Analysing Music Videos and Theorists

Textual Analysis:

Look at -

• Gender
• Age
• Sexuality
• Band/Artist as a brand

Through-

• Mise-En-Scene
• Sound
• Editing
• Camera Work

Narrative Theory:

Narrative- The way a story is told so that the elements are structured in such a way that it makes sense to the audience.

3 Key Theorists:

Todorov-

• Equilibrium
• Disequilibrium
• Recognition
• Reparation
• New Equilibrium

Propp-

• Hero/ Heroine 
• Sender
• Villain
• Helper
• Reward
• Doner
• Father

Levi Strauss-

• Binary Opposites

3 Types of Music Video:

Concept Based-

• Not much narrative and not necessarily linked to lyrics.
• Based upon single idea or theme.
• Intrigues a specific target audience.

Narrative Based-

• Tells a story.
• May feature/ be suggested by lyrics.
• Follows beginning, middle and end.

Performance Based-

• Just band performing.
• Usually shown on stage.
• Lyrics not as important.

Final Theorist:

Andrew Goodwin-

• Music video theorist
• Ignores common narrative
• Essentially adverts

Six Different Conventions-

• Relationship between lyrics and visuals (illustrate, amplify or contradict them).
• Seeing the sound (music has a relationship with visual).
• Genre-related style (different genres have certain conventions).
• Multiple close-ups of main artist (creates an image for the brand).
• Voyeurism, looking at someone without them knowing (sexualize artist).
• Intertexuality, references other media texts.

After looking at how a music video should be analysed and learning the 3 types of music videos; as well as incorporating theorist ideas. We can now go on to pull apart some music videos and work out where they fit and their genre/ conventions.