Media - applying Narrative Theory to music videos

1. Narrative Structure

2. The narrative structure of music videos may consist of:
• Music videos may be structured around match on action with a strong sense of story telling which either illustrates, amplifies or contradicts
the lyrics – this is linked with Goodwin's theory.
• Continuity editing - used to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to create a logical coherence between shots.
• Montage – often edited to the beat, for example there is a relationship between music and visuals. Eisenstein describes montage as an
alternative form of “continuity editing”. That is putting together a number of frames to create meaning, one frame informs the other. A
montage can be described as the art and technique of motion-picture editing in which contrasting shots or sequences are used to effect
emotional or intellectual responses. The montage technique relies on the symbolic relationship of ideas between shots rather than association
of simple physical action for its continuity. A wonderful example of this would be Eisenstein ‘s Odessay Steps Sequence in “Battleship
Potemkin” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laJ_1P-Py2k
• Flash backs - A flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks
are often used to recount events that happened before the story's primary sequence of events to fill in crucial backstory. In the opposite
direction, a flash forward (or prolepsis) reveals events that will occur in the future. Both flashback and flash forward are used to create
suspense in a story, develop a character or structuring the narration. In literature, internal analepsis is a flashback to an earlier point in the
narrative; external analepsis is a flashback to before the narrative started. In movies and television, several camera techniques and special
effects have evolved to alert the viewer that the action shown is from the past; for example, the edges of the picture may be deliberately
blurred, photography may be jarring or choppy, or unusual coloration or sepia tone, or monochrome when most of the story is in full colour,
may be used. This is to avoid causing the viewer to be confused. The use flashbacks can be linked with Claude Levis Strauss view that “Constant
creation of conflict/opposition drives narrative”. For example opposition can be visual -light/darkness or movement/stillness or conceptual -
love/hate or control/panic.

3. Barthes' Codes - Open & Closed texts:
• Open text is where the audience is able to create their own meaning from a tangle of threads. Ambiguity in a text
gives audiences access to different interpretations.
• A closed text is where meaning is explicit. For example in cinema action adventure films.
• Circular narrative: this is where action ends exactly where it started. This type of narrative has certain plot points
repeated. we see this demonstrated in many contemporary films, such as Fight Club and Swordfish. The films
commence with the climax of the film, in the case of Fight Club it's Tyler and Cornelius in the skyscraper before the
bombs detonate. From this first scene the film traces the events leading up to this climax until it returns to the
scene of the skyscraper right before the buildings explode.
Pulp Fiction is another example; the film starts out with a diner hold-up staged by "Pumpkin" and "Honey Bunny,"
then picks up the stories of Vincent, Jules, Butch, and several other main characters, including mob kingpin Marsellus
Wallace, his wife, Mia, and underworld problem-solver Winston Wolfe. It finally goes back to where it began, in the
diner: Vincent and Jules, who have stopped in for a bite, find themselves embroiled in the hold-up.

4. Applying narrative theory to music videos:
Artist: Katy Perry
Track : The One That Got Away
Genre: Pop
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Release date: 11th November 2011

5. • The story in this music video focuses on an elderly lady remembering her past with a man she
loved when she was a young adolescence, although it appears that they were very happy
together, their relationship is suddenly destroyed. It is clear that this elderly woman is thinking
about her past and feels guilty for what happened to her lover and is upset by imagining what
their future together would have been like.
• A variety of flashbacks are used to illustrate this. The music video begins with a man who is
assumed to be her husband asking her ‘how was it?’ and she responds by saying ‘I’m fine’
however, the audience can understand she isn’t in the first close up of her, her facial
expression implies that she is feeling depressed. As she begins to stirs her drink, it is used as a
transition for a flashback to when she was young and happy.
Currently upset
Flashback of when she was
young and happy

6. • The first flashback displays the young girl and her boyfriend laughing and joking together whilst producing
portraits of each other. Their facial expressions and body language insinuates that they are very happy and
comfortable with one another. For example, there is a close up shot of the couple smiling at each other
before they are about to kiss and hug.
• It then returns to the woman’s current situation where she is sitting on her bed alone whilst making a hand
gesture that insinuates she wishes her old lover was still sitting there with her today. The colours of the
bedroom location are very dull, likewise with her costume. This perhaps implies that she feels lost and lonely
and isolated; this makes the audience feel sympathy towards the woman.
Smiling at each other Lonely on her bed

7. • Another flashback to when the young boy and girl were messing around with each other includes photos of
their memories. The photos are showed at a fast pace which goes with the beat of the music, supporting
Goodwin's theory of music and visuals where the action is synchronised with the beat.
• This is additionally relatable in the flashback of the couple jumping as they are dancing at an event which
appears as a wedding.
Photos of their memories that are
exposed to the beat of the soundtrack.
Couple dancing to the
beat of the music.

