BY M ITCHELL TURNER

Narrative Theory

How Narrative theory can be applied to our music video

Narrative theory can be applied in many ways in our music video, the first way is from Todorov’s theory involving ‘equilibrium’.

The second narrative theorist is Barthes and how the audience have to solve puzzles within the plot.

The final narrative theorist who’s theory can be applied to our music video is Propp.

Todorov

Todorov’s narrative theory can be applied to our music video very easily. Firstly the narrative starts off as a ‘equilibrium’ as the wanderer and his companion are happy together.

Then the ‘disequilibrium’ occurs when the wanderer goes to the city and eventually his companion leaves him due to the temptation of the city.

Finally the ‘new equilibrium’ is established by the wanderer discarding his memories and starting a new life without her.

Barthes

Barthes theory involves the narrative having lots of little puzzles for the audience to work out whilst watching the product. These little puzzles give the audience pleasure when working them out and also keeps them engaged with the video.

Our music video contains multiple meanings which the audience will need to try and work out whilst watching the video. Some of theses messages are easier to figure out than others and may require the audience to watch the video more than once in order to find these hidden messages.

Propp

Propp’s theory involves the roles of characters within the text.

Our music video has the following characters:Villain – The City The Hero – The WandererThis shows that with the use narrative

characters are formed so that a story can be told to the audience. Some of these characters were not intended to be characters in the narrative, but the story has brought them into the narrative and given them roles.