Key Features of Music Videos

Andrew Goodwin, In Dancing in the Distraction Factory (1992, Routledge) has identified what he considers as the main visual features of music videos. His  categories include that a music video must demonstrate genre characteristics for example a girl group video would consist with dancing whereas as metal genre video would focus on the stage performance. Furthermore a music video must make frequent references to Scophillia (the notion of looking) for example screens within a screen ad some videos may include voyeuristic features of the female body. Furthermore the notion of Scophillia, shows what is pleasant to look at such as attractive men and women as an audience enjoy looking at something which is pleasurable to watch. Goodwin, further justifies that a music video should show a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, whether this is illustrative, amplifying or disjuncture. Often, inter-textual l references are made to films, TV programmes or other music videos. Additionally for most music videos of artists who are signed to a label, there will be requirements of the record label that will need to be meeting in the music video. These include close ups of the artist and also developments of small motifs to bring stability to music video and reoccur across their works, which is known as a visual style.

Additionally, Goodwin has categorized the technical aspects of music videos. He categorizes speed which is visualised by camera movement, fast editing and digital effects. Furthermore, beats are a key feature of music videos in which the video will try to represent the music through the use of cutting in order to keep a specific rhythm. The majority of music videos also include post production digital effects such as colourizing images and multiple split screens. Often lighting and colour is used to emphasize key moments in a song. Lighting will often help to add to the dramatic effect, for example to focus on an individual singer there may by the use of a spotlight in order to emphasize the individual. Lastly mise en scene is of particular importance in a music video. The use of mise en scene helps to add authenticity to a music video along with emphasizing the realism of a performance.