Research: Narrative videos.

So this is the last one in the set. Narrative is the last type of video that I've haven't talked about yet. So here we go!

Narrative videos are basically a music video that includes a storyline or a narrative. The main point of narratove videos is for the actual video to present a story or a characters journey through something. There are several different types of narrative video. A few being from one person's point of view. This can show their day and how it goes, or show a problem that they face etc. Narrative stories often have a beginning, a middle and an end, as the music video progresses. In terms of Goodwin's six, there is a tendency for the relationship between lyrics and visuals to develop in narrative videos, as the lyrics often reflect the story being told for the visual viewer.

Some theorists work apply directly to narrative videos such as:

Izetan Todorov was a Bulgarian structuralist that published influential work on narrative theory from the 1960's onwards. His main theory consisted of this theory:

 Equilibrium -> Disequilibrium -> Recognition -> Reparation -> New Equilibrium

This can be shown through the traditional Jack and the Beanstalk story in this way:

• Jack and his mother are living happily (Equilibrium)
• They are forced to sell their family cow which Jack then sells for five magic beans (Disequilibrium)
• Jack knows that he has done wrong but he decides to see what is up at the top of the giant beanstalk (recognition)
• Jack takes the gold coins from the ogre and manages to defeat him by cutting down the beanstalk (Reparation)
• Jack and his mother are now rich and live happily ever after (new equilibrium)

This reflects many narratives in several different media contexts. This could relate to films, newspaper articles and most importantly, music videos! Another main theorist that revolutionised narrative theory was Levi Strauss. Levi Strauss outlined the struggles in binary opposites. He realised that the audience is able to distinguish a clear 'hero' through the use of camera angles, mise-en scene and lighting etc. Also he interjected that audiences have been able to tell the difference between a morally right side of an argument and the morally wrong side. This creates a clear narrative for audiences to outline as we have a clear deduction of morals within our society. 

An example of a narrative video is the video 'Hero' by Enrique Iglesias. In this video, Iglesias and his girlfriend have stolen lots of money. Their car breaks down and they are attacked by a group of thugs. Iglesias realises that the gang will not let them go and decides to fight against them. Iglesias dies but his girlfriend is safe. 

Examples of Todorovs narrative theory is as follows:

Iglesias and his girlfriend are happy and in love (Equilibrium)

Their car breaks down and they are attacked by a group of men (Disequilibrium)

Iglesias realises that the gang will not let them go (recognition)

He decides to fight against them (Reparation)

Iglesias dies but his girlfriend is safe (new equilibrium)

This is a perfect example of a narrative video. Audiences tend to relate to narrative videos a lot because a lot of narratives in videos can be very similiar to every day life. As a music video on average is around four minutes long, you can't fit a huge, extravagant storyline into those four minutes. So storylines tend to be simple and audiences often relate to the normality and the realism because they are every day storylines. This is a contrast to this video as people don't tend to steal a load of money, get beaten up by a gang and then die! However this is still a perfect example of a music video with a story.

Here is 'Hero' by Enrique Iglesias:

More to follow :)