How Todorov's Theory is applied to music videos!

Narrative-Applying Todorov to music videos

Todorov's narrative is built from the inclusion of binary oppositions in a media text, one side will be represented as the 'right' side and the other 'bad'.

Equilibrium- Everything that starts in reality (1)

Disruption- Something that happens to disrupt normality (2)

Recognition- The person recognises the disruption (3)

Attempt to restore- Characters attempt to restore the normality (4)

New equilibrium- New start but things slightly change (5)

Chase and Status (let you go)

1.       He is a chat show host that seems like he loves his job, acts like a god lording over his realm

2.       We see him wiping his nose as he has taken cocaine, a change in mood and life

3.       Recognition comes from the series of shots (montage) as he is out all night having affairs and   partying. Fame has taken him too far

4.       He’s back in the studio with his make up on looking like a mess

5.       His life has spiralled out of control daily and he is depressed about

Band Of Horses (dilly)

1. Normality in the town and the bikers are unknown to everyone.

2. The bikers enter the bar and disrupt the normality of the town, causing disruption

3. The sheriff is summoned and pulls out his gun on the bikers, trying to get them to leave

4. The sheriffs create a track for the bikers, however the bikers are prepared

5. The bikers kill some of the law enforcers and escape therefore leaving the townsfolk a message. Be more wary of who enters the town.

Andrew Goodwin's Theories on Music Videos

Previous Terminology I will use.

This year I will be focusing on music videos and the music industry meaning I will have to be familiar with a specific terminology related to the analysis or creation of them. 

When producing my thriller last year, I learnt the expected terminology that relates to all types of film:

• Animatic - An animated storyboard that gives a better idea of a planned project

• Capture - The act of transferring footage from camera to computer

• Continuity Editing - Spatial and temporal continuity is maintained for the comprehension of the audience [in film and TV]

• Cutaway - A shot of an object, person or detail, which can be inserted at any time in a sequence (usually for extra narrative) without breaking continuity

• Montage Editing - A style of editing in which the juxtaposition of different elements creates impact and meaning 

• Offline Edit - Basic edit to be viewed prior to any effects being added

• Online Edit - Final edit where effects are added and the tape produced to broadcast standard

• Post-Production - The stage where effects are added 

• Pre-Production - The planning stage of a project, prior to shooting

• Production - The main shooting and editing stage of a project

• Storyboard - A planning sheet on which shots can be drawn prior to shooting

• Telecine - A stage between shooting and offline editing whereby all footage is transferred from film to video to allow editing on a computer

• Transition - Editing components, such as fades, dissolves, wipes, etc which overlap between shots to move the video from one shot to another

• Treatment - An initial outline of a project, which indicates the main features of the finished product 

I have also learnt a range of terminology relating to media texts and audiences:

• Demographic - Particular socio-economic or geographical features of the audience

• Director - The main creative interpreter and organiser in charge of production process

• Distribution - The means by which a media product reaches its audience, including all promotional and marketing activity

• Exhibition - The point at which audiences view media products

• Form - The structuring conventions of a media text, such as generic, narrative or ideological framework

• Genre - Categories into which media texts may be divided according to similarities of form and content

• Hybrid - A combination of different genres or styles

• Ideology - Ideas, values and beliefs we hold as individuals or as groups, which inform the way we interpret and construct representations of the world

• Niche Marketing - Where a small specific audience is targeted, not a mass one

• Proliferation - A sudden increase in the amount or number of something

• Representation - Aspects of the real world are reconstructed into media texts, most commonly particular individuals or social groups

• Style - Visual and other production elements combined to give the text a distinct image and mode of address

• Synergy - Process by which one media product helps sell another, often from the same company

During the new project I will try to use these terms as well as new ones so that I can input them in the future posts.

A2 Media Studies Introduction

Hi, this is the start of the next part of my media course where I will be posting about the music industry as well as developing ideas that will reveal a great music video. In my last project I created a two minute Thriller opening for my AS level which gave me and my group a large understanding of the amount of time, effort and teamwork that was needed to complete the task. I will use the techniques that I have learnt and incorporate/develop them in the upcoming project so that I can widen my knowledge of the media industry.

I listen to all kinds of music and have a collection of 3500 songs on my phone. I mainly like rock and alternative music from all different periods such as U2, ACDC and Queen.

I hope you enjoy what's about to come ahead!!