Goodwin's Conventions of Music Videos

In his book 'Dancing in the Distraction Factory'- published in 1992- Andrew Goodwin details six popular conventions of music videos. Here is a list of these conventions:

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
For example, in Pop music videos, they are more likely to include dances and vibrant colours.

                      

Taylor Swift - Shake it Off

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals
For example, lyrics may be represented or contradicted with the images on screen.

                      

Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals

For example, the visual is represented or contradicted by the music.

                     

Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know

4. Close ups of the artist, or motifs that reoccur across their work

For example, an artist may declare a symbol as their own and present it in every music video.

                   

Panic! At the Disco - Girls/Girls/Boys

5. There is frequent reference to the notion of looking, and voyeuristic treatment of the female body

For example, a camera may appear as though it's gazing up and down a woman's body.

                    

Blondie - Call Me

6. There are often intertextual references

For example, it may reference a popular film or TV series.

                    

Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf