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
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