Godwins Theroy
Introduction.
Andrew Goodwin theory was linked to the music industry and the music videos. The theory was that
According to godwins theory they several different features this includes
- Genre Characteristics
- Relationship Between lyrics and visuals
- Relationship between music and visuals
- Star images motifs
- Notion of looking
- Intertexual References
- Performance, narrative or concept based
- Technical elements.
Below i will be talking about these features in more detailed and why this important acording to the theory.
The Eight Characteristics
Genre Characteristics - "Music videos often reflect their genre through use of special characteristics which makes them conventional" The are various different genres which have different convection's for example.
Pop
Dance
Rock
Hip Hop
R&B -
Swing - Predominantly Old fashioned, The use of older classical instruments such as saxophone and Banjos.
Relationship Between lyrics and visuals.
This is when there is an connection shown between the lyrics and visual. For example the singer may be singing about her boyfriend and usually there will be clip of her boyfriend appears. In these cases they will be visualization of lyrics during the music video.
Relationship between music and visuals
This is when there is an connection shown between the music and visuals. Unlike the lyrics and visuals this is when the music helps visual whats happening not the lyrics. For example if the music is more upbeat compared to the rest of the song this is reflected in the video.
This is when there is an connection shown between the music and visuals. Unlike the lyrics and visuals this is when the music helps visual whats happening not the lyrics. For example if the music is more upbeat compared to the rest of the song this is reflected in the video.
Star images motifs
This is when the music videos of the star (or artist) are shown in the music video. This may include close ups of the artist. This is usually demanded by the recorded labels to the artist more identifiable.
This is when the music videos of the star (or artist) are shown in the music video. This may include close ups of the artist. This is usually demanded by the recorded labels to the artist more identifiable.
Notion of looking
This is when there the camera is pointing at certain parts of the body. Unfortunately this happends mostly when there is a female which may interp the women in that music video as being an sexual object. The Notion of looking happens in various genres of music videos. This includes R&B and hip hop genre.
This is when there the camera is pointing at certain parts of the body. Unfortunately this happends mostly when there is a female which may interp the women in that music video as being an sexual object. The Notion of looking happens in various genres of music videos. This includes R&B and hip hop genre.
Intertexual References
This is when the music videos references or links with popular culture or with films, tv programmes and with other music videos. This also means that it can be used as parody as well.
This is when the music videos references or links with popular culture or with films, tv programmes and with other music videos. This also means that it can be used as parody as well.
Performance, narrative or concept based
This is when the music video is based a way of portraying the events that happend during the music video. An Music video can be narrative based, concept based and/or Performance based, sometimes all three maybe incorporated into the music video.
This is when they used different technical skills when creating a music video. When using technical equipment when making a music video this includes cinematography, sound, editing within the music videos.
This is when the the music video is based on the performance of the artist/band allowing the audience to see them in action.
An Example of this would be AJR - Im ready. Since you see the artists performing in the music video.
Narrative Based
This is when the music has lyrics that is related to an story and the music video is based on that narrative. This is then visualized in the music video an example of this would be Carly Rae Jepsen - I really like you.
Concept Based
This is when the music video is not conventional and is based on a theme and/or idea. This maybe seen as obscure or strange to the audience because it is different to the norm. Concept based music may heavily rely on special effects as well. An good example would be Coldplay - Paradise.
This is when the music video is based a way of portraying the events that happend during the music video. An Music video can be narrative based, concept based and/or Performance based, sometimes all three maybe incorporated into the music video.
Technical elements.
This is when they used different technical skills when creating a music video. When using technical equipment when making a music video this includes cinematography, sound, editing within the music videos.Performance, narrative or concept based
Performanced Based
This is when the the music video is based on the performance of the artist/band allowing the audience to see them in action.
An Example of this would be AJR - Im ready. Since you see the artists performing in the music video.
Narrative Based
This is when the music has lyrics that is related to an story and the music video is based on that narrative. This is then visualized in the music video an example of this would be Carly Rae Jepsen - I really like you.
