Goodwin’s Theory on artists album

covers

Andrew Goodwin identified 7 key ideas that we should look for to identify:

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/ girl band.)

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

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. (Either 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 screen, telescopes, etc. ) and particularly voyeuristic (sexual) treatment of the female body.

6. There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc.)

7. Whether the video is primarily performance based, narrative based or concept based and how elements of each is used in it.

When considering album covers, no. 1, 4, 5 and 6 are the only points within Goodwin’s theory which apply to album covers.

The text first shows the name of the artist then the name of the song. This shows what’s the most important which is the artist. The name of the artist is also bigger, this also shows importance. The colour white stands out more that the grey writing, this may suggest that the white text should be recognised more.

‘Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics’. The genre characteristics of Hip Hop is fancy cars and background and money. In the album cover, the artist is presented in a nice looking background with a flashy car which suggests he is rich, not much people can afford a car like this. Also the way the artist is dressed also suggests he has money.

‘ The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist.’ These close ups are essential for new artists as the audience need to get use to a new face. This isn’t a close up but a mid shot. This may have been used to show us the artists position; he is sitting on his car which suggests an east life for the artist which audience may aspire to this. This album is the second album of this artist ‘Fabulous’ so the audience still need to get of to his face. The eye contact suggests that he maybe looking at the audience. This will make the audience feel closer and connected to the artist.

‘Frequently reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.’ This may apply to this album cover as the artist is wearing a fur coat. This may represent him being a ‘pimp as most pimps wear fur coats. This may be so there is a focus on the artist and not the women as women can take the focus of the artist away.

‘There is often intertextual reference.’ This means there is reference to films or programmes or other music videos. In this album cover there is no intertextual reference, this may be because there should be more of a focus on the artist than anything else.

Blue connotates tranquillity and calmness. So this might suggest the artist is living the easy life and the audience may aspire to this lifestyle; the jacket and the car matches, this may suggest that the artist has enough money to match his clothes with his cars.

The text first shows the name of the artist then the name of the song. This shows what’s the most important which is the artist. The name of the artist is also bigger, this also shows importance. The wings near the name of the artist makes the name stand out more then the name of the album.

‘Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics’. The genre characteristics of R n’ B is fancy cars and background and money. In the album cover, the artist is presented in a plain background and fancy clothing which suggests he is rich as not people can afford jewellery like this. Blue connotates tranquillity and calmness. So this might suggest the artist is living the easy life and the audience may aspire to this lifestyle; the chain and the watch matches, this may suggest that the artist has enough money to match these.

‘ The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist.’ These close ups are essential for new artists as the audience need to get use to a new face. This is the first album of this artist ‘Fabolous’ so the audience need to get use to his face. The eye contact suggests that he maybe looking at the audience. This will make the audience feel closer and connected to the artist.

‘Frequently reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.’ This doesn’t apply to this album cover as there is no females in the cover. This may be to show that the artist should be recognised before women are seen in the albums. This may be so there is a focus on the artist and not the women as women can take the focus of the artist away.

‘There is often intertextual reference.’ This means there is reference to films or programmes or other music videos. In this album cover there is no intertextual reference, this may be because there should be more of a focus on the artist than anything else.

The text first shows the bands name. This shows what’s the most importance then the name of the song. The size also shows importance. The word “The” is smaller than “Script”. This suggests the name “script” is more important. The colours connotates calm and peace and the lighter shade in the corner suggests light.

‘Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.’ The genre characteristics of Pop Rock is dark deep colours, hand held shots and emphasises on live performances. Also is they appeal to a general audience rather than a sub-culture. In the album cover, the band aren’t on the cover. This may suggest that they are a recognised band. Although this is their second album it doesn’t show their recognition. They were successful in winning best Irish band, best album and best live performance; this may have given them the recognition they need to not put themselves on their next album cover.

‘The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist (in this case a band). These close ups will help the audience recognise a new artist and get them noticed. In the album cover, the band isn’t on the cover but the image may show what the band or the bands album is about; they may be a music person rather than a people person; they’re more about their music. The male and female hand may suggest that this album is about relationships and peace. This shows that not all artists follow Goodwins theory, for example ‘The Script.’

