Vernallis suggests that the video is a visual response to the narrative, as in whatever is happening visually reflects the lyrics in the song. However, Vernallis also says how the narrative may not always be completed and can be partial with the video appearing disjointed, disconnected and fragmented. If the video is incomplete it can lead to many questions about the narrative that won't always be answered throughout the music video. Although the music video may have a theme or narrative, it may be displayed in a montage style, rather than in one clear focus.
Carol Vernallis states that a dear convention of music editing is that the video may disrupt or break the conventions of continuity editing. The editing may also be bought to the foreground, become visible and not hidden opposed to the invisible style of continuity editing, meaning the video will have a style of editing running throughout that is distinctive to that video. For example, you may see Jump Cuts, Breaks of the 30-degree rule, Cutting with the beat, Juxtaposed frames and Graphic matches
Carol Vernallis's theory revolve's around four different and important concepts.I am going to break them down. They are:
2. Diegsis
3. Camera Movement and Framing
4. Editing
Narrative:
When she describes her theory, Vernallis suggests that music videos are a visual response to the narrative suggested in the song, which means that what is happening onscreen reflects the lyrics. She then says how narrative might not be complete and makes the video seem disjointed and appears in fragments.
Editing:
One of the main conventions of editing music videos is to disrupt or break the rules of continuity editing. Also, the editing in music videos can be used as a focal point, such as editing to the beat of the music or the strum of a guitar, rather than a narrative. Music videos have a distinctive style of editing with easily noticeable conventions:
- Jump cuts
- Breaking the 30-degree rule
- Cutting to lyrics or to the beat of the music
- Juxtaposed frames
Framing and Camera Movement
Vernallis suggests that having establishing shots is a key element to music videos, as well as close-ups of the artist or main subject. The camera movement is also key, as it moving in time with the beat or the lyrics are often seen in music videos. The framing is more dependent on the genre of the music, as slower love songs focus more on close-ups and use out of focus shots whereas upbeat pop tunes have more full-on dance style scenes which include everyone in the frame.
Diegsis
In terms of media, diegesis is the setting of the music video. Vernallis says that actions in the video are not always completed and can be disrupted, as this can lead to repetition of shots and frames which will come across as more important than other frames.
Andre Goodwin:
Andre Goodwin's theory can be summarised into 6 key concepts, the majority of theses concepts are traditional music video traits and can be seen in the majority of music videos:
1) LINKS BETWEEN MUSIC AND VISUALS
2) LINKS BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS
While this being an obvious trait to music videos it's something that is important and not to be misjudged. Simply this means to show what the song lyrics are in the video. This is a common trait for music videos and can be seen in the majority of them. The visuals are normally shown in beat to the song so that has a smooth transition between takes.
3) GENRE CHARACTERISTICS
Some music videos follow a specific genre as the song may give off a specific tone and make the video easy to link. For example, Michael Jackson's Thriller makes sense for it to be a horror-themed video as the song has lots of horror-themed conventions. Sometimes music video directors can choose an experimental approach and do the complete opposite genre to make the video unique and different.
4) INTERTEXUAL REFERENCES
This means when a video is influenced by cultural events and affects the video because of this. The song itself will have the biggest influence on what the video will look like especially is it is influenced by a certain event. For example, Eminem's song called Darkness is about the Lasvegas shooting and the video does a very realistic portrayal of what the shooter felt like and what his motive was.
The video creates a narrative that makes you believe that Eminem is the shooter and he is giving reasons as to why the shooter did what he did. Em uses his platform to express his opinions on the gun law in America, he gives a very valid and believable side to the argument and does it well.
(more detailed response on another post)
5 )NOTIONS OF LOOKING
The notion of looking is very important as in the video the artist may look directly at the camera and perform at the viewer instead of focusing on a narrative-based video. The artist can be more direct with what they are saying when they are doing it while looking at the camera.
A video that does that well is GOLD by BROCKHAMPTON. This video is performance while they rap and speak to the camera as if they are in conversation with the audience.
6) VOYEURISM.
Voyeurism is a lot like the male gaze in the way that the camera can sometimes linger on parts of peoples bodies other than someones face. When the male gaze theory became created it was more likely that a male would be filming instead of women. So sometimes women would be objectified as the video was seen through a males point of view. Typically directors during the time of the theory's creation were male and this would make women in some instances seem over-sexualised by the camera. Her theory had been influenced by Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan which helped boost her essays into the public eye and elevate her theory. Mulvey states that she intends to use Freud and Lacan's concepts of 'the 'political weapon'. This can be seen in films as well as music video's one of the most infamous videos that had been slandered by the public was Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke
As well as being very offence towards women and over sexualising them the video was full of nudity. This is where all of the controversies came about the video. Pharell Williams has completely disregarded this video and song out of his discography as he feels its not an accurate portrayal of himself as a person
Andre Goodwin's theory can be summarised into 6 key concepts, the majority of theses concepts are traditional music video traits and can be seen in the majority of music videos:
1) LINKS BETWEEN MUSIC AND VISUALS
2) LINKS BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS
While this being an obvious trait to music videos it's something that is important and not to be misjudged. Simply this means to show what the song lyrics are in the video. This is a common trait for music videos and can be seen in the majority of them. The visuals are normally shown in beat to the song so that has a smooth transition between takes.
3) GENRE CHARACTERISTICS
Some music videos follow a specific genre as the song may give off a specific tone and make the video easy to link. For example, Michael Jackson's Thriller makes sense for it to be a horror-themed video as the song has lots of horror-themed conventions. Sometimes music video directors can choose an experimental approach and do the complete opposite genre to make the video unique and different.
4) INTERTEXUAL REFERENCES
This means when a video is influenced by cultural events and affects the video because of this. The song itself will have the biggest influence on what the video will look like especially is it is influenced by a certain event. For example, Eminem's song called Darkness is about the Lasvegas shooting and the video does a very realistic portrayal of what the shooter felt like and what his motive was.
The video creates a narrative that makes you believe that Eminem is the shooter and he is giving reasons as to why the shooter did what he did. Em uses his platform to express his opinions on the gun law in America, he gives a very valid and believable side to the argument and does it well.
(more detailed response on another post)
5 )NOTIONS OF LOOKING
The notion of looking is very important as in the video the artist may look directly at the camera and perform at the viewer instead of focusing on a narrative-based video. The artist can be more direct with what they are saying when they are doing it while looking at the camera.
A video that does that well is GOLD by BROCKHAMPTON. This video is performance while they rap and speak to the camera as if they are in conversation with the audience.
6) VOYEURISM.
Voyeurism is a lot like the male gaze in the way that the camera can sometimes linger on parts of peoples bodies other than someones face. When the male gaze theory became created it was more likely that a male would be filming instead of women. So sometimes women would be objectified as the video was seen through a males point of view. Typically directors during the time of the theory's creation were male and this would make women in some instances seem over-sexualised by the camera. Her theory had been influenced by Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan which helped boost her essays into the public eye and elevate her theory. Mulvey states that she intends to use Freud and Lacan's concepts of 'the 'political weapon'. This can be seen in films as well as music video's one of the most infamous videos that had been slandered by the public was Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke
As well as being very offence towards women and over sexualising them the video was full of nudity. This is where all of the controversies came about the video. Pharell Williams has completely disregarded this video and song out of his discography as he feels its not an accurate portrayal of himself as a person
Refercences:
- http://chchsjsandersonmediastudiesa2.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-carol-vernallis-theory-narrative.html
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