Narrative in music videos

Narrative In Music Videos

Media Concepts; Narrative Narrative – The way a story or tale is told so that the elements are structured and organised in such a way that it makes sense to the audience. It has also been described as how events are unified in time and space.
Narrative explores the conventions of:
Genre
Character
Form
Time
Includes information not shown
story/plot
The key events Narrative = how is the story told? (as events unfold)

There are several forms of narratives, I found this on the internet it identifies the different concepts of narratives.

Narrative structures
Linear Structure:Beginning Middle End(Audience introduced to (Events –story builds) (Closure)characters and story)
Open Structure:The audience are left to wonder what happens next and make sense of it themselves (e.g. “Inception”)
Closed Structure:Definite ending – clear conclusion for the audience
Circular Structure:The narrative begins at the end events (often with the Beginning climax). The audience are taking on a journey arriving And end back where they started. (e.g. Pulp fiction)?!
From reading this, It is clear that the narrative in my music video, includes a circular structure, where the narrative of mu music video begins with a climax, where Bemi and Bemi walk past each other, and not long after the 'meet up' scene in the beginning the audience are then presented with the journey (flashbacks) of how they arrived in that particular situation. And more over my music video ends with the same beginning ('meet up scene).


Narrative theorists
There are many theorists who use theory to explain narrative structure. 
Vladimir Propp
Roland Barthes
Tzvetan Todorov
Claude Levi-Strauss*

PROPPP : Propp’s theory of narrative is driven by the characters using a set of narrative functions Background: 1895 —1970 Vladimir Propp was a Russian scholar who analysed Russian folk tales (fairy tales) by their narrative structure. Often used in Hollywood or Disney Films (with a happy ever after)He identifies 8 ‘types’ of characters:Hero (protagonist) has a mission of quest to complete (e.g.Luke Skywalker)Villain (antagonist) tries to stop the hero (Darth Vader)Princess love interest and/or object of the quest (Princess Leia)Father person with knowledge (Leia)Dispatcher sends the hero off (Obi Wan)Donor gives the hero something to help him (Obi Wan)Sidekick the helper (not as handsome as hero) –poss. comic relief (C3P0+)False hero villain that pretends to be good in order to trick the hero
Propp's 31 narrative functions
In addition to the characters Propp he says that it is narratemes (i.e. narrative functions)-events that drive the narrative forward:
Family member leaves home -Hero introduced
Hero given a warning (e.g. not to do something)
Hero ignores the warning
Villain appears (e.g. trying to find jewels / children etc.)
Villain gains information about the victim
Villain attempts to trick the victim (guise / trickery)
Victim/ Hero is fooled by the villain
Villain causes harm or injury
Misfortune or lack is made known to Hero
Hero decides on counter-action
Hero leaves home
Hero is tested by the Donor
Hero responds to the test
Hero acquires a magical agent
Location / hero change to the place of lack
Hero and Villain in direct combat
Hero is branded (wounded / scarred)
Villain is defeated (killed)
Lack is met -resolution
Hero goes back home
Hero is pursued
Hero is rescued
Unrecognised Hero arrives home / another country
False hero claims Hero’s success
Difficult task is set
Hero resolves the task
True Hero now recognised
False hero exposed
Hero given transformation (new appearance e.g. new clothes)
Villain is punished
Hero marries and ascends the throne

I have not implemented any of  'propps' theory because I don't believe that the narrative functions of his suggested events are associated with the R&B/Soul genre, this is because in modern society Independence is heavily promoted in this genre, therefore Propps theory of for example a male hero saving a vulnerable female, goes against the movement of Independence and 'girl power.' David Gauntlett argues suggests that in contemporary society, gender roles are more complex and that the media reflect this. He points out that female role models today are often glamorous as well as successful in a way that previously they were not. He believe s that this is due to the rise of 'girl power' and 'women independency' in the media through identities constructed by music artists, like for example an R&B artist Beyonce promoting independence.


Barthes describes narrative as a series of codes that are read and interpreted by the audience

• Action Code
• Enigma Code
• Semic Code
• Symbolic Code
• Referential Code

Barthes Codes
Action Code: (proairetic code)
something the audience knows and doesn't need explaining e.g. someone being wheeled out on a stretcher tells us they are going to hospital
Enigma Code: (hermeneutic code)
something hidden from the audience (creates intrigue)
Semic Code:
something that the audience recognise through connotations
Symbolic Code:
Something that symbolises a more abstract concept e.g. a darker than usual room of a murder scene could symbolise the depth of darkness and depravity
Cultural Code: (referential code)
Something that is read with understanding due to cultural awareness (e.g. youth culture use certain words that are understood by that culture)

Todorov describes narrative as going from equilibrium to disequilibrium back to an altered equilibrium

• Equilibrium
• Disruption
• Conflict
• Resolution
• New Equilibrium

TODOROV
Equilibrium: (sets the scene)
Everyday Life
Disruption: (complication)
Something happens to alter the equilibrium
Conflict: (climax)
Trying to solve the problem (seek resolution)
Resolution:
Problem is sorted
New Equilibrium: (satisfactory end)
Back to normal (but never the same)- a new normal

Levi-Strauss describes narrative as created by constant conflict of binary opposites
Love – Hate Black – White Man – Nature
Light – Darkness Peace – War Protagonist –Antagonist
Movement – Stillness Civilized – Savage Young – Old
Control – Panic Strong – Weak Man – Woman
Wealth – Poverty Mankind – Aliens Humans – Technology
Ignorance - Wisdom
“Sat Wars” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” “Avatar” “District 9”
“The Searchers” “Slumdog Millionaire”  From looking at all the theories, I believe that Levi Strauss binary oppositions, is the narrative which I am most inspired by in terms of the narrative involved in my music video. My narrative involves binary opposites like 'Love' and 'Hate' in Bemi and Lewis's  relationship.

My Narrative
Through representation theory I am going to include positive representation of females in my music video, by not having my artist exposing her body, in order for her to be represented as a sexual object for the male gaze, this representation is often presented in especially R&B music videos, evidently in my music video research 

http://www.slideshare.net/LeanneG/narrative-in-music-videos