Critical Perspectives in Media Narrative. Learning Intentions To recap basic narrative conventions...

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Transcript of Critical Perspectives in Media Narrative. Learning Intentions To recap basic narrative conventions...

Narrative

Critical Perspectives in MediaNarrative1Learning IntentionsTo recap basic narrative conventions within a music videoTo understand narrative theoryTo apply the theory to a professional music videoNarrative & the Song (lyrics)THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SONG CONTENT AND NARRATIVE CONTENTIllustrationThe narrative in the video very closely echoes the lyrical content of the songAmplificationThe narrative whilst inspired by the song adds a narrative element to complement the themes / subject matter of the songDisjunctureThe narrative seems to hold very little relationship to the song and quite arbitrary (random)Narrative / Performancenarrative ConventionsWhen thinking about the relationship between narrative and performance in the music video, also consider how far the following are conventionally true:Narrative is subordinate to performance.Songs rarely tell complete narratives.Music videos resist classic realistic narratives (stories with a beginning, middle and end and a full cast of characters).Music videos narratives tend to reflect a sense of a story and are more thematic in their approachThe audience consume music videos in a looser, more casual way.Music videos need to have repeatability built into them.Most important is the authenticity of the performance.Describe the narrative shape of the videoStructureThe Three Act StructureThe Three Act StructureIntroduce the main character, sets up conflicts which is the story of the film.At the end is the catalytic moment where the equilibrium is disrupted The Three Act StructureExplored the consequences of the catalytic moment. The protagonist recognises the disruption and tries to repair the diegesis . The Three Act StructureWith one final revelation or moment of crisis / conflict the story is resolved (a new equilibrium created) and the audience is told the outcomes.The themes should be evident in the denouementDescribe your narrative and how much is shown in the video. (Todorov)Equilibrium/ ExpositionDisruptionDisequilibrium/ ClimaxRevelationEquilibrium/ DenouementNarrative OrganisationTimeAll stories must have a beginning, middle and an end, just not necessarily in that orderQuentin Tarantino on Pulp FictionNon-Linear NarrativesAnachronicSplit ScreenForking PathEpisodicDriving the NarrativeConflict and oppositions14Binary Opposition (Levi-Strauss)Typical Narrative Oppositions...ProtagonistAntagonistFuturePastCivilisationSavageryThe PoliceCriminalsAgeYouthEqualityInjusticeLoveAppearancesSearchingFindingBetrayalRedemptionEntrapmentFreedomLossDiscovery15Conflict & ThemesAs the audience watch the story and witness the conflicts and the denouement the themes can emerge.Audience PositioningWhose story is it?Who are we being encouraged to empathise with?How is that character represented to us?What character codes are being used?Band / Singer in the NarrativeWhat is the relationship between the band or artist and the narrative? Are they:Separate from the narrative?A player within the narrative?Are key lyrics put into the mouths of the characters?Is the band watching the action like an invisible narrator?What impact does this have on our reading of the text /star?

Whats the Narrative Range?Restricted / UnrestrictedRestrictedNarrative RangeDoesnt reveal all the narrative information to the audienceSuch as in thrillersEvents in the narrative which are (initially) unexplained are called enigma codesWhich will be explained later in the narrativeIn thrillers this is called the twistThis opens the text to multiple readings, which is pleasurable for the audience and useful for the repeatability of the music video

Nickleback - Someday

Unrestricted Narrative RangeGives the audience privileged position in terms of the narrativeSuch as in soapsThe audiences pre knowledge of important facts leads to a heightened emotional response and greater anticipation in terms of the revelation of that information to ignorant characters. Ed Sheeran The A Team

Your TaskNarrative AnalysisHow is the narrative structured?Where on the narrative arc is it taking place?Is it linear of non-linear? Why?What conflicts drive the narrative?How do the conflicts reveal the themes?How are the audience positioned?Whose story is it?What is the intended relationship between the performance and narrative in the video?What is the narrative range in the video?What is the narrative pleasure of the text?Why would an audience watch it again?

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