AH: Goodwin Response

• When considering the key features of music video, Andrew Goodwin, Dancing in the Distraction Factory (1992) identified a number of conventions which can be applied to the music video 'Celestine' by Spector directed by Jed Cullen.
• Firstly he stated that music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. This video could be categorised as being in the indie rock genre. It is conventional in that it is very performance based and is less on the narrative side.
• The performance is up-beat to the song and includes the whole band. Another convention is the artists, they dress much like lots of other indie rock bands.
• There is also a cloud of mystery hanging over them as only one sings and the rest of the band aren't included in any close-ups.
• The cutting rate is synchronised with the beat which is very conventional of an indie rock music video. The cutting rate is slower during the verses as they want the audience to interpret the themes of the song.
• However at the chorus the cutting rate speeds up with the song, this is a strong genre convention.
• The video could be seen as unconventional in that it is so disjunctive in the way it uses intertextual text and the use of pastiche. Goodwin discussed the relationship between lyrics and visuals.
• In relation to 'Celestine' it is clear that there is very little, to no relationship. Therefore meaning it is disjunctive, for example there is a lyric about 'misery' and he is smiling whilst combing his hair.
• He also considered the relationship between music and visuals to be an important convention. The fact it is indie rock means it can be a concept music video, this certainly does by being very spontaneous.
• Music videos are post modern from which implies that they often borrow and rework ideas from other texts and forms. 'Celestine' uses intertextuality in the form of parody, an example for this is the use of the location in a dessert.
• The location of a dessert could be seen as copying pop music videos such as S-Club-7 or enrique inglesais, by suggesting this parody they are gaining publicity by relating to high demand popular music.