Critical Perspectives in Media Narrative

Learning Intentions To recap basic narrative conventions within a music video To understand narrative theory To apply the theory to a professional music video

Narrative & the Song (lyrics) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SONG CONTENT AND NARRATIVE CONTENT Illustration The narrative in the video very closely echoes the lyrical content of the song Amplification The narrative whilst inspired by the song adds a narrative element to complement the themes / subject matter of the song Disjuncture The narrative seems to hold very little relationship to the song and quite arbitrary (random)

Narrative / Performance Performance Videos Exclusively performance The performance in these video will be given special treatment: Performing in an unusual place Stunning visual effects Comic performance Spectacle performance Combination Videos These videos will be a mixture of performance and narrative and can include: The performance and narrative completely separate The star / band observes the action as an invisible narrator The performer has an active role in the narrative Narrative Videos Have little of no performance. (Quite unusual given music videos nature as advert for the band.) May often tell a socially important story (giving a voice to the voiceless) May use a complex narrative structure/ range May use inter-textual references from films or other stories.

NARRATIVE CONVENTIONS When 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 approach The 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 video Structure

The Three Act Structure Act 1Act 2Act 3

The Three Act Structure Act 1 (Exposition) Introduce 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 Structure Act 2 (Disequilibrium or Climax) Explored the consequences of the catalytic moment. The protagonist recognises the disruption and tries to repair the diegesis.

The Three Act Structure Act 3 (Denouement) With 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 denouement

Describe your narrative and how much is shown in the video. (Todorov) Equilibrium/ Exposition Disruption Disequilibrium/ Climax Revelation Equilibrium/ Denouement Narrative Organisation Time

“All stories must have a beginning, middle and an end, just not necessarily in that order” Quentin Tarantino on Pulp Fiction

Non-Linear Narratives Anachronic Split Screen Forking Path Episodic

Driving the Narrative Conflict and oppositions

Binary Opposition ( Levi-Strauss ) Typical Narrative Oppositions... ProtagonistAntagonist FuturePast CivilisationSavagery The PoliceCriminals AgeYouth EqualityInjustice LoveAppearances SearchingFinding BetrayalRedemption EntrapmentFreedom LossDiscovery

Conflict & Themes As the audience watch the story and witness the conflicts and the denouement the themes can emerge.

Audience Positioning

Whose 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 Narrative What 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?

What’s the Narrative Range? Restricted / Unrestricted

Restricted Narrative Range Doesn’t reveal all the narrative information to the audience Such as in thrillers Events in the narrative which are (initially) unexplained are called ‘enigma codes’ Which will be explained later in the narrative In thrillers this is called the twist This 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 Range Gives the audience privileged position in terms of the narrative Such as in soaps The audience’s 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 Task

Narrative Analysis How 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?