Concept Based
This is when the music video is not conventional and is based on a theme and/or idea. This maybe seen as obscure or strange to the audience because it is different to the norm. Concept based music may heavily rely on special effects as well. An good example would be Coldplay - Paradise.
Analysis of Music.
Below are 3 music videos that I have analysed.
This includes
• Kungs vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners – This Girl
• Daryl Hall & John Oates - Out Of Touch
• BORIS BIKE (German Whip Parody) - Vuj, KSI, Klayze, JME
This includes
• Kungs vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners – This Girl
• Daryl Hall & John Oates - Out Of Touch
• BORIS BIKE (German Whip Parody) - Vuj, KSI, Klayze, JME
Kungs vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners - This Girl
Genre: Pop
Genre Characteristics: Pop music usually upbeat, the music video is also quite upbeat in line with the genre. The character shown in the video you would find in your stereotypical pop music video. However, unlike most pop music videos they don’t feature the artist itself. You can hear them singing however they use actors.
Relationship Between lyrics and visuals between the lyrics and visuals. For example, “Just take my hand and hold me tight” the visuals show them doing this Shown in this screen capture on the right
Relationship between music and visuals: The relationship between the music and visuals if the beat would change or when the music went into a sudden pause. The visuals would change because of the tempo of the music would go up and down.
Star images motifs: They are no close ups of the artist this because the artist wasn’t preforming and also there isn’t any star image motif as well. However, the actors and the cinematography are typical for pop music videos
Notion of looking: There was references to notion of looking throughout at the video, however these were brief moments towards the end of the video focusing at some female body parts. This was used within context are not used to entain the audience
Intertextual References: In this music video they weren’t any.
Performance, concept or Narrative: The song is a mixture of narrative and concept based. This is due to the fact there is no performance from the band from the music video. The reason why I would it mainly focused on narrative is because the focus of the music video focused on two characters which went through various different location
Technical elements: The colours depending on the location for example when they were outside. The colour usually had an orange tinge. If they were inside partying they would have a purple blue colour. This was because of the strobe lighting to show they were partying. As well as the use of high key lighting in some scenes.
Relationship Between lyrics and visuals between the lyrics and visuals. For example, “Just take my hand and hold me tight” the visuals show them doing this Shown in this screen capture on the right
Star images motifs: They are no close ups of the artist this because the artist wasn’t preforming and also there isn’t any star image motif as well. However, the actors and the cinematography are typical for pop music videos
Notion of looking: There was references to notion of looking throughout at the video, however these were brief moments towards the end of the video focusing at some female body parts. This was used within context are not used to entain the audience
Intertextual References: In this music video they weren’t any.
Performance, concept or Narrative: The song is a mixture of narrative and concept based. This is due to the fact there is no performance from the band from the music video. The reason why I would it mainly focused on narrative is because the focus of the music video focused on two characters which went through various different location
Technical elements: The colours depending on the location for example when they were outside. The colour usually had an orange tinge. If they were inside partying they would have a purple blue colour. This was because of the strobe lighting to show they were partying. As well as the use of high key lighting in some scenes.
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Out Of Touch
Artists - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Genre: Hip-hop
Genre Characteristics: The genre characteristics, are the stereotypical you will find in pop especially during 80s. For example, the clothing mostly jeans and t-shirts, Various different hairstyles also the music video was filmed in a studio/set which is quite stereotypical for 80s hip hop. Compared to other music today we see they would be in front of a green screen or filmed outside on a street.
Relationship Between lyrics and visuals:
Relationship between music and visuals: The relationship between music and visuals is quite fast paced to match the music playing. This includes various different editing techniques and various different transitions.
Star images motifs: Star images motifs consisted of various different close-ups or medium shots of the signers moreover low angle shots to show them performing
Notion of looking: None was evident in this music video.
