Music Video: Andrew Goodwin

Music Videos: Andrew Goodwin- codes and conventions of music videos In 1992 Andrew Goodwin published a book called “Dancing in the Distraction Factory” in which he came up with 7 codes and conventions that are common in music videos. These 7 codes and conventions are

1. Music videos demonstrate certain genre characteristics For example - Dance routines for girl/ boy bands - Stage performance for heavy rock music - Throwing signs in Hip-hop videos

  2. There is always a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals
- Visuals can illustrate the lyrics                                     - Visuals can contradict the lyrics


3. There is a relationship between the music and the visuals - Dance routines are cut to the beat - Often illustrative but could amplify or contradict the lyrics

4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist

     5. Motifs of iconography is often used that is specific to the artist/s

6. The is frequent notion to the reference of looking, i.e. screens within screens

7. Lots of intertextual references - Mostly to film, television and/ or pop culture


The use of Goodwin's theory will help with our own music video as it gives us a guide of what we should include in our music video in order to make it as close as industry standard music videos. Examples that I have used when detailing the elements in this theory will also help as they can be used to give inspiration when designing the concept of our music video.