‘MUSIC VIDEO’S DEMONSTRATE GENRE

CHARACTERISTICS’

ANDREW GOODWINSTHEORY

WHAT DO MUSIC VIDEOS INCLUDE? More often than not, music videos include several characteristics based upon the genre of the music or artist.

For Example;

Most rock videos will feature a stage performance of the artist, or a pop video will have choreographed dance routines.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS, LYRICS AND THE MUSIC. This is where a music video uses certain shots or framings to illustrate lyrics of the song.

For example;

If the lyrics are saying ‘Jump, Jump, Jump!’ , Andrew Goodwins theory would mean that the people in the video would be jumping as the lyrics are said.

INTERTEXTUAL REFERENCES

Some music video’s include references to films in which the song may feature in.

For example; Will Smith, in scenes from the Men in Black film, in the video.

VOYEURISTIC TREATMENT OF THE FEMALE BODY.

This includes women being portrayed seductively by wearing little to nothing clothing, and often making eye contact with the camera.

This is used to sell the artists video by using sex appeal, a recent example would be Miley Cyrus’ music video ‘Wrecking Ball’ in which we see her almost naked, influencing and encouraging both men and women to watch the video.

VISUAL STYLE Most artists are known for their visual style. However the two most commonly used feature in music video’s close ups of the artists whilst they are singing out the lyrics of the song. This is called breaking the 4th wall, as the audience feels as though the song is being sung to them. Or they have a common feature in their video’s, such as their clothing style, or hair.

For example;

Lady Gaga is known for both singing wearing bizzare clothing and having weird hairstyles.