Research into voyeurism and intertextuality

Chris Brown - No Bullshit

Goodwin’s theory of Voyeurism are themes commonly used in music videos that help to sell the artists image by expressing a sense of sexuality to the audience. Voyeurism can also be used to make a statement and to also enhance the meaning behind the lyrics. An example of a music video that uses the sex appeal to sell the artist is ‘No Bullshit’ by Chris Brown, where sexual acts are carried out in front of the audience thus sexually pleasing the male audience. 

Kelly Rowland - Lay it on me

An example of a music video that uses intertextuality to make a statement is, ‘Lay It on Me’ by Kelly Rowland, where again the artists body is flaunted to make the point that she is going to make love to the men who are in the video.

Dev - In the Dark

An example of where voyeurism is used to enhance the meaning behind the lyrics is, ‘In the Dark’ by DEV where the female artists’ naked body is being caressed by other males in the video as the lyrics say, ‘Think about it when you touch me there’ emphasising the fact that she is getting felt up by the males in the video and again makes the audience want to carry on watching.

Intertextuality can include many techniques; the most common use of it is through direct or indirect address. Directly addressing the audience is where the artist or band members purposely look into the camera to sing to the audience, which helps them to feel engrossed and a part of the narrative, and indirectly addressing the audience is where the artist or band members do not look into the camera in order to create a feeling of distance and voyeurism. This can be presented through watching something happen from someone else’s point of view, where the audience can watch a story unfold between two characters in the video, without the audience feel as if they are involved within the narrative, instead want to watch on to see how the story unravels. An example of a music video that uses this technique is, ‘What’s My Name’ by Rihanna, where the audience are drawn in by Rihanna’s relationship with Drake and feel the need to watch on the find out what happens to the two characters in the end.

Violet Hill - Still image of music video

Voyeurism and intertextuality can also be encouraged by the use of props in music videos. The use of screens-within-screens is a technique where for example, mirrors, television screens, cameras, telescopes and magnifying glasses are used within the narrative of the music video to present the artist to the audience and also makes the video appear a lot more intriguing so the audience want to watch on. An example of a music video that uses this technique is, ‘Violet Hill’ by Coldplay, where a magnifying glass is used to zoom up on the facial features of the artist, helping to sell the artists image and makes the video appear a lot more fascinating.