Narrative Theory applied to Enrique Iglesias' Hero (2002)

1. Enrique Iglesias - Hero
•Released – 2002 (UK)
•Directed by – Joseph Kahn

2. Narrative
The narrative for the music video to Enrique
Iglesias’ Hero features the singer Iglesias as the
protagonist who is a criminal, being hunted
down by his enemies. Jennifer Love Hewitt plays
his love interest, while the lead gang member
who is tracking them down is played by Mickey
Rourke. The video features Iglesias and Love-
Hewett as they are chased through the desert
and are finally hunted down .

3. According to Tsvetan Todorov, Bulgarian Literary theorist, the narrative within the music video for Enrique
Iglesias’ Hero, follows the generic conventions of narrative theory, in which he proposes that most narratives
begin with a state of equilibrium, in which the characters’ lives are normal and the protagonist is happy. This is
evident in Joseph Kahn’s music video with the close up shots of Iglesias and Love-Hewitt embracing each
other’s company in a state of affection. The slow edit used at the start of the video creates a mood of
contentment between the couple. For the audience, this creates a much greater sense of tragedy. Being
presented with the character's most happiest and content moments before the dramatic turn of events for the
worse creates a contrast and so has greater, significant impact as a dramatic narrative.

4. However, according to Todorov’s theory, this equilibrium is disrupted by a state of disequilibrium; a disruption
of the peace and contentment by an outside force. In the music video for Iglesias’ Hero, we see that the calm is
soon disrupted by the fact that they are evidently being chased by a gang. This is shown through a parallel
narrative consisting of shots of a gang congregating in the desert, cutting to shots of Iglesias and Love-Hewitt,
seemingly aware they are being chased. The shots of money escaping from the back seat of the car that the
pair are riding in, further indicates the fact that they are involved in some sort of suspicious activity, casting
some doubt upon the calm state of equilibrium which we find them in at the beginning of the video.
Money
escapes from
a bag in
Iglesias’ and
Love-Hewitt’s
car.
The gang
congregates
outside a
motel/café in the
desert.
Goodwin's theory of music videos, that the soundtrack should match the visuals is referenced during the final stand off in the
desert at the end of the text. The music is heightened, with the chorus line 'I will be your hero baby' as Iglesias injures the
gang leader, played by Rourke, defending himself and his partner. This helps to heighten the overall mood and atmosphere of
the text. The strong links to the lyrics in the visuals helps to reinforce the tense mood during the standoff.

5. In the music video, the protagonist Enrique Iglesias, is presented as the ‘hero’. According to Vladimir Propp, each
narrative will consist of a set of stock characters. Of the archetypes which Propp introduces us to, we can deduce
that Iglesias is the heroic character – the person on a quest. In literature, the hero in a tragedy, is the protagonist
whose fatal flaw leads him to his eventual tragic end. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the hero Macbeth meets his
tragic fate as a result of his greed for power. Similarly, Iglesias meets his tragic end at the end of the music video
as a result of his apparent greed for wealth, indicated by the shots of the money bag in the back seat of his car.
Further to this, Mickey Rourke, is shown to play the villain in
Iglesias’ music video. At the beginning of the video, a few
close up shots of Rourke indicate that there is trouble to
come and foreshadow the later event. The image of the
figure, dressed in all black, facing away from the camera and
stroking his hair back, adds a sense of mystery, and indicates
the presence of a menacing character.
Another conventional character profile within narrative is known as the princess. According to theorist,
Vladimir Propp, the heroic character's incentive throughout their crusade is the end reward of the princess.
In the case of the music video to promote Enrique Iglesias' Hero, Love-Hewett plays the princess. It is
evident through the intimacy which the two characters display, that Iglesias, as the hero, has the intention
to win the love of this character and is seemingly willing to battle to keep her. In the stand off towards the
end of the music video, Iglesias is fighting to save Love-Hewett and although it costs him his life, he
demonstrates how he is willing to protect her from the gang who close in on them.

6. French semiologist, Roland Barthes suggested that narrative works with five different codes, one of which being
action - a narrative device in which some sort of resolution is made through action. In the case of the music video
to promote Enrique Iglesias' Hero, the mid-desert standoff leads to the resulting consequences.
Music video for Enrique Iglesias, Hero.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,
Sergio Leone.
Within the action narrative, Joseph Kahn makes a strong reference to Sergio Leone's 1966 Western, The
Good,The Bad and The Ugly. Fans of the film genre who also watch this music video will be thrilled to recognise
the staggering link between the location, in which the major climactic events of the two texts take place in.
This audience will immediately recognise the fact that the desert location in which the stand off takes place
indicates bad to come. This is an effective tool which the director, Kahn has made use of, in order to heighten
the tension of the action within the music video.