Andrew Goodwin writing in ‘Dancing in the distraction factory’ (Routledge 1992)

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (stage performances & dance routines)

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

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals (illustrative, amplifying, and 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 notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

6. There is often intersexual reference (to films TV programmes and other music videos)