Narrative

Section 2B

GenreNarrativeMedia LanguageAudienceRepresentation

Before Production Takes Place

You need to understand the way narrative is constructed in music videos

Have knowledge of narrative theories relating to story structure, characters and themes

What is Narrative?

Claude Levi-Strauss = Binary OppositionsVladimir Propp = CharactersTzvetan Todorov =5 conventional stages

Todorov - Classic Narrative

Cause and Effect Invisible EditingStory told in chronological order:EquilibriumDisequilibriumRecognitionReparationNew equilibrium

Levi- Strauss- Binary Oppositions

One side is represented as the ‘right’ side who the audience can identify with and support

Examples:Good and evilPast and presentNormal and strangeKnown and unknownHeaven and earth

Propp - characters

Hero: Seeks somethingVillain: Obstructs the heroPrincess: Hero’s rewardFather: Give of rewardsDonor: Provides information and helpHelper: Helps the heroDispatcher: Sends the hero on a questFalse heroIn Propp’s theory, these character types are

established to increase understanding from the point of view of the audience

Activity 1

In your pair select one of the film below and apply these three narrative theories:

SpidermanThe Dark KnightStar WarsTitanicToy Story 3Shrek

Activity 2

How far can you apply these traditional narrative theories to a music video?

Let’s explore some video examples

Narrative in Music Videos

Narratives are rarely complete often fragmentary

Tend to suggest storylinesNon-linear order (not cause and effect)Desire to see them againNarrative often divided between performance

and conceptual clips

Time & Narrative

FlashbacksReal timeReversalDream sequenceRepetitionDifferent characters POVEllipsisPre-figuring of events that have not yet taken

place

Types of Narrative you might see

LinearNon-linearCircularParallel NarrativeConvergent NarrativeInterweaving Narrative

Key Task

Analyse a video chosen from the list providedExplore the extent to which you can apply the

traditional narrative theories to the textWrite a 500 work account with specific

examples from the text