Vernallis' Theory 'The Kindest Cut'

Vernallis analysed editing in music video and

Hollywood film.

Music Video

She identified that there is a large number of incomplete and sometimes obscure paths. She believes that there is no typical shot order. Therefore, the order of shots is unconventional and stereotypical music videos usually have a specific shot order. She believes that shots shift freely from shot to shot. Additionally, she believes that time, space, character and narrative are revealed incompletely or perhaps subtly. Due to the unconventional transition of shots characters can be hard to introduce. Vernallis believes that pop videos draw the audience away from the narrative by foregrounding other structures and elements, e.g the music or the artist.

Eg: Kylie Minogue - Spinning around

Vernallis believes that shots of the artist will encourage the audience to piece together a phantasmagorical body (A body made up in our mind of all the shots of bits of bodies we see)In Kylie's video we are shown certain sections of a female body that are seen as the most attractive eg, legs, bum and lips.

How could I use Vernallis' theory?

If I were to use Vernallis' theory I would use short duration cuts and the narrative would be in a random order to create a more 'crazy' atmosphere and the audience would have to figure out what is happening. I would reveal the character by shooting different sections of their body and never their whole body at the same time. By doing this I would be creating a phantasmagorical body.