NARRATIVE
In this narrative segment, I will be critically assessing the narrative within three music videos. A video/film narrative is the way certain events are put together to be presented to an audience. It is the structure of a media text.
PROPPS THEORY:
He believed that characters had a function:
The Hero – a character that seeks something
The Villain – who opposes or actively blocks the hero’s quest
The Donor – who provides an object with magical properties
The Dispatcher – who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message
The False Hero – who disrupts the hero’s success by making false claims
The Helper – who aids the hero
The Princess – acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villain’s plots
Her Father – who acts to reward the hero for his effort
PROPPS THEORY:
He believed that characters had a function:
The Hero – a character that seeks something
The Villain – who opposes or actively blocks the hero’s quest
The Donor – who provides an object with magical properties
The Dispatcher – who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message
The False Hero – who disrupts the hero’s success by making false claims
The Helper – who aids the hero
The Princess – acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villain’s plots
Her Father – who acts to reward the hero for his effort
LEVI-STRAUSS THEORY:
This theory is usually expressed in the form of binary oppositions. for example:
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TODOROVS THEORY:
Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages: 1) A state of equilibrium at the outset. 2) A disruption of the equilibrium by some action. 3) A recognition that there has been a disruption. 4) An attempt to repair the disruption. 5) equilibrium restored. |
MUSIC VIDEO 1
STRESS BY JUSTICE
The music video's narrative is typical of the observational documentary style. This especially refers to the anti hero. But I also feel it falls into Levi-Stauss theory, as he looked at narrative structure in terms of binary oppositions. This is something that the music video explores eg. young and old, bad and good.
Roland Barthes theory:
THE HERMENEUTIC/ENIGMA CODE - this refers to an element of a narrative which is not explained and raises questions for the audience. In Stress by Justice, we are never really aware to why these youths are causing this disruption and chaos. This is something that the audience have to ask themselves.
THE SEMANTIC CODE - this code refers to connotation within the story where extended meanings and information can be received. The fact that in this video, the youths are attacking and vandalizing their own community, connotes the fact they are going against society as a whole.
THE SYMBOLIC CODE - this is very similar to the semantic code but on a wider level.
This code is about symbolism within the text. It exercises opposites to show contrast and create greater meaning, creating tension and drama. The way they wear the same jackets, allows you to know that they are causing this chaos as a collective.
THE CULTURAL CODE - this code refers to anything that the viewers can relate to through their pre existing knowledge and ideologies. There has been ideoligies made in the past, that most young, black males are aggressive, possibly members of a gang and have no desire to have a decent fulfilling future in life. Therefor, the youths in this video might be playing with this ideology to prove that it is not true.
Roland Barthes theory:
THE HERMENEUTIC/ENIGMA CODE - this refers to an element of a narrative which is not explained and raises questions for the audience. In Stress by Justice, we are never really aware to why these youths are causing this disruption and chaos. This is something that the audience have to ask themselves.
THE SEMANTIC CODE - this code refers to connotation within the story where extended meanings and information can be received. The fact that in this video, the youths are attacking and vandalizing their own community, connotes the fact they are going against society as a whole.
THE SYMBOLIC CODE - this is very similar to the semantic code but on a wider level.
This code is about symbolism within the text. It exercises opposites to show contrast and create greater meaning, creating tension and drama. The way they wear the same jackets, allows you to know that they are causing this chaos as a collective.
THE CULTURAL CODE - this code refers to anything that the viewers can relate to through their pre existing knowledge and ideologies. There has been ideoligies made in the past, that most young, black males are aggressive, possibly members of a gang and have no desire to have a decent fulfilling future in life. Therefor, the youths in this video might be playing with this ideology to prove that it is not true.
MUSIC VIDEO 2
A TEAM BY ED SHEERAN
Roland Barthes
The A Team by Ed Sheeran doesn't entirely fit into any specific narrative. It doesn't fall into Todorovs Equilibrium theory as there was never a period of time in which the character was at peace. Also the equilibrium was constantly broken and and never restored.
Characters, according to Propp, have a narrative function; they provide a structure for the text. I don't feel his theory fully relates to this music video either. Although I do feel that there is a 'helper' - this being the artist himself. He is the only one in the music video that aids and helps the protagonist. The protagonist herself could be seen as the 'hero', as Propp identifies that the hero in the text is seeking something - this being: money, drugs and a chance in life.
