Application of theories to Music Videos

Question 1

apply Narratology by Todorov to BtW

Answer 1

• the video follows Todorov’s narrative structure - although there are many unanswered questions - e.g. why has the official come, how does the he escape, why is a woman locked in a house
• the film arguably challenges the narrative as many enigmas remain unanswered

Question 1

apply semiology by Barthes to BtW

Answer 1

• the video includes symbols - e.g. the bowler hat, black suit, maypole, gallows
• consider connotation + denotation; suit and bowler hat connote authority
• there does seem to be effort to challenge conventional connotations - e.g. the maypole as gallows - the celebration of life becomes celebration of death

Question 2

apply Structuralism by Levi-Strauss to BtW

Answer 2

• there are several binary oppositions - e.g. city/country, sophistication/primitivism, modernism/ tradition
• the binary oppositions create effect - e.g. the reveal of the wicker man, the bleeding pie, the gallows which are a maypole

Question 3

apply gender performativity by Butler to BtW

Answer 3

• the video depicts an essentialist world which is out of date for the time of its release (2010s)
• it reflects gender roles of the 1960s
• what is the purpose of this, how do audiences react?

Question 4

apply semiology by Barthes to Heaven

Answer 4

• the video includes symbols - e.g. the cross, light breaking through clouds to connote heavenly/ reliigous ideas
• it doesn’t seem to reinforce conventional connotations
• consider denotations and connotations

Question 5

apply Structuralism by Levi-Strauss to Heaven

Answer 5

• the vid includes a range of binary opposites - e.g. light/dark, sun/rain, wealth/poverty
• do these offer an insight into ideological meaning

Question 6

apply gender performativity by Butler to Heaven

Answer 6

• the video contains a range of gender representations
• some W are represented in their Trad roles, whilst others subvert it - same with men
• e.g. woman in red dress; stereotpical rep of women - sexualised

Question 7

apply ethnicity and post-colonial by Gilroy to Heaven

Answer 7

• as Sande is a woman of colour, and there are a wide range of ethnicities represented - there is ‘post-colonial melancholia’ (celebration of multi-culturalism)
• itsargued that the shots of run down residents of Bethnal Green a criticism of the back/POC experience in the 21st century