2. ‘Music videos break down the visual, lyrical and musical
elements to the smallest constituent parts- a prop, a
colour, a gesture, a few words, an intriguing riff’
- CarolVernallis
3. Concepts
■ Carol vernallis theory is focused around four main concepts, which include:
– Editing
– Narrative
– Diegesis
– Camera movement and framing
4. Editing
■ The ideas in this theory include:
– There is a difference between film and music video editing.
– The role in editing is narrative, meaning and continuity.
– Image and sound are synchronized via editing.
– Editing reflects the music in music videos
– Close ups and images of the lead work in a music video.
■ Usually editing in music videos will be in time with the song of the music video.
■ A convention of editing in music videos is that the rules of continuity can be broken.The
editing may not be clean cut or invisible, but this allows the editing to be unique to the
video
5. Narrative
■ This section in the theory implies that the video is a visual response to the narrative.
This means that the song will tell a story that the video will portray, in correlation to
the lyrics and music.Vernallis goes on to say that the narrative is not always finished,
and this will lead to a disjointed video, making it more interesting.When the narrative
is left unfinished, it will prompt questions from the audience which will not be
answered.
6. Camera movement and framing
■ Vernallis states that the lead should almost always be positioned front and center of
the frame, leading the focus onto them. She also states that that other body parts can
hold significance.This theory is especially relevant in modern music, with many
performers using sexuality and their bodies to make sales.The most commonly shot
angle is just below the subject and slightly to the side. How a shot is styled and framed
can completely change the feeling of the video. Many music videos will use
establishing shots and close ups quite frequently.Vernallis also states that many
images throughout music videos are fast pased, and there must be some slower close
ups to help the audience focus.
7. Diegesis
■ A narrative will usually be slowly developed in a music video, to create anticipation and
keep attention from the audience.The actions threw the video don’t always reach
completion.Videos will commonly include repetitive shots which seem more
meaningful due to their shot or framing.
