Narrative

Narrative Devices

Flash Forward- Skipping into the future.

Madonna- Papa Don't Preach

"Papa Don't Preach" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna in her third studio album True Blue. 

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This shot displays a flashback from Madonna singing "Papa I know you'r going to be upset" to a time when she was a young child spending time with her father. The effect this has is a warm, reminiscing effect. It allows the viewer to get to know the artist in a bit more depth as e are exposed to more rather than just the present.

Restricted Narrative- The audience are limited because they are only following things from a certain perspective.

Porter Robinson- Language

"Language" is Porter Robinsons second single he released and shot straight to no.1 in the UK and US.

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This shot includes the protagonist- main character running in a dark forest from a pack of wolves. The shots of this music video are mostly of her and are following her through her journey of escaping and discovering. This is seen as a restricted view because we are only seeing things in her view because we are following her journey. This effect allows the viewer to get to know the character better and understand their emotions to feel the music.

Pathetic Fallacy- Where the weather matches the mood of the narrative.


Micheal Jackson- Earth Song

"Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book. 

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In this shot the music is very slow, and soft so the weather is representing and emphasising it through the bright sun and the soft green leaves of the trees.

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At this point in the music video, MJ is singing very loud and powerful, the music has sped up and he is almost shouting his words. The weather is bad, with gusty winds, dark clouds and thunder flashes. The weather is strong and powerful which represents MJ's words, voice and tempo of music.

Todorov

Todorov was a Bulgarian linguist publishing work on narrative since the 1960s.
Tzvetan Todorov suggested there were 5 stages to a narrative:

1. Equilibrium – A happy start
2. A disruption of this equilibrium by an event – A problem occurs
3. A realisation that a disruption has happened
4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption – the problem is solved
5. A restoration of the eqilibrium – A happy ending

She’s The One – Robbie Williams

1. Equilibrium – Shots of the ice skaters with their coach winning medals and smiling. The skaters in trainning. (0.03)
2. Disruption – The male skater falls over while they are practicing and injures his ankle so can not skate. (1.34)
3. Realisation –  The coach has memories of his first pair of skates and when he used to skate. He realises he may have to perform again. (1.52-2.18)
4. Attempt to repair the damage – The coach enters the competition and performs the routine with the female skater. (2.31)
5. Restoration of the equilibrium – The ice skaters get a high score from the judges. (5.01)

Mckee




Robert McKee has a simple 5 part structure for narratives:
1. Inciting incident
2. Progressive Complications
3. Crisis
4. Climax
5. Resolution



An example of a Music video is Beyonce- If I were a Boy

1)Inciting incident- There are doubts about faithfullness within their relationship, when Beyonce walks out in her uniform and doesn't show affection towards her man (0.39)

2)Progressive Complications- Beyonce is not picking up her mans calls because she is busy having fun drinking with another man (2.00).

3)Crisis- Beyonce is dancing with the other man infront of her boyfriend and when they confront, the boyfriend has literally seen enough and does not want to touch her (3.11)

4)Climax- At home they argue about the incident ad their faithfullness (3.36)

5)Resolution- At the end it twists so we realise that Beyonce played the part of her partner who was unfaithful to her. However even though they had just fought the previous night she still stays with him and acts like nothing has happened. (4.23)