Narrative In Music Videos

Narrative Devices

Restricted Narrative: 

The audience are limited because they are only following things from a single, particular perspective

Kodaline - High Hopes

(0:24)

This video has a cold opening, as the camera focuses the audience's attention on a man and his car. A woman in a wedding dress then comes running towards him, leaving enigma for the audience, they can make up their own mind about the connection between each character/background story. 

It becomes clearer at 0:43 that she is running away from marrying a man, leaving the audience to make the assumption of why.

(2:13)

The audience than see a montage of the two characters getting closer, from their perspective only and eventually discover that they are in love, which may suggest to the audience they were ex-lovers or close before.

(2:55)

The audience is so limited to the two character's perspectives and they seem so happy and in love, that we do not expect the man that she left at the alter to appear and shoot them both. (plot twist)


Flashback/Flash-forward:
The audience see the video skip to the past/future.

Madonna - Papa Don't Preach

 
 At 0:33 we see the singer singing directly to the camera in the performance element, at the current age and then at 0:45 we see the singer at a younger age.
This leaves her more exposed to the audience, sharing a private memory and singing about a personal topic. The shot has a grainy, warm effect which shows a happy memory and connotes that it is from a long time ago and that she has changed.

Pathetic Fallacy: 
The weather in the music video matches the mood of the scene.

One Direction - You and I



The song is quite slow, and creates quite a serious tone/sad mood which is replicated in the mise-en-scene of the video. For example, at 1:07 we see Harry singing to the camera with a dark, moody sky and a pier that is dim and not very exciting. 

(3:23)

Even though the song does build up, the mise-en-scene remains the same. The slow pace and mood of the song is further reinforced by the gloomy surroundings.  




Todorov in Music Videos

The Calling - Wherever You Will Go

(0:31)

Equilibrium: The protagonist is seen getting a tattoo of her partner's name, suggesting a stable and happy relationship that she believes is permanent. 

(1:14)

Disruption: The partner is seen in bed with another woman and the protagonist is seen arriving at the house.

(1:31)

 

Recognition of Disruption: The protagonist sees her partner cheating on her. 

(2:08)

Attempt to Repair Disruption: The protagonist takes out her anger on items in the house, such as photos of them and his clothes.

(3:03)

Restoration of Equilibrium: The protagonist is seen happy in another relationship, and the ex is seen alone and angry, suggesting her equilibrium has been restored and his hasn't so her good character has been rewarded.

(3:02)

Propp in Music Videos

 Maroon 5 - Payphone

(1:09)

 Character Role 1: Villains 

The villains in this music video are the armed robbers that aggressively burst into the bank where the protagonist/singer works.  

(1:41)

Character Role 2: Hero

The vocalist of this band adopts the character role of the hero when he sees the girl he fancies in danger. We see this before the villains enter where he struggles to talk to her at 0:52. He then escapes taking her with him. 

(2:16)

Character Role 3: Princess/Hero's Love Interest

The girl the protagonist fancies adopts the role of the princess in this narrative music video. She exists as a goal for the hero and recognises the protagonist as a hero and person only after he saves her.


 Levi-Strauss in Music Videos

Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me



The binary opposite present in this video would be the battle between the "good looking, popular" girl, and "nerdy" girl that fancies the other girl's boyfriend. The song is about how the "nerdy" girl and popular football player overcome the stereotypical relationship. 

"Nerdy" Girl seen at 1:10 reading a book

"Popular" Girl shows up at 1:50 in a flashy car, rubbing her popularity and her boyfriend in the nerdy girl's face - popular girl is jealous of their chemistry

 

Flirts with someone else at 2:24 showing her true character which leads to them breaking up

"Nerdy" girl shows up at dance (3:00) and he realises he loves her and that he was with the wrong girl

"Popular" girl is jealous and tries to win him back (3:15)

"Nerdy" girl and popular boy share their 'fairytale' ending (3:43)

 This music video tries to challenge the theory of conventional beauty and the popular theme of the boy realises that the girl next door/old friend is better for him than the pretty cheerleader/popular girl at school. The narrative is based on the conflict of forces between the two characters.
 This binary opposition helps us establish sympathy for the "nerdy girl" and realise she is the good character and that the "popular cheerleader" character is the typical mean girl.