The 1975 music video "Robbers" tells the narrative story of a couple on the run after robbing a convenience store. It follows Todorov's three-point narrative structure of equilibrium, disruption, and new equilibrium. The video challenges some music video conventions by having a narrative focus, but confirms to Goodwin's theory of depicting socially deprived areas and drug/alcohol abuse. There are illustrative and amplifying relationships between the lyrics, music, and visuals to drive the narrative. The video references Bonnie and Clyde and True Romance through the criminal couple dynamic and pays homage to their historical wrongdoings.

1. The 1975
Robbers

2. Narrative theories
 Todorov:
Three-point narrative
• Equilibrium – Road trip
• Problem – Robbing the convenience store, getting
shot
• New equilibrium – On the run
The ending is foreshadowed throughout the whole of
the narrative, with the absence of any context.

3.  Propp:
• Villain – The man
• Helpers – His companions and the woman
The woman seems reluctant throughout the video, but
also shows blind faith in the villain, as if her judgement
was clouded by her undying love for him. She shows
willingness to do anything with the expectation of
requited love back. The helpers stick with the two
lovers and aid them in their escape from the
convenience store near the end of the music video.

5.  Strauss:
• Authority vs Rebellion
• Order vs Chaos
• Good vs Evil
• Woman vs Man
• Sobriety vs Intoxication

6. Goodwin’s theory
Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
• Performance and narrative driven
• Grunge aesthetic
• Socially deprived area (run down motels, dimly lit
bathrooms, convenience store)
• Drug and alcohol abuse

7. There is a relationship between the lyrics and the
visuals (either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)
Illustrative and amplifying – Repeated reference to
‘Robbers’, lyrics drive the narrative/provide context of
their relationship
Challenges genre conventions (not typical to have a
narrative-driven video) but conforms to Goodwin’s
music video theory.

8. There is a relationship between the music and the
visuals (either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)
At the climax of the song(3:25), a hand-held camera is
used to create a disjoint in the narrative, as well as
invoking a sense of disorientation within the audience.
Once the man is shot the video becomes chaotic with
more frequent straight cuts to emphasise the
emotions/actions of the characters. During some parts
of the song, the scenes change in time with the beat of
the song to set the pace of the narrative.

9. The demands of the record label will include the need
for lots of close-ups of the artist and the artist may
develop motifs which recur across their work (e.g. a
visual style)
A visual style is evident in many music videos by The
1975, this consists of a grunge aesthetic and often
shows the lead singer smoking or drinking alcohol.
This is portrayed in this music video through the
various close-ups and medium shots.

10. There are frequent references to the notion of looking
(screens within screens, telescopes, etc.) and
particularly voyeuristic (sexual) treatment of the female
body
Subverts genre conventions – Voyeuristic treatment of
women, the woman is often overly sexualised in this
music video(scenes of nudity) but also holds some
dominance over the man when she warns him about
the gun. The audience is placed as the voyeur during
their intimate moments.

11. There is often intertextual references (to films, TV
programmes, other music videos, etc.)
The video pays homage to the historical wrongdoings
of Bonnie and Clyde, a criminal couple known for
robbing and killing people. The song itself was based
off of ‘True Romance’, a novella and film about an ill-
fated robbery and a dangerous romance. Both of these
are prevalent through the way in which the characters
act throughout the music video.

12. Whether the video is primarily performance-based,
narrative-based or concept-based and how elements
of each are used
Performance-based: The lead male acts out karaoke
scenes where he lip-syncs along with the lyrics. There
are also moments throughout in which both characters
say “You look so cool”.
Narrative-based: The story of a dangerous love
creates the narrative of the video, consisting of the
characters intimacy and immorality.