Narrative Theory

Narrative theory

I am going to base Todorov’s narrative theory on the music video called ‘From Eden’ by Horizon. This music video shows the theory really well and it follows the sequence properly. This is because the video starts with a family in the car laughing and being happy. Then disruption appear when they try to break into a private property. Then this distribution is recognised by the police as a police car is shown. Then an attempt happens in order to repair the equilibrium. Then finally the equilibrium is restored when the family got back together meaning that a new equilibrium is obtained due to the woman and the child are being happy again making a happy and positive relationship.

DOROV'S Narrative therory - is divided into five different elements:


1- EQUILIBRUM (happy balance)

2- DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM (When something goes wrong)

3- RECOGNITION OF THIS DISRUPTION 

4) An attempt to repair the equilibrium is made

5) EQUILIBRIUM IS RESTORED OR A NEW EQUILIBRIUM IS ESTABLISHED (when the balanced is obtained again after something goes wrong)

PROPP'S NARRATIVE THEORY- is based around a list of different characters including:

1) HERO: Individual (s) who;s guest is to restore the equilibrium.



2) VILLAIN: Individual (s) who's task is to disrupt the equilibrium.


3) DONOR: Individual (s) who gives the hero (s) something, advise, information or an object.


4) PRINCESS: Individual (s) which needs help, protecting and saving.


​

Cutting To The Beat

During the process of creating this cutting to the beat video, I found it hard to start off with as I did know how to use the program but then I watched a few tutorials and began to get the hang of it. However it did help me a lot in order to develop my editing skills and understand exactly how to make the image change according to the beat. When it comes to creating my actually music video I will already have experience and know how to do it, making it less time-consuming. In addition, cutting to the beat in a music video is important as it creates rhythm and pace. It also, adds more tension and grabs the audience attention enabling them to watch the video for longer.

Different Music Genres Research & Brainstorm

Researching music genres and conventions and editing technique,

In this slideshow, I started looking at different music genres and analysing there associations and conventions. This helped me a lot in order for me to gain a wider understanding about various music genres. In addition, this will help me in my future tasks, such as when it comes to me choosing my own genre and having to full the conventions and associations, due to this task I will already have known them.

Different music genres & their associations from doaael

Just The Way You Are- Music Video Techniques/ Media Language Analysis

Bruno Mars- Just the way you are music video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk

This music video is of a song by Bruno Mars ‘Just the Way You Are’ this song is a pop genre which uses animation. (Animation is a fast display of a series of pictures that is used as an effect to make a deception of movement). When using this feature it makes the video to stand out more and be more attractive to us as audience. The video is almost like a cartoon which is often associated with children. This enables the story behind the video to be hyperbolic but at the same time it is very easy to understand and instantly know the story behind the video. In this video the performance and narrative the animation technique is combined together making a hybrid. This allows the video to be more professional and creative as it will makes us to be more drawn to the video.

The concept of the video is that it is mainly focused on a relationship and love. There is a cassette is used in the animation which used as a symbol which emphasises the feelings of the singer towards the woman. The use of this prop shows the narrative in an attractive and special way making the concept to be visually attention grabbing. 

When the video starts a close-up shots was used to introduce us as audience to the characters and also to set the scene. This is very effective because it makes us to pay more attention to what is happening in the scene. As the video keeps on playing I have also spotted that there is an over the shoulder shot was used to express the character’s reaction. This short event it properly introduces the audience to the conceptual idea of the video. This will be seen more as a convention which is usually used by many artists to set an effective scene to the audience. This shot does not relate to any specific genre.

The next shot is constantly used throughout the video to emphasis and express both of the artist reaction and mainly the woman to show us how her reaction responds to the lyrics and performance of the artist. Each lip-sync the camera after moves on the girl to show the audience her reaction to the words. This is very essential because it creates a strong feeling and emotions between the two characters. Adding onto that, this also shows the strong relationship they have between the two characters as both of their reaction towards each other are represented in a continues style. 

