Research for Music Video: Andrew Goodwin's theory

Andrew Goodwin feels that the traditional narrative analyses don't really apply to pop videos. There are a number of reasons for this but isn't because pop videos are trying to be avant grade- It is just that they approach narrative from a different angle to novels and films.

1. Pop videos are built around songs. Often songs do not pose traditional narrative structures.

2. Pop videos use the artist as both narrator and character

3. The singer looks straight into the camera, a form of direct address to involve the viewer at home in their performance.


There are 3 types of relations between songs and videos.

1. Illustration: This is where the video tells the story of the lyrics.

Papa don't preach - Madonna

2. Amplification: Occurs when the video introduces new meanings that do not contradict with the lyrics but add layers of meaning.

Gotta believe it - Saigon ft. Just Blaze

3. Disjuncture: This is where there is little connection between lyrics and video or the video contradicts the lyrics.

Man in the mirror - Michael Jackson