To be awarded level 4 for our research and planning, we must show evidence of detailed research into music videos of a similar genre, below is a guide that showcases how to analyse music video based on Andrew Goodwin's book <Dancing in the distraction factory> (1992).
In his book, Goodwin has identified 6 typical characteristics of a music video, and he points out that characteristics and features that can be found in music video.
The six aspects contains:
1, Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics, that basically means the atmosphere by the videos must fit the genre of the song. For instance, those music video of pop music are always set in a big city with those good looking males and females.
2, There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals, the lyrics are represented with images, either illustrative, amplifying and contradicting. Which basically means the visuals within the music video are always representing the lyrics, although there are few exceptions which the visuals has absolutely no relationship with the visuals.
3, There is a relationship between music and visuals, the tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music, such as illustrative, amplifying and contradicting. That basically means the music and the visuals should be interacted and be able to infected the audience.
4, The demands of the record label will include the needs for lots of close ups of the artist and artist may develop motifs which recur across their work, for instance a visual style.
5, There is frequently reference to notion of looking, for instance screen within screens, the mirrors and stages, and extra. And particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
6, There are often intertextual reference, such as reference from film, TV programmes and other music videos.
With the theory of Andrew Goodwin, I've basically understand the key aspects of a music video, and understand how to write a detailed analyses about music video.