The document summarizes several theorists' ideas about common patterns and elements in narratives across different media. Vladimir Propp identified common stock characters that reappear in stories. Levi-Strauss discussed binary oppositions or conflicts. Roland Barthes identified five codes that engage audiences. Andrew Goodwin outlined five key aspects to look for in music videos, including narrative and how the video relates to the song. Examples of music videos are provided that illustrate concepts from some of the different theories.

1. Theorist Example Idea
Vladimir Propp developed a theory that within Taylor Swift- Love This music
each narrative there are a set of stock Story video portrays
characters, which reappear in every storyline. a love story
-Hero http://www.youtu sequence
-Princess be.com/watch?v=8 between a
-Helper xg3vE8Ie_E young boy and
-False Hero girl and
-Dispatcher rephrases it as
-Father both being
-Villain princess and prince, relating to the classic
-Donor romantic fairy tale theme.
Levi- Strauss’ theory dictated that in every Chase and Status ft A good representation of Good & Bad I
media text there are binary oppositions, or Delilah- Time shown in this music video as well as Love &
conflict between two opposites. Hate as violence between a family is shown,
-Good & Bad http://www.youtu straining the relationship between the
-Rich & Poor be.com/watch?v=w mother and
-Eastern & Western World e9jeU76Y9E&featu father of
-Love & Hate re=relmfu their love
hate
relationship
and it
effects the whole family, showing clips of
them enjoying their love life to then
switching to the father using violence against
the mother.
Roland Barthes identified 5 different codes by David Guetta ft This representation shows a good example
which a narrative engages the attention of the Usher- Without of people from different cultures as the
audience. You video
-Enigma Code explores
-Action Code http://www.youtu different
-Semantic Code be.com/watch?v=j parts of the
-Symbolic Code Ue8uoKdHao world
-Cultural Code loving the
same
music (song being played) and how good it
is, as it physically brings the countries
together, to party and enjoy themselves all
together as one.
Andrew Goodwin identifies 5 key aspects of The Script- The This representation shows a good example
music videos that we the audience should look Man Who Can’t Be of a narrative of a man who is going through
out for which are: Moved a break up with a woman as he follows the
-Thought beats- seeing the sound lyrics in his song of ‘the man who can’t be
-Narrative and performance http://www.youtu moved’ as he
-Relation of videos to song be.com/watch?v=g is sitting on
-Technical aspects of music video S9o1FAszdk the
pavement,
singing about
his love. The
theory of
Andrew
Goodwin however follows every song in the
music industry as every video has a narrative
behind it and the steps to his theory all
follow.