In the music video one of the cameras shots used is the point of view that enables the artist to determine his movement. This shot is used throughout the video clip to reinforce the use of animation, due to the artist as he is manipulating the tape in order to make the story line to be easier to understand. The animation is used to make the process to be quicker. This is essential because the artist is giving a sense of realism to the video even though the set of pictures is made using editing techniques. The mixture of the animation and realistic frame can be seen as exciting the codes and conventions of other music magazines as these elements are barely ever used together. This will enable the music video to be more professional and successful because this convention can be seen as a special point. 

Moreover, I have also spotted a medium close-up shot was used to represent the artist performance through animation. The cut that was used to separate the realistic scene and the animation scene allows us as audience to see the artist in different angles and how the artist is performing. The lip-sync is used in both types of shots but the animation it enables the artist to show more body movement which makes the video clip it more engaging and it is effectively reinforced using lip-syncing in a form of a medium shot. The story of the performance within an animation that could be reflected as again challenging the codes and conventions. This is because we be disposed to see the singer to be shown in a realistic settings as this makes it unusual because the element that is used within the clip is more creative conception and engaging.

Furthermore, the end of the clip is verified by using a medium close-up shot from a side way focus of the performance to enable us to see his facial expression and the facial features. The use of the focus created a depth of field as the artist is in focus but the background is blurred this will make use look at the artist more and feel the clip. This is successful because the concept of the music video was more insulting at the beginning of the video in order to grab our attention more as audience whereas towards the end it begins to reflect back to the song and the artist itself. The medium close-up and the use of the depth of field as I have mentioned earlier, it allows to bring more awareness to the strong expressions and feelings that are shown and also the exaggeration of the body language, which might make the audience to be more entertained and drown to the music clip as the artist seems to be revealing his strong emotions.

Editing techniques:

In this music video they have used a different variety of quick cuts to enable them to show the facial expressions of both characters. This will empathise the symbolic of love found within the clip. This is because the music video is repeatedly informing us as audience about the character’s reaction caused by one another. In addition to this, due to that in my opinion I think that the quick cuts have worked effectively and successfully as they made the video to be more special from other music videos. It also made it to be more powerful and energetic due to continues movement of the frame, also the non-diegetic sound of the song in the background.

One more editing tool that is used in the music video, when the song is near the end they used a fade out. The speed of the fade out is slow enabling use as audience to carelessly withdraw from the story that is represented in the music video. Adding onto that, the use of the fade out it shows the quick change in the speed vocal from fast to slow. This will enable the audience to see this change visually. The use of the fade out can be noticed as a convention used with the music industry and it is not specific to any genre and it is a very successful and common way for an ending.

Mise-en-scene:

The use of the mise-en-scene in the music video is to bring more meaning to both of the characters using costumes. However, it is casual buy stylish look because it reinforces the modern pop genre. The woman is wearing quite buggy clothes which could be associated with R&B genre, although her body figure and the overall appearance fits best with the picture of the pop character. Overall, Bruno Mars the singer is wearing a casual jeans coat and a hat which also gives him a confident and informal look.  This use of costume it links well with the concept of the video. The video is set at the ‘couples’ apartment. The relaxed informal look shows the exaggeration in order to make the clip more appealing for the audience and enable the story to flow more. 

They have used a cassette as a symbolic prop in the music video as I have mentioned earlier. This will enable to build up a strong feeling of love and powerful relationship.  They have used the type that is inside the cassette to enable them to create a strong imagination for the lyrics of the song which are focused around these themes, it also shows the artist singing toward the woman. Once again he is showing his feelings using the song and the tape to describe what he loves about the woman. This idea is also assisted by the use of the different angles shots showing their reaction and also the over the shoulder shot as it explains and show the facial reaction of the woman towards the lyrics.

Sound:

The speed of the video frame it is equal to the speed of the sound and was used accurately to imitate the mood of the song. This was important because the video it has loads of quick different cuts which is supported by the quick pace of the beat to enable it to create fluent and accurate music composition that fits the pop genre.

The use of the non-diegetic sound (the sound track) throughout the whole music video makes it seem more successful and professional. This is because the sound itself has a high advanced quality due to that the sound in the surroundings is not included, making the sound of the track to be very clear and high quality and also it is expressive and precise. The use of this and making it very accurate it links back with the visualisation and the rest of the frame as the video clip shows images using the lip-syncing and the lyrics. This expressively creates a bigger impact on us as audience and make us to be more drown to the music video.

