LANGUAGE NOTES

I have decided to revisit Andrew Goodwin's theories about music video to see what i have included.

Goodwin's theories (presented in Dancing in the Distraction Factory, 1992):

• Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (eg stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band)
• There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting.)
• There is a relationship between music and visuals
• 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.
• There is frequently reference to the notion of looking (screens within screen, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyueristic treatment of the female body.
• There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)

Music videos are commonly separated into three catagories:

• Narrative-based
• Performance-based
• Concept-based

If i compare these codes and conventions to my own music video i can confirm that i have used:

My video conveys the characteristics of an Indie/Folk video; imagery, performance from the artist, some sort of narrative
There is a link between my lyrics and visuals: I use contradicting as well as illustrating images such as having someone on their own when the lyrics read "to be alone", and showing light when the lyrics read "In the darkness".
I have also used many close-ups of my artist, we see him in a more intimate setting where he is shown to be quite vulnerable in some aspects as well as protective. This would give the fans a more personal insight into the artists life and see him in a different light to usual.
I do not include a frequent reference to the notion of looking because most of my video is mostly extra-diagetic gaze and spectator-gaze based.

My video is narrative based, it also has elements of performance in it so that the artist is promoted in both ways. The narrative will give the audience a new outlook on my artist as a normal person whereas the performance element will allow the audience to see my artist perform in an intimate way that concerts cannot expose.