Narrative is the way in which a story is told in a music video, keeping the video comprehendible to the audience. Narrative is the coherence of the story.
Propp – Character roles
- The hero (seeks something)
- The villain (obstructs the hero)
- The donor (provides information and help)
- The dispatcher (sends hero on a quest)
- The false hero
- The helper (gives support to the hero)
- The princess (reward for the hero, but also needs protection from the villain)
- Her father (giver of the reward
Artist: Lily Allen
Title: Smile
In the video, ‘Smile’, Lily Allen used the generic functions of villainy. Lily was originally the protagonist, who was treated badly by her ex-boyfriends (antagonist). However, as the video progressed, we see Lily seeking revenge on him by planning street attacks on him, getting his flat ransacked and putting laxative in his tea. This shows a role reversal in the way that Lily has taken the role of the antagonist, and her ex-boyfriend, the protagonist.
Todarov – conventional narratives are structured in 5 stages
- Equilibrium – where everything is as it should be
- A disruption of the equilibrium by some action
- A recognition that there has been a disruption to the equilibrium
- An attempt to repair the disruption
- A reinstatement of the equilibrium
Artist: Beyonce
Title: If I were a boy
Equilibrium – unhappy relationship, lack of trust
Disruption – her becoming police officer – embodies him
Recognition – at the party – flirting
Attempt to repair disruption – realising she’s dreaming
Reinstatement of equilibrium – still unhappy relationship
Title: Dilly
Artist: Band of Horses
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