Research and Planning - Theory

Through time there have been many similar music videos, for example; those who share certain aspects with another.

Andrew Goodwin
Theorist, Andrew Goodwin identified a number of key features in music videos;
- A relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.
- A relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the music
- Genre related style and iconography present
- Multiple close-ups of the main artist or vocalist
- Voyeurism often plays a major part, especially in relation to females
- Intertextual references to other media texts may be present.

All of these theories can be seen in the music video of The Killers - Mr Brightside;

As you can see, this whole music video is based on an intertextual reference to the popular film Moulin Rouge, not only this but it also follows the narrative structure of the film; this being a Proppian narrative. This would be obvious to audiences who has seen the film; Moulin Rouge, as the main singer has the role of Christian (Ewan Mcreggor), the pale woman featured has the role of Satine (Nicole Kidman) and the man in the middle of the situation, having the role of The Duke (Richard Roxburgh). The music video has a theme of forbidden love which links with Goodwins theory of there being both an intertextual reference and also there being a genre related style; this of course being burlesque and sexuality, especially for women, linking in with voyeurism, which is a link to Goodwins theory. Also it is clear that there are an extreme amount of close-ups of the main artists and also the front man; Brandon Flowers, he play the lead role in the music video, which again links in with Goodwins theory. There are many examples in which the image goes with the lyrics; the video shows the main artists covering his eyes as the music says; "I just can't look, it's killing me", this again is another aspect of Goodwins theory, similarly to this the music goes with the image; the cuts are amplified meaning that the editing style links with the beat of the music.

Micheal Shore
Theorist Micheal Shore also identified features that occured in many music videos, these are;
- recycled styles
- simulated experience
- information overload
- image and style scavengers
- vanity and the moment
- adolescent male fantasies
- speed, power, girls and wealth
- album art
- classical storytelling motifs
- soft-core pornography
- cliched imagery

A good example of this would be; Jay-Z featuring Beyonce - Bonnie & Clyde