the R'n'B genre may create a motif of a dance routine or such things, whereas a metal band/artist may use a certain style of guitar, an example being Synyster Gates from Avenged Sevenfold and his signature Schecter guitar which has a black body and silver pinstripes.

5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. Many videos contain a sexual portrayal of the female body, however it is more noticeable in genres such as R'n'B or Rap than it is in Rock or Metal, however these genres use the idea of a female and sexualise them, just not as often as other genres. 

6. There are often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc). Artists that have done this include Blink-182, Son of Dork. Blink-182 took camera angles and ideas from other music videos and combined them to create their video to All The Small Things. Son of Dork's name comes from a scene in a movie called Problem Child when a chant of 'Son of Dork' is used. Their songs also include lyrics to do with other movies or bands, such as the bands song Murdered in The Mosh which includes references to bands like Janes Addiction and Nirvana (a reference to Kurt Cobain is made). The song Ticket Outta Loserville (their debut single) makes reference to a 'Star Trek shrine'.

Using Goodwin's ideas choose a music video of a similar genre to your and write a detailed analysis addressing the 6 features as outlined by Goodwin. Don't forget to include discussion of the technical aspects as well such as mise en scene, camera movement, position, angle and composition as well as editing techniques used.