TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF MUSIC VIDEOS – ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1. Institutional/ reference information

● Which video are you analysing, who is it by and, if you know, who directed it?

● What genre does the music belong to and what broad characteristics of that genre does
the video have?

2. What is the relationship between lyrics and visuals?

●Work through the song and identify ways in which the lyrics are illustrated or amplified or
even contradicted by the visuals.

● Pick out some specific examples to back up your argument.

3. What is the relationship between music and visuals?

● Does the video cut to the beat?

● Are solo instrumental bits illustrated by the video?

● Does the video change pace with the music?

● Give examples to support your points.

4. Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?

● How is the record company looking to sell this track?

● What image of the artist/band is being offered?

● How does this video relate to previous videos by the artist?

● Are there motifs which have been used previously? Or does this video represent
a change of image?

5. Is there reference to the notion of looking?

● Do you get the sense that the artist is on sexual display or that other people in
the video are used in this way?

● Does camerawork, costume, dance or something else imply sexualised display?

● Are there other references to ‘looking’ such as screens within screens or

binoculars, cameras, etc?

● Give examples and consider why these features have been chosen.

6. Are there intertextual references?

● Do these relate to other music videos, to aspects of the star’s image or to

completely separate texts such as TV programmes or films?

● How are they used?

7. Is the music video performance-based, narrative-based or concept-

based?

● How much of each?