Andrew Goodwin: Dancing in the Distraction Factory (1992)

Andrew Goodwin


In his book that was published in 1992 named Dancing In The Distraction Factory, Andrew Goodwin states that most music videos follow certain conventions depending on genre. There are 6 main conventions


1) The first is that Music Videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performances in metal songs, dance routines for a boy/girl band)


2) The second is that there is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)


3) There is a relationship between music and visuals (once again, illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)


4) The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style, such as in Lana Del Ray's videos she continues with her vintage, American work with hand-held cameras and home footage.


5)There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, televisions, even telescopes) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.


6) Lastly there is often intertextual references to films, TV programmes and other music videos. For example in Happy there is intertextuality with The Minions from Despicable Me as the song is features in the film, there is a deal that ensures both are beneficial for each other for a certain amount of money.


Music videos may adhere to this theory however if they don't it could be due to the theory becoming outdated, it was published in 1992 and media is changing at a rapid rate. There could be an evolution and therefore a change in the conventions of music video and therefore it requires a new media theory.

Textual Analysis: Happy, Pharrell Williams

In this blog I have analysed Pharrell Williams' song titled Happy with Goodwin and Mulvey's theory. I researched Laura Mulvey's theory of the Male Gaze in my own private study sessions, my research will be shown in a later blog post.

Timeline of Music Video

I have analysed the focal points of the History of Music Video. The integral points of music video, the following are what I believe to be the most significant.

Mini Music Video: Song Choice

I am currently in a certain turmoil between songs I wish to create a music video for. In complete honesty I am unsure of the genre I want to discover, it could be interesting doing a hip-hop video such as Kendrick Lamar, Flying Lotus or Childish Gambino and have the focus on the male rapper with everything else subsidiary or I could go for an ostentatiously artistic video which I could have extreme fun going creative on and having a large impact on.


As I am working on my own this time the song of choice will have to fit my criteria, I will have to have good ideas to work with it, enjoy the song and be willing to create a music video for it, so I will have to pick a pre-existing song I know I enjoy and can get creative with.


The potential options are the following:

• Kendrick Lamar / Backseat Freestyle - this song is interesting and I could really go against the stereotypes of black rap, or I could go typically with the fast paced, egotistical culture of wealth and sports, physical fitness. In one of Lamar's videos he utilised visual typography very well. The editing would be the focus in this video.
• Athlete / Chances - a slow song that addresses some pretty serious themes such as loneliness and missed opportunities. Overall some aspects I could cover pretty extensively and artistically.
• Beck / Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime - featuring in one of my favourite films, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind featuring Jim Carrey following similar themes such as Chances, however, I enjoy this break up song a lot more than I enjoy listening to Chances as I am a big fan of Beck.

After a great deal of thinking I will be creating a music video for Beck / Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime due to it's sombre feel. I believe I can create some artistic shots and convey serious emotion in this music video and could even give it a pretty sinister tone. I possess a plethora of ideas for this song and think it will look extremely professional with a great use of mise-en-scene and camera shots.