This document analyzes Rihanna's music video "Unfaithful" using various narrative and film theories. It discusses how the video's plot follows Todorov's narrative theory of equilibrium being disrupted by Rihanna's infidelity. It also examines the characters of Rihanna as "the villain" and her partner as "the princess" based on Propp's character archetypes. Finally, it summarizes how the video portrays the binary opposition of faithful vs. unfaithful relationships, as described by Levi-Strauss's theory of binary opposites.

1. APPLYING ALL THEORIES TO
‘UNFAITHFUL’ BY RIHANNA

2. NARRATIVE THEORY

3. TORODOV (NARRATIVE THEORY)
A THEORY WHICH HE BELIEVED THAT ALL FILMS FOLLOWED THE SAME - NARRATIVE
PATTERN. THEY ALL WENT THROUGH STAGES CALLED THE EQUILIBRIUM,
DISEQUILIBRIUM, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, SOLVING AND AGAIN EQUILIBRIUM.
This can be applied to this music video as at the beginning the state of
equilibrium is
taking place. In this wide shot we are able to see that the characters are
content and are enjoying each
others company; things are how they should be.
Later on in the video we are shown a close up of Rihanna’s character texting an
unknown character saying ‘B down in 5’, this suggests that she is seeing somebody
else and her relationship with this other man is being disrupted.
We are then shown, through a high angle, Rihanna with the other man. The
viewers are then able to recognise the disruption as they are shown directly
what is going on. However, the video also doesn’t apply to the theory
completely as the equilibrium is never restored; she goes back to her other
man and acts like nothing has happened.

4. PROPP (CHARACTER TYPES)
PROPP DEVELOPED A CHARACTER THEORY FOR STUDYING MEDIA
TEXTS AND PRODUCTIONS. PROP DISCOVERED THAT ALL
CHARACTERS FALL INTO 7 BROARD CHARACTER TYPES.
Rihanna is seen to be ‘the villain’ in the video as she is harming ‘the princess’
by cheating on him yet he is portrayed as innocent like a princess as he is
completely unaware.
In this music video only 2 out of the 7 character types can be applied. ‘The Princess’
is the man who Rihanna is cheating on as he is the victim and is being harmed by
her; the stereotypical idea of ‘the princess’ is broken due him being a male.

5. LEVI-STRAUSS (BINARY OPPOSITES)
PROPOSED A THEORY OF 'BINARY OPPOSITES' WHICH ENTAILS THAT
THE MAJORITY OF NARRATIVES IN MEDIA FORMS SUCH AS BOOKS AND
FILM CONTAIN OPPOSING MAIN CHARACTERS.
Rihanna’s partner in the video is ‘faithful’, he stays loyal to
her and doesn't see anyone else; he stays faithful to
Rihanna. The innocence of this character is portrayed
through his white clothing.
The only binary opposite included in this music video is the idea of
‘faithful v unfaithful’ .
Rihanna is portrayed as the ‘unfaithful’ character as
she is in a relationship with another man yet is seeing
somebody else, showing how she has no loyalties with
him and suggests she doesn’t think a lot of him.

6. BARTHES (NARRATIVE CODES)
HE SUGGESTED THAT THERE WILL BE ONE OR MORE OF THE 5 CODES THAT
DESCRIBE THE MEANING OF A TEXT. HE BELIEVES THAT TEXTS CAN BE 'O PEN' AND
VIEWED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS OR 'CLOSED 'WHERE THERE IS ONLY ON E
OBVIOUS PULL ON.
The Hermeneutic/Enigma code and the Proairetic/Action code can both be applied to the music
video; especially this close up of Rihanna’s phone texting another man. The Hermeneutic/Enigma
code as it leaves a mystery for the audience, the clue is given that she’s cheating but we aren’t yet told
that she is. The Proairetic/Action code can then also be applied as it is a sequential element and the
reader can guess that she is about to cheat on him.

7. REPRESENTATION THEORY

8. SEMIOTICS
The semiotics theory can be applied to this close up of
Rihanna applying lip gloss; the lip gloss reveals a deeper
meaning than just the lip gloss. It reveals more about her
character, suggesting she cares a lot about her appearance
but could also show her in a promiscuous manner.
Who appears to be Rihanna’s boyfriend in the music video is dressed in
white which also reveals more about his character. His white clothing
reveals an innocent character, which proves to be true as he is unaware of
what Rihanna is doing to him.

9. MALE GAZE
The male gaze theory can be applied to this music video as
Rihanna is frequently shown to be an object for sexual desire.
Her overall mise-en-scene, a tight revealing black dress and
heavy make up, portrays her as a physically desirable character;
which is what the male eye will be particular focused on. During
the video she is also shown to be sexually desirable to the males
in the video; both two men shown are in an intimate
relationship with her proving her purpose is to please the males
sexual desire.

10. STEREOYTPES
Rihanna is shown to be a stereotypically promiscuous character, with heavy make up and revealing clothing..
She frequently leans against objects and pushes her chest out which is also mannerisms expected from a
promiscuous character.

