Todorov's Narrative Theory

I have been looking at Todorov's narrative theory, which is for linear narratives. I have applied it to two music videos:

This is the music video for We The Kings- Say You Like Me. I think this is a good music video to apply Todorov's narrative theory to, because even though it is half narrative and half performance-based (Steve Archer), the music video has half been animated to look like a video game. The members of the band and 'the girl' have been made into video game characters to exaggerate the lyrics and clearly show the artist being the hero.

At the equilibrium at the beginning everything is normal, there is a shot of the band sat round a table and a girl on her own at a bar. Titles appear on screen to narrate the character roles, for example, 'The Girl' at 0.15 and 'The Band' at 0.18. There is a shot where there is a split screen of half of the band and half of the girl, foreshadowing the forthcoming events.

The disruption of the equilibrium happens at 0.20 when 'The Bad Guy' pulls up to the bar. The expression on the girls face shown by a close up implies how she is not interested. The bad guy and his two helpers grab the girl and speed off in the fast car.

The recognition of the distruption happens at 0.36 where the lead singer in the band gets food thrown at him from a bad guy. Before this when the girl is taken away she looks back at the band symbolising she wants them to save her and that she needs them.

The attempt to repair the distruption takes place for the majority of the music video. The music video is half real and half animated, supporting the effect of the music video being like a video game. The video is constructed with sub titles stating which level of the quest is taking place.

The equilibrium is restored, however not the was it was. The hero and the girl defeat the villan and there is a split screen shot of the bad guy crying and the girl and the lead singer kissing. The video closes nicely by being in the same setting as the equilibrium at the begining at the bar, but this time the girl is sat with the band.

Time - Chase & Status ft Delilah

The equilibrium of this music video is when everything is normal and the girl only sees the family as having a happy family life. Eventhough from her facial expressions it is suggested that she may be execting something unusual is going on.

The disruption of the equlibrium is when the Father gets drunk. He then gets aggressive and violent to the Mother and hits her.

The recognition of the distruption happens when the girl witnesses her Father shouting and pushing her Mother down the stairs. This shot is filmed as a close up of her eye peeping through the door, with a tear running down her face. This is dramatic, because it symbolises the upset that she has closed away.

The attempt to repair is when the girl makes a phonecall, and then shortly after the police arrive and take the Father away. The girl is trying to save her Mother, and is doing what is best.

The equilibrium is restored when the Mother, girl and younger sibling go to visit the Father in prison. The parents still have feelings for each other, and this upsets the girl. The last few shots of the music video show the Father in prison, the Mother and Sister at home, and the girl packing her car and driving away.

Other narrative features:

Flashbacks are often used in music videos to show narrative. An example is One Republic's, Stop and Stare music video.

Another type of narrative for a music video is being mulit-stranded. An example is Devlin ft. Ed Sheeran - Watchtower. Here the video is purely narrative based, and it is a crime narrative. There has even been an extended music video filmed to finish the narrative. It is very intense and is focused around the idea of family and having no escape.