Goodwins Theory

1. Genre Characteristics

This is where we see things that are related to the which we expect to see in a music video. A good example example of this is Wiz Khalifa's 'Black and Yellow'. It is a rap video so we expect to see things such a bling and the hood, which we do.

2. Relationship between lyrics and visuals

This is where we see links between the lyrics of the song and the on screen visuals and despite being a terrible song. Rebbeca Black's 'Friday' features many links between its lyrics and the on screen visuals. For example when she says "sitting in the front seat" we see a shot of the front seats of a car.


3. Relationship between music and visuals

This is where there is a visual link between the video and the music, such as dancers moving in time to the music. A good example of this is Daft Punk's 'Around the World' where all of the dancers are moving in time with the music
4. The demands of the record label demand lots of close-ups of the artist

A good example of this is Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. It features lot of close-ups despite being mostly made up of a dance routine.


5. The artist has a motif or iconography that reoccurs across their work

A good example of this is Michael Jackson. He is well known for his dance routines but the most iconic thing which features in nearly of his songs and videos is his frequent use of the expresions "Hee-Hee" and "Awao"


6. There is a frequent reference to the notion of 'looking' and partially voyeuristic treatment of the female body

This is when there are lots of shots which give reference to Sarah Mulvey's 'Male Gaze Theory'. It is when there are lots of shots of a woman... but not necessarily of her face, used to attract a male audience. A good example of this happening in a music video is in Enrique Iglesias's 'Do You Know' (which is alternitvly known as 'The Ping Pong Song' as its beat is set by the sound of a game of table tennis).


7. There is the use of intertextual references.

Intertextualty is when a reference is made to another media text. These references can be anything from extremely obvious to very suttle. They can be used ti make the audience feel a small pleasure when they recognise the reference. An example of a music video which uses intertextual references if Blink 182's 'All The Small Things' which makes references to the Back Street Boys 'I Want It That Way' and Christina Aguileras 'Genie in a Bottle'.