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Music videos may adhere to this theory however if they don't it could be due to the theory becoming outdated, it was published in 1992 and media is changing at a rapid rate.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.