- What percentage of a typical music video is performance?
Although it depends what type of music the video is for, a large proportion of the music video is someone or something performing the song. This is especially the case in pop music videos.
- How many separate locations and shots are used?
From the ones I have seen 3 locations are used minimum, although technically one location is used in the Taylor Swift video for "Never Getting Back Together" but there were separate settings within that one space which created the impression of different locations. Even if there is one location the director would chose to create lots of different shots to again create the impression it was a different space.
- What is the narrative and how do we understand the narrative?
Usually the narrative is presented in a montage form to create the idea that it has happened over a long period of time. In terms of the Taylor Swift video different costumes and props are used during a series of flashbacks showing how her ex boyfriend have had lots of arguments which is the theme of the song. This would also back the Carol Vernallis theory.
For this task we were given a theme and we had to create a narrative structure around that, the theme that my group were given was "Initiation". We had to think about our composition and framing while we went filming. This was the final video:
After that we then had to intercut it within our original music video, although it improved the overall music video the theme isn't that clear. This is the result:
I then asked to people in my class to see what they thought the theme was in my final outcome:
Jamie:
"It's to say, it came across like two friends vandalising local property. With possible relationship connotations due to the music."
Luke:
"It looked like a gay love affair, but I'm not entirely certain that was the intention"
How well did it fit the music?
Jamie:
"If it was the theme I was thinking of the yes but if not it may have helped if the narrative was wore clear."
Luke:
"If it was about a gay love affair, then very well but I think it was the song that made it look that way."
- If they were confused about the theme, why was this?
I think it was largely because there wasn't one character singing the song so the audience didn't know who to identify with. Also the footage didn't match with the song as the song was from a woman's point of view from a break up where as the footage was of to teenage boys arguing.
- How far does this prove/disprove Andrew Goodwin's theory?
I think it proves that his theory is right because if you watch the footage without the music it looks like two lads having a bit of fun. But if you watch it with the music a whole gay love affair connotation comes out of the piece.
- How far does this prove/disprove Carol Vernallis's theory?
It also prove her theory as we had to present the footage in a montage form so we could fit it in to the music video as well as showing characters and characters that you identify with quickly to create an affective narrative sequence.