Roland Barthes theory establishes 5 codes:
THE HERMENEUTIC/ENIGMA CODE - This is specifically shown at the very beginning of the video, where the girl is laying there dead, which makes me question why.
THE PROAIRETIC/ACTION CODE - this code builds tension, referring to any other action or event that indicates something else is going to happen, and gets the reader guessing as to what will happen next. In the music video there is tension as the young girl who was presumed dead is alive again, as we see her wake up on the park bench. The audience then has to then assume that the story line has gone back and the story of the young girl will become clear. The tension builds again as the audience see her costume and the fact the girl is homeless.
THE SEMANTIC CODE - In the A Team by Ed Sheeran we as the audience can identify that the girl is venerably housed and sleeping on the streets, handing out the 'Big Issue' which connotes the homelessness of the young character.
THE SYMBOLIC CODE - In the video we can identify with the struggles and the extremes that she goes to, to get money. We see that the protagonist sells herself to men. We can see that drugs play a major role in the young girls life. This highlights the bad state the character is currently in.
THE CULTURAL CODE - The connotations of a homeless person in this video are also in line with todays societies view of homeless people. In the video we see that stereotypical characteristics of homeless people are seen with the clothes she wears: big coat, ripped tights, thick/smudged makeup and messy, greasy hair. Also a homeless persons daily activity on the streets: begging and selling the 'Big Issue'.
The narrative is told in a circular way, the video starts at the end. It is told from another perspective, a person watching the girls life.
Characters, according to Propp, have a narrative function; they provide a structure for the text. I don't feel his theory fully relates to this music video either. Although I do feel that there is a 'helper' - this being the artist himself. He is the only one in the music video that aids and helps the protagonist. The protagonist herself could be seen as the 'hero', as Propp identifies that the hero in the text is seeking something - this being: money, drugs and a chance in life.
Roland Barthes theory establishes 5 codes:
THE HERMENEUTIC/ENIGMA CODE - This is specifically shown at the very beginning of the video, where the girl is laying there dead, which makes me question why.
THE PROAIRETIC/ACTION CODE - this code builds tension, referring to any other action or event that indicates something else is going to happen, and gets the reader guessing as to what will happen next. In the music video there is tension as the young girl who was presumed dead is alive again, as we see her wake up on the park bench. The audience then has to then assume that the story line has gone back and the story of the young girl will become clear. The tension builds again as the audience see her costume and the fact the girl is homeless.
THE SEMANTIC CODE - In the A Team by Ed Sheeran we as the audience can identify that the girl is venerably housed and sleeping on the streets, handing out the 'Big Issue' which connotes the homelessness of the young character.
THE SYMBOLIC CODE - In the video we can identify with the struggles and the extremes that she goes to, to get money. We see that the protagonist sells herself to men. We can see that drugs play a major role in the young girls life. This highlights the bad state the character is currently in.
THE CULTURAL CODE - The connotations of a homeless person in this video are also in line with todays societies view of homeless people. In the video we see that stereotypical characteristics of homeless people are seen with the clothes she wears: big coat, ripped tights, thick/smudged makeup and messy, greasy hair. Also a homeless persons daily activity on the streets: begging and selling the 'Big Issue'.
The narrative is told in a circular way, the video starts at the end. It is told from another perspective, a person watching the girls life.
MUSIC VIDEO 3
FEATHERSTONE BY THE PAPER KITES
THE HERMENEUTIC/ENIGMA CODE -At the beginning of the music video there are questions raised as an audience member, as to why the children are living in the forest and also to where they might be traveling to.
THE SYMBOLIC CODE - This code is identified when all the young children pick up a white pillow. The fact that all the young children are on a journey together with it, makes you realise that something will surely occur.
'Featherstone' by the Paper Kites doesnt follow Barthes code exactly. I also feel it doesn't exactly fit in with any of the other theories.
THE SYMBOLIC CODE - This code is identified when all the young children pick up a white pillow. The fact that all the young children are on a journey together with it, makes you realise that something will surely occur.
'Featherstone' by the Paper Kites doesnt follow Barthes code exactly. I also feel it doesn't exactly fit in with any of the other theories.