Overall, in the music video at some parts the performer which is the singer he stops expressing the soundtrack this is when it is instantly followed by the animation used as it creates a moving image of the artist and carries on singing through the animation especially when we hear the artist as it makes it very successful and effective. We also see the singer and the other character in two different styles. This could be seen as a convention due to the other music videos we expect to see the artist in different position and situations or stylisations. This is showed by using cuts from one scene to a different one. It also enables to create a strong nosiness and allows us as audience to have many different opinions about the artist as they might suit one of their styles. 

Researching Music Videos

Researching music videos - Styles, conventions and editing techniques

For this task, I have began by researching various different types of music videos which fit into different conventions, style and editing techniques. I real liked this task and I found it be very helpful as it enabled me to to develop my understanding of different conventions represented within music videos. Not only that, but due to this task I was able to watch many different videos which have widen my knowledge about music genres,concept, narratives, performance, editing techniques and more. When it comes to creating my own music video it will help me to pick which one I like most and allow me to identify different range of codes and conventions, range of styles, mise-en-scene, sound and editing techniques. 

Insane -Music Video Techniques/ Media Language Analysis

Flume - Insane music video analysis 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZedxWUoT-nE

Lyrics

You don't have to be afraid

You don't even have to be brave

Living in a gilded cage

The only risk is that you'll go

Go, Go Insane

Go, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh

Oh, go, go, insane

Go, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh

Go Go insane

And go

Go insane

And go

Go insane

And go, go, go, go insane

And go

Your mind is on track

For games we play these days

With every path we take

You know you're safe, safe, safe

The only risk is that you'll go insane

The only risk is that you'll go insane

In this music video there isn’t much lyrics used. There is also no singer in the music video, which is preforming the lyrics, this is a convention of a conceptual music video. However half way through the music video one of the characters in the video whispers the words to the other character as part of the song. This shows that they are important and maybe a key concept for the video.

Music

The  music video is a hybrid of indie-electronic-pop. The music has a strong beat which in many places the editing compliments. The vocals are ethereal, this is reflected in the dreamlike use of lighting and special effect images which have been created. The electric style of the music also works well with the computerized images. 

At the beginning of the video the producer uses an establishing shot. The use of this allows the viewer to instantly know where the next scene will be set and the overall idea of the music video. As in or this music video the establishing shot shows an over view of the city. This is a very common shot used as an establishing shot. At the centre of the screen we can see a light shinny straight up to the sky. This may signify the main location of the video will be taking place around that area and this is an important feature within the view as it has been shown right at start of the music video.

The second shot we are introduced to the main character as it instantly transfers form the establishing shot to the close up shot of the main characters eyes. Through this we are just seeing something from her perspective yet with the rest of her being excluded from the shot creates a sense of mystery around the character. It also allows us to really focus on the mise-en-scene which is the make-up. Through this we are able to see her expression, which maybe sad and upset due to the dark colour make-up, maybe empathises the feeling of sadness. I will analyse this into further detail in the mise-ene-scene section.  

After a few seconds into the video there’s a low angle shot of her looking at the light in her hand. This keeps the source of light a mystery but allows us to see her face which again creates that sense of being distanced from any sense of narrative that could be created and focuses us on the main character, the emotion and the atmosphere. Another really effective feature that this shot creates is that it shows the character and the light as being something powerful and dominant. This is because we are looking up at her, making her look bigger. In addition, her looking down at light as being in her hands conveys that she has control over it and again has connotations of her being powerful.  

Another low angle shot is used when she is ridding the motor cycle. This again shows her dominance. 

This is another close-up which emphasis the speed further. As we can see the water splashes due to the amount of speed.

Editing 

The editing in this music video reflects the pace of the music. Parts of the graphics remind me of video games, which gives it a fantastical and surreal vibe. The straight lines, the visual effects and the shot which is blurred out on the sides and then leads you in towards the centre of the bike creates a powerful effect of the speed. During the slower sections of music over cranking is used and the shots are longer. However as the pace quickens so does the editing and shorter the shot duration becomes. This creates climactic sections of film that build with the music until there is a drop and in contrast to the fast paced edits there are longer shot durations. At 3:15 they alternate from a close up shot of here eye’s to a flash of light with some kind of symbol in the centre and this occurs on each beat towards the end of the video. There is also a montage of images which compliments the fluctuating nature of the music until the last longer duration shot of the empty bike is shown as the music fades.

