Andrew Goodwin’s Theory
Dancing
in the Distraction Factory
Goodwin had proposed that music videos
contain a traditional narrative style and Todorov’s idea doesn’t apply to pop
videos. That is because it relates more to movies as it presents an equilibrium/normality,
disruption, recognition, and attempt to restore the disruption and finally come
back to normality/equilibrium. This is obviously long-winded and usually would
not fit into a music video of the average/traditional 3minute song, and therefore
Goodwin proposes three types of music videos. They are:
1. Illustration – the video tells the story
and has a meaning
2. Amplification – video presents new
meanings and ideas that only add to the song and also relate to the lyrics
3. Disjuncture – little or no connection
between the lyrics and the music video
An example of Illustration would be ‘’Pap
don’t preach’’ by Madonna. Amplification can be seen in (find example) and lastly Telephone by Lady Gaga is an example of
Disjuncture due to the random plot of her going onto a ‘killing spree’ and
committing murder when the lyrics have little connection to that.
Goodwin also proposes that Pop videos
rely on repetition as the majority use the same images along with the chorus in
the video. Therefore the audience may begin to associate certain mise-en-scene
with a particular genre. An example of that may be Indie rock and three bands (Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Franz
Ferdinand) who all have similar conventions of camera movement, such as
panning, also the instruments being the props and the stage as the location.
Arctic Monkeys - I bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor
The Killers - Somebody Told Me
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