In my post on Goodwin's theory of music video I did an in-depth analysis of the music video to The 1975 - Robbers according to what he theorised encapsulated music video. He proposed the idea that every music video follows 6 conventions:
- Music video demonstrates genre characteristics
- Relationship between lyrics and visuals
- Relationship between music and visuals (illustrative, amplifying or contradictory)
- Demands of the record label requiring close-ups of the artist and/or recurring motifs
- Frequent reference to a notion of looking, particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body
- Intertextual references
He stated that there was a link between lyrics and visuals, which could be illustrative, in order to demonstrate the meaning; amplifying, in order to emphasise either the meaning of the lyrics or the visuals, or contradictory, meaning there is a direct conflict between the words being said and the image, disjuncture.
The same links may be found between music and visuals, through techniques such as cutting to the beat, slow-motion, zooms or long and short takes dependent on the speed of the beat.
The same links may be found between music and visuals, through techniques such as cutting to the beat, slow-motion, zooms or long and short takes dependent on the speed of the beat.
Examples of this in music videos:
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Illustrative
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Amplifying
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Todorov
Todorov argued that all narratives follow a 5 point structure:
Alt J - Breezeblocks - (alternative, 2013)
This example took a completely non-linear approach to narrative, with the video being filmed entirely in reverse order, and all the shots being reversed too, and parts of the beginning and end being shown throughout.
Fans have since reversed the video show that it shows in actual order (and example of User-Generated Content), and it is unclear whether Todorov's theory is meant to apply to the actual video, or the fan videos
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Vernallis
Vernallis, on the other hand argued that we can obtain no more visual information than we might derive from a single narrative painting, that music videos are only a suggestion of a story.
This was backed up by Steve Archer, who suggested that music videos only focus on a fragment of the lyrics.
I think this makes more sense, as from the examples I've looked at, it is difficult to exactly pinpoint the Todorov 5 point structure.
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Todorov
Todorov argued that all narratives follow a 5 point structure:
- Equilibrium
- Disruption of equilibrium
- Recognition of disruption
- Attempt to reinstate old equilibrium/repair equilibrium
- New equilibrium
This is general difficult to find in the music video format as it is a smaller medium than traditional storytelling or film, however some music videos to have some form of narrative, however in some it is difficult to pin-point exact structures, as a lot of it is polysemic. Some music videos it can be seen it are:
Seafret - Oceans - (singer-songwriter/pop, 2015)
- Equilibrium: the established equilibrium is that the main character is isolated form the world, her mum is out late working and she is alone in her house. We discover she is bullied in school, so not only is she isolated, but it is others who isolate her (shown through the mis-en-scene/costuming of "loser" written on her back)
- Disruption: She discovers that when she is wearing her younger self's super hero outfit she has super powers
- Recognition of disruption: when she is getting bullied in the park, she uses her powers to scare the bullies away
- Attempt to reinstate old equilibrium: after being upset at her hypocritical behaviour (justified as it may be interpreted) she runs home back to her equilibrium of isolation
via GIPHY - New equilibrium: she finds that her mum is home, and she is no longer isolated
Alt J - Breezeblocks - (alternative, 2013)
This example took a completely non-linear approach to narrative, with the video being filmed entirely in reverse order, and all the shots being reversed too, and parts of the beginning and end being shown throughout.
Fans have since reversed the video show that it shows in actual order (and example of User-Generated Content), and it is unclear whether Todorov's theory is meant to apply to the actual video, or the fan videos
- Equilibrium: a woman is dead in a bath tub, with a concrete block on her, with a man with a wedding ring crying at her side. She is clearly not wearing a ring, suggesting that she committed suicide (perhaps she is his wife and she discovered he was cheating and removed the ring?)
via GIPHY - Disruption: We see him attacking her, and discover he killed her. This is then disrupted again when we see her attacking him, and it is suggested that perhaps she isn't entirely innocent
via GIPHY - Recognition of disruption: we see the woman sneak up behind him with a knife, and it is acknowledge by the audience that she is actually the perpetrator
via GIPHY - Attempt to reinstate equilibrium: this is difficult to pin down, but I think it must be when the woman in the wardrobe is revealed to be his wife (the close-up of the ring) and he tries to console her
via GIPHY - New equilibrium: He appears to be a good husband, coming home to his wife, but the audience knows that he is cheating on his wife, but the woman he's cheating on her with is going to try and kill him
via GIPHY
This one was quite complicated, and doesn't really fall easily into Todorov's theory, as is common for music video, though many do have lose plots, often non-linear.
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Vernallis
Vernallis, on the other hand argued that we can obtain no more visual information than we might derive from a single narrative painting, that music videos are only a suggestion of a story.
This was backed up by Steve Archer, who suggested that music videos only focus on a fragment of the lyrics.
I think this makes more sense, as from the examples I've looked at, it is difficult to exactly pinpoint the Todorov 5 point structure.
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