Throughout the end of the video there is quick jump cuts have been used to emphasis the high speed of the sound, as well as to make the clip more interesting and interactive for the audience. In addition, from that the cuts allowed to capture the spirit of indie-pop music which is full of dynamic and vibrant sounds. The interference of extreme close-ups one after another empathizes this really well. 

Another editing technique used is a fade out. Towards the end of the music video a close-up shot I used on her eyes again with visual effects as a frame around her. The fade effect occurs a couple of times when she closes her eyes it fades out to her opening her eyes, and this is repeated a few times. The use of this technique indicates the pressure of speed and that she may be feeling dizzy and isn’t able to open her eyes as she squeeze when closing them. This representation is approved right at the end of the video because she falls of the motorbike as seen in the screen shot above. 

Sound

Parallel sound is used accurately with the speed of the video frame, meaning it reflects the mood of the song. This is very important within music videos as it makes it more engaging for the audience, meaning they will carry on watching the video clip. In addition, it is important for the parallel sound to be accurate to the genre of music you are trying to promote. In this case, it is indie-electronic-pop which is dynamic and energetic sound. This is strongly shown through the cuts, visual effects and close-ups of the character. 

Genre conventions and mise-en-scene

The genre of this music video is indie-electronic-pop. Indie music has many sub genres so it is harder to pinpoint conventions. However, it is known for darker imagery and props which is reflected in this video as it set at night and the necklace is a key prop.

Pop music is often shown in bright lights and colours. The imagery may not be that bold but they have used a certain purple and violet colour palette that is very distinctive as well as bright light showing strongly against the dark background. The music videos for electronic music are often based around the beat of the song and this is a definite genre signifier in this video. Also during the slow paced section of song there are often long shots created in slow motion. When the music speeds up shorter shots are shown in quite succession which gives the video momentum. 

Through a close up shot make-up is used on the characters eyes and black nail polish. Her make-up is quite dramatic and very Gothic with dark make-up around her eyes and the precise trails of black going down her cheeks, like the trail of tears.  In a different shot we see the other character also has this down her cheeks making it appear as though it is a symbol of a group. This is shown through the entire video. 

As for the costume the character is wearing all black and leather bike jacket with studs, gloves and boots giving her a rough appearance that compliments the kind of electronic music. This goes very well with her make-up as well as the theme and colours of the entire music video. There is also a necklace which is the main prop which the character wear’s, this is repeatedly shown which adds to this sense. Also the male character shown walking down the street wears similar clothing to the girl, however, without the make-up which conveys that he is not part of the group she is but yet it still links to them. These types of clothing aren’t very characteristic for the indie-electronic-pop music genre. This is because pop is known for brighter clothing. This goes slightly against the conventions but not completely as it quite relates to indie and electronic.

In the video there is no objectification used as the women in the video is very pretty however she is not presented as a sexual object. Her clothes are net revealing but they are slightly tight which maybe suggestive. She is very feminine and the close-ups of her face convey this despite the excessive make-up. A theory which could relate is Laura Mulvey’s ‘Male Gaze’ were at the start of the video the camera goes over her as she rides the bike.

 As for the location the music video is mainly located on a motorway. We can distinguish that from the background and shots within the video. Besides, from that the music video is mainly focused on close-up shots of the artist and props. This shows that the importance of the setting depends on what impact you want to achieve upon your audience. Also I believe that the genre of music plays a big role in terms of this element, as well as the paste of the song, the narrative or the concept. There is a story within this video however it is not obvious what it is about and the lyrics give little away. The strange lights at the start and the way that part way through a person just appears and at the end the girl just disappears suggest that the characters are otherworldly.

Again as I have mentioned above this is a conceptual video as there is no clear narrative/performance. Lots of special FX are used which is convention of this genre of music video and it appears that the concept of the video is linked to the lyrics yet this is very open to interpretation.