‘Frequently reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. This doesn’t apply to this cover as there is no voyeurism or notion of looking. This may be because this genre doesn’t focus on the female body as a sexual object. This shows that not all artists follow Goodwins theory, for example ‘The Script.’

‘There is often intertextual reference.’ This means there is reference to films, programmes or other music videos. In the single cover there may be intertexual reference with the hands, this could represent the ‘peace sign’ of shaking hands. This will may suggest the band is about making peace.

‘music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.’ The genre characteristics of Pop Rock is an emphasises on recording, production, technology and live performances. Also is they appeal to a general audience rather than a sub-culture. In this album cover, the band aren’t on the cover. This may suggest that this is what they are about.

‘the demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist (in this case a band). These close ups will help the audience recognise a new artist and get them noticed. In the album cover, the band isn’t on the cover but the image may show what the band or the bands album is about. The hand may suggest that this album is about relationships and peace. Also this shows not all artists follow Goodwin’s theory.

‘frequently reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. There is a female in a long dress. This doesn’t apply to this cover as there is no voyeurism. The notion of looking is the female looking away hugging a man with no face. This may be because this genre doesn’t focus on the female body as a sexual object.

‘there is often intertextual reference.’ This means there is reference to films, programmes or other music videos. In the single cover there may be intertexual reference with the hand, this could represent the ‘power’ of the band. This will may suggest the band is about taking over the world.

‘Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.’ There isn’t no defined genre characteristics of Alternative Indie as this is a new genre; the main characteristic is they don’t follow the mainstream.

‘ The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist.’ These close ups are essential for new artists as the audience need to get use to a new face. This isn’t a close up but a mid shot. This may have been used to show us the artists position and props used; the lungs. The artists isn’t looking at the camera. This suggests the artist may be trying to be unconventional. This may show the artist isn’t connected to the audience; the audience might not feel closer and connected to the artist.

‘Frequently reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.’ This may apply to this album cover as the artist is wearing an outfit that is low cut and see-through. This may represent her in a seductive way. This may be used to attract a male audience although this isn’t as seductive as other artists. This may show that this isn’t the artists main way to attract audience. The notion of looking of the artist looking down suggest that she may be sleeping. This shows that there may be more to the album; a narrative behind it.

‘There is often intertextual reference.’ This means there is reference to films or programmes or other music videos. In this album cover the artist is wearing lungs. As the name of the album is ‘Lungs’, the reference is to the album. Also this album suggests sleeping beauty. This is because the artist looks like she’s sleeping on something soft.

The text first shows the name of the artist at the top then the name of the song at the bottom. This shows what’s the most important which is the artist.

‘ The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist.’ These close ups are essential for new artists as the audience need to get use to a new face. This isn’t a close up but another mid shot. This may have been used to show us the artists position. The artists isn’t looking at the camera; this is similar to the previous album. This suggests the artist may be trying to be unconventional. This may show the artist isn’t connected to the audience; the audience might not feel closer and connected to the artist.

‘There is often intertextual reference.’ This means there is reference to films or programmes or other music videos. In this album cover the artist costume is similar to what people wore in the 1940’s; especially the hair. There is reference to the 1940’s to celebrities such as Rita Hayworth.

‘Frequently reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.’ This may apply to this album cover as the artist is wearing an outfit that is low cut. This may represent her in a seductive way. This may be used to attract a male audience although. The notion of looking of the artist looking down suggest that she may be sleeping. This shows that there may be more to the album; a narrative behind it as this was a similar action in the previous album cover.

‘Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.’ There isn’t no defined genre characteristics of Alternative Indie as this is a new genre; the main characteristic is they don’t follow the mainstream.

The text first shows the name of the artist at the top then the name of the song at the bottom. This shows what’s the most important which is the artist. Also the text of the artist is the same in the previous album. This may suggest that this is a theme they’ll always follow.

This can help us in developing an idea for our artwork. For example to include certain features such as intertextual reference and close ups of the artist. Also this helps us to consider the size of the text of the artist’s name compared to the song name. From this research we now know to include the name of the artist at the top as this is the most important. I believe intertextual reference will take the distraction away from the artist. As this is our band’s first album, they should be the main focus and I feel intertextual reference will take some of that focus away. Different from The Script’s album covers, we are going to make sure our band is on the album cover because this will help their faces to be recognised as artists.

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