Millie Bubb A2 Media Blog 2021: Goodwins theory

Goodwins theory states that music pop videos are built around the song instead of the song being written for the video. The pop video usually usually uses the singer as both a narrator and a character, and often they look directly into the camera, this involves the viewer with the performance. He believes that the videos were essentially about creating star image.

Goodwin believed that there were three types of narrative in music videos:

- Illustration - this is when the video tells and follows the story of the music

- Amplification - this is when the video and the images on the video amplify the lyrics and convey a deeper meaning in the song which may not be picked up from the lyrics alone

- Disjuncture - When there is very little or no connection between the song and the video

Even though there are different approaches to music videos, the videos still almost always follow the genre of the music and reflect the tone and style of that genre.

Amplification

An example of amplification is Sober by Childish Gambino

There are a few moments in the video where the lyrics are amplified. For example the piece of paper in the egg which says 'I'm so high' at the same time that they lyrics say this. This is taking the lyrics very literally as Gambino is presented as being high in the video.

Another lyric that is taken very literally is 'now that its over' as an empty diner is shown, indicating it is the end of the day so it is 'over' this is an alternative interpretation to the lyrics as in the song alone could be interpreted as the end of a relationship but the video gives it an alternate meaning.

There are a few moments in the video where Gambino lip syncs the words to the song, which highlights the importance of them and their meaning.

Illustration

An example of illustration is Love story by Taylor swift

The narrative of the video fits with the narrative of the song, therefore illustrating the story of the music.

The video goes back and forth between a shot of Taylor standing on a balcony and footage of the story which is quite literally a love story, and throughout the video it progresses, telling the story that the song is telling.