Dancing in the Distraction Factory

We have used the book Dancing in the Distraction factory as a useful research tool. The book is very useful and was a valuable insight into the world of music videos. Andrew Goodwin the author has analysed many music videos through extensive research to identify the key aspects of a music video these include:
Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals: illustrative, amplifying, contradicting. There is a relationship between music and visual: illustrative, amplifying, contradicting. 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.There is frequently reference to notion of looking screens within screens, telescopes, etc and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. There is often intertextual reference to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc.
An interesting point we have taken from the article is the research into Meta Narrative, often used in the form of star stories, a prime example of this would be Madonna, once promoted as a sex icon in the 80’s. Madonna has now become to old to be promoted into such lights she has changed her path and is now promoted as a role model to women. Music videos often market the star as a product through Meta Narrative they way they act and how the audience responds.
This has proven to be a good article and we have tried to take many examples given in the article and include them into our project.