Performance, concept or Narrative: This song is performance is based due to various close ups shots. of the artists singing and dancing,
Intertextual References: They were some intertextual references
Technical Elements:
Genre: Hip-hop
Genre Characteristics: The genre characteristics, are the stereotypical you will find in pop especially during 80s. For example, the clothing mostly jeans and t-shirts, Various different hairstyles also the music video was filmed in a studio/set which is quite stereotypical for 80s hip hop. Compared to other music today we see they would be in front of a green screen or filmed outside on a street.
Relationship Between lyrics and visuals:
Relationship between music and visuals: The relationship between music and visuals is quite fast paced to match the music playing. This includes various different editing techniques and various different transitions.
Star images motifs: Star images motifs consisted of various different close-ups or medium shots of the signers moreover low angle shots to show them performing
Notion of looking: None was evident in this music video.
Performance, concept or Narrative: This song is performance is based due to various close ups shots. of the artists singing and dancing,
Intertextual References: They were some intertextual references
Technical Elements:
BORIS BIKE (German Whip Parody) - Vuj, KSI, Klayze, JME
Genre Characteristics: The genre characteristics are again quite stereotypical for rap songs of this genre. It takes real life issues or elements such is the case in this video, London Boris bike. And rap about them in this video. Moreover, this a parody of another rap song “German whip” and mocked it during the music video. This could be considered under the postmodern key term since they used examples or scenes from another music videos with this music video. Which is quite stereotypical for music videos? Another genre charaticsics is the clothing they wearing.
Relationship Between lyrics and visuals: This is used frequently in conjunction with the editing. For example, at 0:53 when he says “Shoreditch to the bits” the visual changes to match the lyrics. This is done to match the narrative of the song.
Relationship between music and visuals: Relationship between music and visuals is fast paced especially were transitions are used to show how life In London is quite fast. A lot of fast paced editing was use throughout the music video.
Star images motifs: There are various different close ups of the artists rapping in this song. For example, when we see KSI rapping about his wig there are various different closups
Notion of looking: Notion of looking wasn’t evident here however there was some emphasis on looking at clothing of a women during the music video
Intertextual References: There are various Intertextual references are made throughout the video. First of all, this is a parody of another rap song “German whip”. To many references to the London cycle hire program nicknamed “Boris bikes” This rap takes real life elements especially if you live in London and refers to them in this music video
Performance, concept or Narrative: This song is mainly performance however can be also considered as narrative because of the lyrics matching visuals in some scenes. This has been explained in Relationship Between lyrics and visuals.
Technical elements: Since all of the music video was mostly edited and were outside and used real world elements such as Boris bikes there wasn’t any use of technical elements.
Opinions on Goodwin’s Theory
The research I have done on Goodwin’s theory has positive and negatives. The positive on Goodwin’s theory is that it can be applied to all music videos even if the music video doesn’t have 1 or 2 elements within the music video. Another positive is that allows you to break down the content on a music video to various different structure. This means you can consider all the aspects of the music video. However, this theory was basically pointing out the obvious regarding music videos. For example, when he’s referring too conventional to a genre like pop. He’s pointing out what most pop music videos would include since it been used in a lot of music videos. Also his theory relies on mainstream music this means if there is a niche piece of music which is a certain genre and doesn’t follow the conventional guidelines. Then it becomes a problem since it isn’t conventional and would have to be explained it doesn’t follow a standard convectional of a genre.
Overall Goodwin theory is easy to understand and reliable when it comes to identifying conventional features with various genre when it comes to music video and its connotations. However, they various issues with the theory including its harder to apply to more niche/indie music genre especially when they don’t follow the convention of a genre. Moreover, should Goodwin should be claiming that it his theory since this was pointing out the obvious and maybe Goodwin shouldn’t be accredited with the theory.
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ReplyDeleteIn terms of the contents of your post, it is an excellent piece of work. Keep up the good work, Elliot!
ReplyDeleteYou have provided a basic breakdown of this theory, however you have made this a proficient post by analysing a range of videos in relation to this theory.
ReplyDelete