[Research] Examples of Illustration, Amplification and Disjuncture

After reading about Andrew Goodwin’s theory about the different music video narratives, I’ve found a music video which illustrates the three different types of relations between songs and music videos:

1.)    Illustration: The Only Exception by Paramore

I have chosen The Only Exception as an example of Illustration as the music video is made in a way that directly reflects the lyrics. In the beginning of the songs, she sings about her father and simultaneously there is a scene of her sitting down with him. The story of the lyrics is portrayed in the video very clearly. 

2.)    Amplification: Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

Even though the lyrics of Everything Has Changed are closely linked the music video, I still think there is another layer of meaning added – while the lyrics explore an adult relationship, there is an element of innocence that has been added by the portrayal of the children, who are also the main characters in the music video.   

3.)    Disjuncture: Billie Jean by Michael Jackson 

 

In Billie Jean, there is evidently no connection between what Michael Jackson is singing and the events taking place in the video. There is a clip of a homeless man, a lady in her house and Michael dancing which do not relate to the lyrics in any way and create a sense of randomness, since he is singing about his love life.