Applying Narrative theories to music video

Lesson Objectives

To consolidate your knowledge of conventional narrative theories.

To gain knowledge and understanding of postmodern narrative theories

To apply narrative theories to the analysis of a music video.

Definitions of Narrative

Narrative is ‘a way of organising spatial and temporal events into a cause-effect chain of events with a beginning, a middle, and end that embodies a judgement about the nature of events’ (Branigan).

Narrative Theory

Narrative theory analyses the way in which media texts communicate meaning about events.

Subjective character identity – a range of characters’ stories or view points are shown

Objective character identity – one character’s story or viewpoint is shown

Approaches to studying narrative Claude Levi-Strauss = Binary

Oppositions Vladimir Propp = Stock character types Tzvetan Todorov =5 conventional stages

of narrative

Todorov’s approach to narrative

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Todorov suggests that all narratives begin with equilibrium or an initial situation (where everything is balanced).

This is followed by some form of disruption, which is later resolved.

With the resolution at the end of the narrative a new equilibrium is usually established.

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Propp’s approach to narrative

Villain struggles with hero Donor prepares and/or provides hero with magical agent Helper assists, rescues, solves and/or transfigures the hero Princess a sought-for person who exists as goal and often

recognises and marries hero and/or punishes villain Dispatcher sends hero off Hero departs on a search (seeker-hero), reacts to donor and

weds at end False Hero claims to be the hero, often seeking and reacting like

a real hero

Propp believed that there are seven roles which any character may assume in the story:

Claude Levi-Strauss’s approach to narrative

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He observed that all narratives are organised around the conflict between binary opposites.

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Examples of binary opposites Good vs evil Black vs white Boy vs girl Peace vs war Civilised vs savage Democracy vs

dictatorship Conqueror vs conquered First world vs third world Domestic vs foreign/alien Articulate vs inarticulate Young vs old Man vs nature

Protagonist vs antagonist

Action vs inaction Motivator vs observer Empowered vs victim Man vs woman Good-looking vs ugly Strong vs weak Decisive vs indecisive East vs west Humanity vs technology Ignorance vs wisdom

Starter Activity: Narrative Analysis In pairs apply the narrative theory you

have been given to the Taylor Swift music video.

How useful was the approach?

Applying Todorov Theory

Equilibrium – the geeky girl is in love with the boy next door who only sees her as a friend.

Disequilibrium – the boy’s girlfriend cheats on him?

Resolution – the geeky girl is transformed into a beautiful girl and gets together with the boy.

What sort of values are reinforced by this narrative structure?

Propp – character types

Hero – character who seeks something – Taylor Swift Villain – character who the hero must overcome –

the girlfriend Princess – the boy – he is the reward for the hero.

What effect does the use of these character types have?

Why might the hero and villain be female? What values are reinforced by this?

Levi-strauss – binary oppositions The video involves a number of pairs of

opposites reflecting (and resolving) the narrative conflicts.

There are different sets of oppositions between the jock/the geek, and the cheerleader/the geek.

These oppositions identify the central ideological messages of the video.

Levi-Strauss

What are the key conflicts?

How are the conflicts resolved?

What messages are conveyed through this narrative?

Male Sociable Popular Sport Object

Female Studious Unpopular Reading Subject

Jock Nerd

Roland Barthes

Barthes identifies narrative codes which readers use to decode (understand) texts.

He emphasises the active role of audiences in creating meaning, and their ‘culturally formed expectations’.

The narrative codes are:

Action Enigma Semic Cultural

Narrative theoryRoland Barthes' narrative theory claims that a narrative can be broken down into

codes or sets of rules. These are:

Applies to any action that implies a further narrative action. Viewers are expected to connect different pieces of narrative.

Action code

Cultural codeAny element in a narrative that is dependant on audience prior knowledge.

Refers to any element in a story that raises questions and demands an explanation.

Enigma code

Any element in a text that suggests an additional meaning by connotations. For example a skull has connotations of death.

Semantic code

Barthes – Narrative Codes (Taylor Swift Video) Action – Viewers are expected to connect

different pieces of narrative (e.g. The boy is shown arguing on his phone – viewer assumes it is with his girlfriend).

Enigma – Will the jock and the geek get together?

Semic – glasses, book, notepads, red car, uniforms, white dress/red dress

Cultural – the video draws on stereotypes/cliches of teen movies – jock, cheerleader, geek, girl next door, prom, etc.

Postmodern Narratives

Some theorists suggest that postmodern narratives are different from previous narrative structures.

Characteristics of postmodern narratives include:

Intertextuality Pastiche (parody) Temporal distortion (fragmented narratives) Hyperreality (representations that are

exaggerated)

Postmodern approach - Pastiche Frederic Jameson states that postmodern texts

are simply characterised by pastiche.

A pastiche is an imitation of another genre or text.

Linda Hutcheon argues that postmodern narratives can critique contemporary society by calling attention to the constructed nature of the society.

Linda Hutcheon develops this view and argues that postmodern texts use pastiche in a knowing way acknowledging the constructed nature of representation.

Does the cliched nature of the Taylor Swift Video act as a critique of the values it promotes?

Modular Narratives

Modular Narratives “articulate a sense of time as divisible and subject tomanipulation”.

Allan Cameron has identified different types of modular narrative:

• Anachronic

• Forking Paths

• Split Screens

Analysing Narrative in Music videoUse the worksheet provided to analyse one of

thefollowing music videos

Jason Derulo- What If Britney Spears Everytime Katy Perry- Last Friday Night Joe Cole- Crooked Smile Lana Del Ray – National Anthem Avril Lavigne- Alice in Wonderland