8. • One of the flashbacks shows the man giving her a tattoo when she young and the elderly lady reveals that
she still has it. This makes her feel very emotional and the next flashback shows them arguing and being
acting aggressively as they ruin each others paintings.
• The boy drives off in his black car, the lyrics at this moment are: ‘the one that got away’ this relates to
Goodwin’s theory of lyrics and visuals as the lyrics match with the image being presented.
• The narrative in this music video gives a sense of ambiguity as it is not obvious as to why or what made them
annoyed with each other.
• Towards the end of the music video a close up shot of the car wheel creates tension towards the audience
when the man isn’t concentrating on driving; then a point of view shot is used putting the audience in his
position just before he crashes over the edge. This allows the audience to understand why the elderly
woman feels broken, upset and guilty as it is likely she believes it is her fault because she made him angry.
• In the last sequence of the music video, the woman visits the place were her lover crashed, where she
imagines that he is there. This indicates that her thoughts and all the memories are haunting her causing her
to feel guilty and responsible for what happened, which emphasises why she feels lonely and depressed.
Boy driving away Point of view shot Imagining her first love

9. Applying narrative theory to music videos:
Artist: Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding
Track: I Need Your Love
Genre: Electro house/Indie Pop
Director: Emil Nava
Release date: 12th April 2013

10. • The narrative structure in the music video consists of a montage. The video starts with Goulding in bed,
singing the song. She is joined by Harris who is portrayed to be in a romantic relationship with her. The video
moves to amateur-like footage of Goulding and Harris acting in a loving way towards each other in various
different locations such as a resort, in a car, and at a beach. The use of bright lighting implies that they are a
happy couple.
• The montage also involves other individuals picking up the supposed ‘camcorder’ and recording themselves
participating in activities such as skateboarding, jet skiing, on a boat cruise and in a night club (where Harris
is the DJ).

11. • Part of the montage can be applied to Goodwin’s theory.
• For example, most of the music video involves Harris and other individuals holding the camera and filming
themselves, therefore a variety of close ups of each individuals face is used. Everyone who uses the camera
is smiling, implying that they are having a wonderful time. As they have recorded themselves, it gives the
music video more of a fun vibe as these people are creating memories for themselves. This makes the
audience want to do this with their lives so they have something to look back on to laugh and smile at.
• Towards the end of the video, Calvin and Ellie are dancing in the night club with a strobe light in the
background; the flash of the strobe lights is synchronised with the beat of the music.
Close ups of different individuals and Calvin and Ellie
Calvin and Ellie in nightclub – visuals of strobe light
synchronised with the beat

12. Comparison of ‘The One That Got Away’ and ‘I Need Your Love’
• The One That Got Away consistently uses flashbacks to tell a story, therefore there is a sense of continuity
editing so that the audience are able to understand what happened in the past and what is happening in
present. This music video could be consider as a closed text as the audience soon realise why the elderly
lady is depressed. However, it could also be seen as an open text because the audience do not know why
the couple argued and damaged their happy relationship – leaving the audience to come up with their own
ideas about what happened.
• Alternatively, I Need Your Love is a complete montage that involves a romantic relationship between a girl
and a boy but also has aspects of other individuals entertaining themselves, although it’s main focus is the
couple. This music video is portrayed as an open text as it is quite ambiguous – this allows the audience
access to a variety of interpretations as they can create their own meaning to the montage.
• Flashbacks are mostly used to tell an important story, whereas a montage is more likely to be used in a
positive, upbeat, fast tempo track, although this is not always the case.
• These two music videos are relevant to my own music video production as it begins with the present time,
but transfers to a flashback of lots of different memories these two friends had together – therefore I am
creating a montage of lots of different images to express this.