The document analyzes and summarizes three music videos using various narrative and semiotic theories. For the video "You Found Me" by The Fray, it discusses how the lead singer is portrayed as the hero and how the video depicts binary oppositions of love and loss. For "Henrietta" by The Fratellis, it notes the lead singer as hero and themes of romance depicted through a "Romeo and Juliet" style plot. For "When You Were Young" by The Killers, it discusses the male actor as hero, fairytale themes, and how binary oppositions of love and hate are represented in the storyline.
2. The Fray –You Found Me
• The lead singer of the band, is portrayed as the hero in the
narrative and performance based parts of the video. We recognize
this through the large amounts of screen time he has, along with
the regular close ups, he is one of the main points of attention.
• Also there are binary oppositions within this video in the sense of
love and loss. The loss is portrayed through the death of the young
girl, with love being portrayed through the people who have
witnessed this tragedy and therefor comforting each other. This
links in with one of Goodwins point of the visuals linking with the
lyrics as the lyrics talk about loss – shown in the video.
• The enigma code is also apparent in this video, because we as the
audience are unsure of what is happening to the casualty and the
story behind it –we are intrigued to find out.
3. The Fratellis -Henrietta
• The lead singer of the band is once again portrayed as the hero as
he is given the largest amount of screen time.
• We also have a princess in this video, with a ‘Romeo and Juliet’
theme to the video, as she is looking out from a window, down on
her ‘prince’.
• These two points link in with Goodwin’s theory of the lyrics and
visuals matching, as the song is about a mans feelings for this
woman, which is shown through the video.
• The villain in this video, is portrayed to be the husband of the lady
he has a crush on, as he is getting in the way of the hero’s quest.
• Barthes cultural code is present in this video as we instantly assume
that this man wants to be with this woman, not only through the
lyrics, but through his actions of standing outside her house singing
– a link to Romeo and Juliet again.
4. The Killers –When You Were Young
• Propps theory is supported in this video as the male actor is seen as
the hero in this video as he predominantly has more screen time
and is shown to be rescuing the princess.
• The setting at the start of the video is quite fairytale-esque which
also portrays a prince and princess theme.
• Binary oppositions of love and hate are represented in this video, as
the princess is in love with a man, but then hates him for being with
another woman.
• Bathes enigma code is present here as the audience is intrigued by
what is going to happen with the couple next.
• The cultural code is also present, as we understand the storyline
through the connotation of emotions such as sadness, which is a
shared knowledge of people throughout the world.