Narrative Theory

An example of Tim O' Sullivan's theory is this clip from the film; That Thing You Do.

The film depicts a band who's track gains great popularity. There is then a montage of the band traveling through different locations, this establishes various fictional time and space as the locations change per cut, meaning the different crowds change along with the stage they are playing on. This implies that narrative that they are touring instead of deliberately telling the audience through dialogue.

An example of this theory is the music video Beyond Here Lies Nothing by Bob Dylan:




This follows Pam Cook's theory as the whole film is in chronological / linear order, this is shown by the use of continuity editing (Match on actions, eye line mates)

This video also follows the narrative theory as there is an enigma resolution at the end when you find out why the man and woman are fighting, they are an abusive couple.

The video also follows verisimilitude, for example the everyday objects in the apartment make it look real:

There is a sink spotted with dishes to show he lives like an ordinary person cleaning up and doing jobs around the house.

He also has decorations / pictures around his house like any other person would.

The music video is also set in the 90's based on the look of the TV and Car:



An example of this is included in the famous western movie The Good The Bad and The Ugly:

The film Avatar is about a man who infiltrates a race of aliens on a plant by becoming one, he is meant to give the US army information on the aliens but decides to swap sides. The scientists on the planet also debate about going to the other side but the aliens reject them. This complicated storyline can be reduced to the binary opposition of:

Human vs None-human

This theory applies to most mainstream Pop music video's  that have a big budget put towards them, low budget Indie video's tend to be more unique and creative instead of including components like male gaze, stolen plot lines and themes such as wealth.


Here are some videos that include this:




This Fifth Harmony video includes excessive amounts of male and female gaze as well as a cliché setting. This music video is very similar and has many stolen factors from the music video Satisfaction:






As you can see the building site mise-en-scene mixed with the sexy appeal of the artist/s is also shared in this video.






What Do You Mean by Justin Beiber also steals a stereotypical plot motif about a drug dealer / gang member who doesn't want his girlfriend to get hurt. They then follow a narrative which involves escaping the mafia in an attempt to still be together.

Another example of a conventional plot line is the music video Duquesne Whistle by Bob Dylan. A boy romantically stalks a girl for her love, buying her flowers and walking to the beat of the song, however the music video takes a turn when the boy gets tortured and beaten by a gang because of his stalking.

An example of this is a music video byWeezer, in their song Buddy Holly. The band are shown in a 1970's sitcom called "Happy Dyas", that whole music video is shot like a sit com, includes a conventional "to be continued" add break and also includes some original actors and clips from the 1970's series. This is a prime example of the use of intertextuality, others who didn't watch Happy Days, will not understand the references.

He said that music videos generally fall into 3 categories:

- Performance - Live music or dance performance - street, studio, concert

- Abstract - Pure art - creative and doesn't relate to the song 

- Narrative - A short film

An example of a Performance clip is Back in Black by AC/DC, in which the band is in a dark studio:

A contemporary example is Royal Blood's Little Monster where they are performing in a ran down location to a small crowd:




An example of an abstract music video is Radiohead's Street Spirit:





You can tell this is an art clip from the series of long exposure effects as well as the fade transitions. The fact the video is in black and white also promotes an artistic theme. Parts of the frame are slow motion where as other parts aren't, this also creates a "trippy", creative mood.

A contemporary example is Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know:


It is really obvious that this is an art clip as you can see the animation of the paint covering the artists bodies.

An example of a narrative music video is Royal Blood's Out of The Black, this is a very unrealistic narrative that fits the Indie Rock genre perfectly. It involves aliens and a protagonist in which engage in a violent battle.