Summary of Andrew Goodwin Theory (research)

Traditional narrative analyses aren't really applied to pop videos as they grab the narrative approach from a different perspective. The 3 reasons for this are: 

• pop videos are based around the song
• pop videos use the singer/rapper both as the narrator and the character
• the singer often looks directly into the camera trying to involve the viewer

Pop videos rely on repetition so that the audience can take relevance to the artist. This can be related to the customers who would buy the single/album. Any logos, distinctive items of clothing or words can instantly allow the audience to make a connection with the artist and the video. 

Repetition on parts of the song or rhythm can allow the audience to associate the artist with that music and become more familiar with the genre. 

They do have a sense of closure and ending which is often displayed on the structure of the music, where it will build to an ultimate climax or constantly repeat whilst fading away. 

There are three types of relations between songs and videos:

• Illustration- where the video tells the story of the lyrics
• Amplification- where the video introduces new meanings that don't contradict with the lyrics but add meaning
• Disjuncture- where there is little connection between the video and the lyrics.

Pop videos have recognisable features which allow the audience to connect the features with the artist. A common feature is having women being displayed as objects of what a man wants. In some cases, female artists deliberately present themselves for the males to look at but they directly engage with the viewer through the camera to make this different in their videos. 

EXAMPLES OF VIDEOS

DISJUNCTURE- 'COLDPLAY-VIVA LA VIDA'

The lyrics revert to Chris Martin singing about a man being in charge. The video is placed under the disjuncture category because the video displays footage of the band playing the song. It features Martin looking directly to the camera intending to include the audience. The video has a solid, 'watercolour-like' finish allowing the video to be visually interesting. The crack effect makes the video look old which goes along with the lyrics. 'Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!'

ILLUSTRATION- 'ALPHABEAT-DJ'

The video illustrates the lyrics as it features the band on a DJ record disc. Throughout the course of the video, it denotes the band in different costumes spinning round on the record. For example a Hawaiian suit, glow in the dark outfit. This relates to the lyrics because it shows the band having fun dancing along to the music as they would expect the audience to do as well creating a happy atmosphere. For example, 'I could be dancing all night if you could play'. The use of the record disc beign used as a key prop in the video allows the audience to position themselves in a club environment.

AMPLIFICATION- 'COBRA STARSHIP FT LEIGHTON MEESTER- GOOD GIRLS GO BAD'

The lyrics depict of how a man changes a woman's reputation by making her 'bad'. The video denotes the band hosting an illegal club with lots of alcohol and gambling tables. Meester and her accomplice go into the club as paying guests disguised as undercover agents. She frames the band to the police who were unaware of their real occupation. This video is under the amplification category because the action denoted in the video shows a deeper meaning to how a girl feels attracted a bad guy and this is reflected on the lyrics. 'I heard that you were trouble and I couldn't resist'.