Conventions in Music Videos (Todorov & Goodwin)

I need to focus on these conventions: Narrative/Illustration/Amplification/Disjuncture

I must consider:

•      Camerawork- shot types, movement, composition/framing, point of view

•      Editing

•      Mise-en-scene choices- props, locations, people, lighting

•      Use of sound- use terms like diegetic, non-diegetic, synchronous, etc

In what ways is a music video like a TV advert?

•      It has a storyline

•      The editing cuts to the beat, changing shots when the music alters

•      The camerawork is very varied and focuses solely on the main subject

•      There’s a short introduction to the advert before it properly begins

•      Follows the structure of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and then resolution

Types of narrative

•      Linear and non linear

•      Liner narrative is in chronological order, everything is in the right timeframe and follows the conventions of time

•      Non-linear is where time moves differently to how it should, you will see random moments that may have happened before or after

•      A narrative can be closed or open ended

•      A closed narrative has a resolution, a define end and there is no more

•      An open narrative has no specific ending and the resolution is open to the interpretation of the viewer or left open for further instalments

•      Circular narrative is where the story goes full circle, e.g. where someone wakes up sad, goes through the film and the last scene will end where it began, with the person still sad

•      Singular-stranded and multi-strand

•      A singular-strand is where there is only one storyline

•      Multi-strand is where a narrative has multiple non active and active stories all at once

Definition of synaesthesia:
A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualisation of a colour.

 I need to think about what sort of emotion(s) do the lyrics/music generate in any given song.


Todorov's theory of narrative: Theory of Equilibrium and Disequilibrium

1. A state of equilibrium (all is as it should be)
2. A disruption of that order by an event
3. Recognition of the disruption
4. An attempt to repair the damage
5. New equilibrium

Andrew Goodwin

He suggests music promos can interpret or use meanings from song lyrics in different ways.

Relationship between the song and the visuals

Illustration: the promo basically illustrates the ideas/narrative in the song lyrics

Examples:
Eminem "Stan"

Amplification: uses a key idea/image from the lyrics and develops it into a concept within the promo. A link remains between the lyric and the promo

Examples:
Coldplay “The Scientist”

Disjuncture: the promo bears no resemblance to the lyric or its meaning; abstract, often seen as unconventional/ ‘arty’ videos; creates a new range of meanings for the song 

Examples: 
Radiohead “No Surprises”
Red Hot Chili Peppers “Can’t Stop”

Thought Beats - Visualising the Song

• Firstly Goodwin suggests you have to look at the music itself, and how it's structured e.g chorus/verses
• Secondly he suggests that the voice of the song must be analysed as an integral part of the music, it's a unique form of identification
• Thirdly Goodwin says that songs can be seen as stories and that the artist is a storyteller

Examples:

Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"

Narrative and Performance

A song only tells us a fraction of the narrative and only allows us to visualise what we can hear, a music video brings a full narrative into perspective and also changes our perception of the lyrics. Goodwin suggests that music videos should ignore all common narratives, because this helps with advertising. The music video should be coherent, narrative and performance work hand in hand together, this keeps the audience from getting bored. The artists acting as both narrator and participant makes the video seem authentic, but the most important part is making sure that the lip syncing is on time, otherwise it will break the immersion.

Examples:

Lana Del Rey "Ride"

Emphasis on Looking

The 'male gaze' is often used to attract male viewers to a video. This entails a voyeuristic view and and objectification of women. Further emphasis may be given when an artist looked directly into the camera, allowing the audience to connect. The opposite may sometimes be used, but less often in the form of the 'female gaze', which attracts female viewers. 

Examples:

Beyonce: "Single Ladies"

Technical Aspects

Often, the record label the artist is signed to will include many close ups of the artist, which will help to create an image for the artist that the label can reuse and target specific audiences with.

Examples:

Lady Gaga "Just Dance"

Genre Characteristics

Finally, music videos will look entirely different depending on their genre. For example, a female artist such as Beyonce or Rihanna have mainly upbeat songs and music videos with dance sequences and little to no narrative. On the other hand, indie music videos such as Lana Del Rey's "Ride" have a story behind them, with two or three minutes of talking before the song even begins, and the video is set out by the premise.

Examples:

Beyonce "Single Ladies"

Lana Del Rey "Ride"