music video analysis 1
TRANSCRIPT
Music Video Analysis Josh Robinson
Nick Lacey’s repertoire of elements can be applied to the music video of Olly Murs – Dear Darlin
because of the use of characters, narrative events, iconography, setting and technical and audio
codes.
In this music video the characters are conventional of a music video following the pop genre, with
the story focusing around the lead singer (Olly Murs) and the love interest. Both of the main
characters that appear in the video have been represented in similar positive ways, Laura Mulvey’s
theory of the Male gaze, an idea of how women have been fetishized, this has not been applied to
this video unlike videos of other genres. During short flashbacks that appear in the background of
certain scenes, the characters can be seen in bright clothing such as blue, symbolising happiness,
however, in the present day both of the characters are wearing grey clothing which creates a sense
of depression. In terms of Propp’s character roles, Olly Murs can be seen as the hero trying to fix his
relationship with the princess, his ex-girlfriend, none of the other character types appear in this
video as the story focuses on the man and the woman.
The use of narrative within Lacey’s repertoire of elements is applied very stereotypically to this
music video, as it follows a very linear narrative that is easy for the spectator to follow. This music
video is a narrative/performance video thatfocuses on a love story between a man and women who
Olly Murs – Dear Darlin’
Target Audience – Male/Female
13-25 years
Genre - Pop
Music Video Analysis Josh Robinson
have broken up, however unlike most music videos; this one doesn’t follow the traditional structure
of Todorovs narrative theory as it doesn’t finish with a state of equilibrium; according to Todorovs
narrative structure it endsat the point where the main character recognises the problem and tries to
solve it,with the couple trying to get back together.This music video doesn’t follow Todorovs
narrative structure, with a state of equilibrium, followed by a disruption of the equilibrium, the
characters recognition of the disruption, the attempt to solve it and finally restoration of the
equilibrium, equilibrium appears at no point within this music video, making it an unconventional
structure, it starts with a disruption to the equilibrium instead. This is unusual as because of Lacey’s
repertoire of elements the audience usually
expect a resolution to breakups that appear
in pop music videos. The video also makes
use of Barthes Hermeneutic code, as the
audience know that the two characters
have broken up but they don’t know the
reason why, the video applies various hints
throughout the narrative that gives the
audience an idea. During the first sequence
of the music video a shot takes place that
shows both a time when the two characters were happy, showing Todorovs stage of equilibrium out
of sequence, this is shown at the same time in the present when they have left each other this is an
example of a fragmented narrative, this creates a sense of Levi Strauss’ opposites as a contrast is
created between being together and being apart, this appeals to the target audience of the video
which is 13-25 year olds. This however follows the pop genre for music videos as according the
Neale’s mental machinery the love gone wrong type of storyline has been accepted well by the
subject target audience and as a result of this the industry have made use of these facts and applied
them to the majority of music videos of that genre.
In terms of iconography the props that appear in the music video are very conventional of the genre,
the guitar has been used at certain parts as it is iconic to the pop genre, and the cardboard boxes
suggest that they are moving in together which the audience relate this to committed relationships
once again following the genre. The final
prop used is the scrunched paper, and from
the shots used it is clear that there are
going to be lot of them on the floor near
the characters feet, this creates audience
familiarity as the audience associate this
with trying to resolve a fallout of some kind.
Both of the characters can be seen doing
this which creates dramatic irony for the
spectators as they know that both of them
are trying to resolve the breakup, but neither of characters know. The colour is drained throughout
the video creating pathetic fallacy, and the clothing is very contemporary which is conventional with
a modern pop song.
The setting of the video is stereotypical of the love storyline that the video has, the characters can
be seen wandering through the streets of an urban environment alone, and this follows Neale’s
Music Video Analysis Josh Robinson
theory of repetition. This area creates a sense of isolation and creates a feeling that the characters
are in deep thought about the breakup, not taking in to account anything around them. The main
singer also appears on the roof of a building which is very common in music videos based within the
city.
With the technical and audio codes, a lot of
close ups of the artist takes place to show his
emotions and feelings about the situations he
is in, this is conventional with videos of this
genre especially the ones associated with
love.Medium shots also appear to show both
of the characters loneliness, promoting the
fact that they have separated and making the
narrative easier to understand for the
spectator. The lighting matches the colour scheme as it is very dim and works well to help create
pathetic fallacy in the text, because equilibrium doesn’t take place in this music video the overall
colour scheme doesn’t change to a brighter more upbeat colour pallet.
To conclude this music video works well with Lacey’s repertoire of elements, it is stereotypical of
other music videos of the same genre, and the easy relatable storyline appeals to the target
audience of 13-25 year olds.