11. SIMULACRA
This theory can be applied to the music video as because Rihanna’s character is cheating on her
boyfriend, her mise-en-scene suggests a provocative woman; this is a stereotype which is exaggerated
as a woman cheating doesn’t necessarily mean she is a provocative person. As we’re so reliant on
representations we begin to believe that this is the case when in fact in real life it isn’t.

12. AUDIENCE THEORY

13. HYPODERMIC NEEDLE THEORY
This theory can be applied to the music
video as if people are surrounded by the idea
of cheating they begin to believe that it’s
normal. If this is how relationships are
frequently shown in the media people begin
to believe that this is how they are, resulting
in them losing trust in their partner.

14. USES AND GRATIFICATIONS THEORY
It also meets the diversion expectation as the intriguing storyline provides an escape
from life as it captures the audience’s attention and makes them forget about their real
life for a short period of time; it could actually make people feel better about their own
lives, especially if they’re in a healthy relationship.
This music video especially meets the personal relationships
expectation as we begin to feel sympathy for Rihanna’s partner for
how she’s treating him and how unaware he is; we therefore
develop a relationship with him as we begin to feel emotionally
attached to him.

15. ENCODING DECODING
A dominant member of the audience may accept the
reading of the text due to how they view life. For example, a
male who had been cheated on by a woman may believe
that this is a realistic story line as they can relate.
An oppositional member (e.g. a feminist)
may not want to accept the reading and
actually reject it as they feel as if women
are being portrayed in a negative and
unfair way.

16. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTENT
This theory could be applied as a woman may construct
a different meaning of the text then a man would. A
woman could believe that there is a deeper story then
we’re shown; she may think that this woman is in an
abusive relationship and is finding ways to escape it yet
we’re not shown that throughout the music video.

17. GENRE THEORY

18. INSTITUTION
‘THE VERY EXISTENCE OF GENRE FILMS AND CYCLES IS A PRODUCT OF TH E FILM
INDUSTRY’S ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM OF UNCERTAINTY…OF NOT
KNOWING THE FUTURE TASTES OF THE MASS AUDIENCE.’ ROBERT E. KAPSIS (1991)
This theory could be applied to the music video as most of Rihanna’s videos all include a similar
story line; usually a woman portrayed in a provocative way whilst revealing her relationship with a
male character.

19. AUDIENCE
‘THE ATTRACTION OF GENRE TO THE INDUSTRY IS CLOSELY LINKED TO IT S PRESUMED
APPEAL TO VIEWERS. FILMGOERS GENERALLY LIKE TO HAVE A BROAD IDE A OF WHAT TO
EXPECT FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL PICTURE. GENRES ARE CONSTITUTED NOT JUST BY BODIES
OF FILMS BUT ALSO BY THE ESTABLISHED EXPECTATIONS OF VIEWERS.’ K ING (2002)
Rihanna continues to make similar songs/videos as she knows that’s what her audience likes as she is
getting sales and making money. She wouldn’t suddenly change her genre as her audience know what
they expect; if they didn’t get that they would no longer be interested as they're not getting what they
desire. For example, if Rihanna suddenly changed her genre to rock her fans would no longer be
interested as that’s not the genre of music they like to listen to.

20. RITUAL
‘THE WESTERN, LIKE ANY MYTH, STANDS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL HUMAN CON SCIOUSNESS AND SOCIETY. IF A
MYTH IS POPULAR, IT MUST SOMEHOW APPEAL TO OR REINFORCE THE INDI VIDUAL WHO VIEW IT BY
COMMUNICATING A SYMBOLIC MEANING TO THEM. THE MEANING MUST…REFL ECT THE PARTICULAR SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONS AND ATTITUDES THAT HAVE CREATED AND CONTINUE TO NOU RISH THE MYTH. THUS A MYTH
MUST TELL ITS VIEWERS ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR SOCIETY’ WILL W RIGHT (1975)
This music video can be applied to this theory as cheating is commonly spoke about across the
media; therefore the audience is surrounded by the idea of it throughout society. This then makes
the audience understand what is happening and are able to relate to it more which is why it is used in
the video.

21. CLASSIFICATION AND INTERPRETATION
‘GENRES ARE NOT SIMPLY BODIES OF WORK OR GROUPS OF FILMS…GENRES DO NOT CONSIST
ONLY OF FILMS: THEY CONSIST ALSO…OF SPECIFIC SYSTEMS OF EXPECTAT ION…WHICH
SPECTATORS BRING WITH THEM TO THE CINEMA, AND WHICH INTERACT WIT H FILM THEMSELVES
DURING THE COURSE OF THE VIEWING PROCESS. THESE SYSTEMS PROVIDE SPECTATORS WITH
MEANS OF RECOGNITION AND UNDERSTANDING. THEY HELP RENDER FILMS, AND THE ELEMENTS
WITHIN THEM, INTELLIGIBLE AND THEREFORE EXPLICABLE.’ STEVE NEALE (1990)
Rihanna’s main genres of music is ‘Pop’ and ‘R n B’. These genres help the audience to
know what to expect from one of her music videos and therefore can recognise and
understand the song. For example, ‘R n B’ is music is that it is solely based around sex and
feelings, which is therefore what people expect to see in this genre of music; which Rihanna
portrays both of these things in a lot of her music videos.