Goodwin's Theory

Goodwin's theory covers the following ideas:

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).

2 . There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

3. There is a relationship between Mahdi as visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

4. 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 (a visual style).

5. There is frequently reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

6. There is often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos, etc.)

Example Music Video: Kill The DJ - Green Day



This music video displays some ideas of Goodwins theory, for example:

• Lots of shots of stage performance from a rock band showing them playing their instruments (expertees in their genre of music)
• The members of Green Day are well known in the rock scene on a global scale, so it could be seen as necessary for them to be the focal point of the music video to please fans of the band etc.
• Some of the lyrics in the music video completley contradict the on screen action, for example at the beginning the lyrics read:

Walking after dark
In the New York City park
Your thoughts are so unholy
In the holiest of old
Onward Christian soldiers
Filled with jivin' mind control

• These lyrics have no reference to the on screen action at the time, as they are on motorbikes in a desert.
• On the other hand, some of the lyrics in the song match the on screen action at the time, for example:

The blood left on the dance floor
Runnin', runnin' red

• These lyrics are relevant to the on screen action at the time as the faces of some of the people of the dancefloor begin to bleed, sychronising the action in the music video with the lyrics of the song.
• The demand of the record label for lots of close ups of the members of Green Day is definantly shown in this music video, especially towards the lead singer and guitarist of the band Billie Joe Armstrong. There are constant close ups of him during the guitar solo part of the video. The other two members of the band are also shown through close ups but not as frequently.
• The pyschadellic feel of the song is put across in the music video with the use of strobing, showing a link between the song and the visuals.