theory
TRANSCRIPT
TheoriesTheories
Task
Task
You should pick a music
You should pick a music
video from the genre
video from the genre
that you have chosen to
that you have chosen to
create and analyse it
create and analyse it
using the following
using the following theories. Do this in a
theories. Do this in a
PowerPoint that you can
PowerPoint that you can
then upload onto
then upload onto slideshare and embed it
slideshare and embed it
like this onelike this one
GenreGenre
Jason Mittell (2001)
Jason Mittell (2001) argues argues
that industries use genre to
that industries use genre to
sell products to audiences.
sell products to audiences.
Media producers use
Media producers use familiar codes and
familiar codes and conventions that very often
conventions that very often
make references to their
make references to their audience knowledge of
audience knowledge of society and other media
society and other media textstexts. – . – Is this true in the video
Is this true in the video
you are looking at? Have they
you are looking at? Have they
used conventions from similar
used conventions from similar
videos and referenced society?
videos and referenced society?
Christian Metz (1974)
Christian Metz (1974) argued argued
that genres go through a
that genres go through a typical cycle of changes during
typical cycle of changes during
their lifetime. -
their lifetime. - Is this true? Is this true?
Look at a video from 10 years
Look at a video from 10 years
ago from the same genre, are
ago from the same genre, are
they similar in any way?
they similar in any way? What are the differences in
What are the differences in
conventions? Remember to
conventions? Remember to
tell me what video you are
tell me what video you are
comparing this to.
comparing this to.
NarrativeNarrative
NarrativeNarrative
Narrative =
Narrative = The storyThe story
TodorovTodorov’’s narrative theorys narrative theory
Bulgarian structural linguist who made a great Bulgarian structural linguist who made a great contribution to narrative studies from the 1960contribution to narrative studies from the 1960’’s s onwardsonwards
Todorov argued that a story goes through stages of Todorov argued that a story goes through stages of transformation that lead to a conclusion.transformation that lead to a conclusion.
Todoro
vTo
doro
v
He suggests that the story begins with
He suggests that the story begins with
a situation that is then disrupted by
a situation that is then disrupted by
an action and finally a new
an action and finally a new
situation is created.
situation is created.1.1. Equilibrium or normality
Equilibrium or normality
2.2. Disruption of the equilibrium
Disruption of the equilibrium
by a significant action or an
by a significant action or an
event by event by ‘‘Agents of disruption
Agents of disruption’’
3.3. Recognition of the disruption
Recognition of the disruption
4.4. Attempt to repair the
Attempt to repair the
disruption
disruption 5.5. Return to equilibrium or
Return to equilibrium or
normality for main protagonist.
normality for main protagonist.
One factor that to consider is that
One factor that to consider is that
the fourth stage, the attempt to
the fourth stage, the attempt to
repair the disruption can be
repair the disruption can be
repeated repeated over and over
over and over again until again until
there is a restoration of the
there is a restoration of the
EquilibriumEquilibrium
Die
Hard
Die
Hard
1.1. Equilibrium – John McClain is a
Equilibrium – John McClain is a
tired NY cop living in a safe and
tired NY cop living in a safe and
happy, protected city.
happy, protected city.
2.2. Disruption – A bomb is planted
Disruption – A bomb is planted
in a School, and the terrorists
in a School, and the terrorists
ask for McClain to work the
ask for McClain to work the
case.case.3.3. The disruption is recognised i.e.
The disruption is recognised i.e.
the Bank Robbery is the real
the Bank Robbery is the real
heist. heist. 4.4. The attempt to restore/repair
The attempt to restore/repair
the Equilibrium is McClain
the Equilibrium is McClain
trying to catch the robbers
trying to catch the robbers
before they get away.
before they get away.
5.5. The equilibrium is restored
The equilibrium is restored
when they catch them and
when they catch them and
McClain says his catch phrase
McClain says his catch phrase
just before the chopper is
just before the chopper is
destroyed.destroyed.
Analy
sing
Analy
sing
Todoro
vTo
doro
v Does the narrative in
Does the narrative in
your music video
your music video follow the stages of
follow the stages of
Todorovs theory? Is
Todorovs theory? Is
there a whole
there a whole narrative or do only
narrative or do only
some of the stages
some of the stages
appear.appear.
Tension and drama in
Tension and drama in
the narrative comes
the narrative comes
from conflict or
from conflict or opposition between two
opposition between two
sidessides Can be between two
Can be between two
characters or two
characters or two different ideologies (e.g.
different ideologies (e.g.
in in ‘‘WesternsWesterns’’, Cowboys
, Cowboys
and Indians)
and Indians) Sci-Fi almost always
Sci-Fi almost always
represents this clash as
represents this clash as
between humans/aliens,
between humans/aliens,
humans/robots
humans/robots
Levi
Str
aus’
Levi
Str
aus’
B
inary
Oppost
ion
Bin
ary
Oppost
ion
Theory
Theory
Analy
sing
Analy
sing
Str
auss
Str
auss
Does your video have
Does your video have
a binary opposition in
a binary opposition in
the narrative? Two
the narrative? Two
people that are
people that are fighting (not
fighting (not necessary physically)
necessary physically)
or opposing each
or opposing each other?other?
Representation
Representation
Ste
roty
pes
Ste
roty
pes
O’Sullivan et al (1998)
O’Sullivan et al (1998) details that a stereotype is a
details that a stereotype is a
label that involves a process
label that involves a process
of categorisation and
of categorisation and evaluation. evaluation. We can call stereotypes
We can call stereotypes shorthand to narratives
shorthand to narratives because such simplistic
because such simplistic representations define our
representations define our
understanding of media
understanding of media texts – e.g we know who is
texts – e.g we know who is
good and who is evil.
good and who is evil.
What stereotypes
What stereotypes have been used in
have been used in
the music video you
the music video you
are looking at?
are looking at?
Gender
Gender How has gender
How has gender been represented in
been represented in
your video? E.g. are
your video? E.g. are
the men the men conventionally
conventionally masculine?
masculine?
Laura
Mulv
ey
–
Laura
Mulv
ey
– The M
ale
Gaze
The M
ale
Gaze
Laura Mulvey (1975)
Laura Mulvey (1975) argues argues
that the dominant point of
that the dominant point of
view is masculine. The female
view is masculine. The female
body is displayed for the male
body is displayed for the male
gaze in order to provide erotic
gaze in order to provide erotic
pleasure for the male
pleasure for the male ((vouyerismvouyerism)). Women are
. Women are
therefore objectified by the
therefore objectified by the
camera lens and whatever
camera lens and whatever
gender the gender the spectator/audience is
spectator/audience is positioned to accept the
positioned to accept the
masculine POV.
masculine POV. – Is this – Is this
apparent in the video you are
apparent in the video you are
looking at ?looking at ?