Applying Goodwin's Theory - CASE STUDY

Foo Fighters - Walk 

To fully understand Goodwin's' theory, I am going to be applying it to a music video case study."Walk" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters, released as the second single from their seventh studio album Wasting Light. The Foo Fighters' "Walk" video is, rather oddly enough, a near re-creation of the 1993 film "Falling Down," the oft-disturbing portrait of the prototypical "angry white male” who is pushed to the brink by what he views as society's decay and goes on a violent rampage. Below is my analysis of the video in connection with Goodwin's theory. 

Theory:	Analysis:
1) There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals.	Grohl immediately refers to this dull existence in the lyrics therefore showing a direct relationship between the lyrics and the visual meaning of the music video, "To who it may concern, I think I may have lost my way, getting good at starting over every time I return". It echoes this idea of him losing contact with what is important which can be presumed music perhaps. As these words are being spoken, the camera tracks him walking along a bridge. There again is repetition of the literal translation of the lyrics as not only is he metaphorically learning to walk again but physically too as he has left his car behind. It as if Grohl realizes he has been 'going through the motions’.
2) Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics	In the beginning of the video, Grohl grabs his guitar and exits his car - symbolic for his exit from this boring lifestyle. He is not a businessman, but a rock star. When he leaves the car the music begins. Grohl’s character keeps his guitar case with him, this time reminding the audience that underneath it all he is still a rock star and that is where his values lie. This can also be seen as a symbol to demonstrate the genre (Guitar = Rock and Punk music).
3) There is a relationship between music and visuals	Throughout the video, the lyrics play a part into how the narrative pans out within the video. But as for the music going along with the video, it is quite a unique idea and paints a picture of how the band feels about the lack of punk rock in the modern world. At the end of the video, when Grohl arrives at the garage branded with the Foo Fighters emblem; he enters and is shot in mid framing. His band members are then shot for the first time together and then it cuts back to him - by taking off his glasses and loosening his tie, it metaphorically represents him freeing himself from the shackles which conceal his true identity, which is an old school rock star. This part of the video shows the change between the comical narrative and the actual performance where he is presented in the foregrounded as the lead singer. The performance is shot in a series of fast cuts which plays off the beat of the song hence the pace of the transitions.
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)	OTHER MUSIC VIDEO - 'LEARN TO FLY'  Throughout the video, there are a lot of close ups of Dave Grohl as well as the rest of the band members but in true Foo Fighter comical style for the majority of the video they are all playing roles, even playing women in some parts. This is also a feature of the band itself - as the members feature as characters throughout illustrating they do not take themselves too seriously and have the comedic edge to their music videos that the fans adore. This has also become their visual style as a lot of their videos feature them dressing up and playing characters.
5) There is frequent reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes) and particularity voyeuristic treatment of the female body.	Within this music video there isn't much reference to the notion of looking, I think mostly because unlike most music videos their videos contain a very unique style that makes a view feel like they are watching a short film as opposed to a generic music promo. However there is a lot of looking through mirrors which reflect some of the lyrics in the song about seeing yourself for who you really are. Again with the voyeuristic treatment of female body, not only does it not fit with the punk rock genre too much but it doesn't really fit with the image of the band (all of the members are married with children and very old school in both their music and their ideals ). The closest thing relating to negative treatment towards women is when the band members dress up as women and make fools of themselves, perhaps to show how they think the way other genres portray women is ridiculous.
6) There is often intertextual reference to films, TV Programmes, other music videos etc.	The Foo Fighters' new "Walk" video is, rather oddly enough, a near re-creation of the 1993 film "Falling Down," the oft-disturbing portrait of the prototypical "angry white male” who is pushed to the brink by what he views as society's decay and goes on a violent rampage as a result, culminating in a stand-off with police and his death. The whole music video is based on this film, demonstrating intertextual reference. Although the video has more of a comedic message than a political one in that it is based on the loss of the old school punk rock genre. Within the film ‘Falling Down’, the character Foster carries with him a brief case, reminding the audience of his once business and calm-like demeanor. In the same way, Grohl’s character keeps his guitar case with him, this time reminding the audience that underneath it all he is still a rock star and that is where his values lie.