Narrative Theory Comparison TableVideo & Director

About Tsvetan Todorov Vladimir Propp Claude Levi Strauss

Roland Barthes

Artist Trey Songz – Last Time

GenreR’n’B

Director N/A

This video is about Trey Songz staying at a hotel with his girlfriend but not actually wanting to because he’s having affair with the girl that works there. Throughout the video we see him with his girlfriend and another girl which shows that he really doesn’t know what he wants despite knowing what is right. The title of the song does however let us know that this is the ‘last time’ in which he will have an affair.

Equilibrium – Trey Songz is living the perfect life whereby he has a girlfriend by day and another girl by night. He does however, know that it’s not right yet tries to keep the secret from his girlfriend whilst being fair to the other girl.

Disequilibrium – When his girlfriend picks up on the girls attitude whilst their together and eventually finds out that he is cheating on her by following him to another hotel room.

Resolution/New Equilibrium – Trey Songz goes to the girl that he is having a affair with one last time to let her know that it’s over but on his departure is met with his girlfriend who is deeply upset.

Villain – The Other Girl he’s having an affair with because she wants him to continue going behind his girlfriends back.

Princess – In some way his girlfriend is the princess because she needs protection from this girl who wants to take her boyfriend.

The Hero – Trey Songz who stops having an affair

I found that the characters didn’t fit exactly into Propp’s character roles.

The Binary Opposites in this video are as follows:

Good/Bad – The girlfriend is the loyal one whereas Trey Songz is trustworthy yet tries to resolve the issue by letting the girl know that it’s over and the last time.

Girl/Boy – The girl wants the boy but the boy wants to break up what they have because it’s too risky as he has a girlfriend.

Happy/Sad – The girlfriend is happy with Trey Songz whereas the other girl is disheartened because he has a girlfriend and cannot have that honest

My interpretation of this film is that Trey Songz is faced with reality when he has to stay at a particular hotel with his girlfriend. Trey Songz does not want to stay there whereas his girlfriend who is unfamiliar thinks it s fine because it’s a hotspot. Whilst being with one girl, he’s thinking about another (and visa versa) but deep down he knows this has to stop. This is so that he doesn’t hurt his girlfriend.

Another interpretation of this music video would be that Trey Songz is living two different lives and leading on two different girls which is not fair because one will get hurt. He also deserves what happens to him because he’s cheated and lied.

relationship with one another.

Artist

Michael Jackson - Thriller

Genre Funk/Disco

DirectorJohn Landis

Michael Jackson is shown driving into the forest with a young girl who seems to be his date. During his time in the forest, he begins to express that he is different compared to other guys. Before long, he transforms into a werecat and tries to attack the girl. We then come to realise, that it was actually a scene from the film ‘Thriller’ that Michael and his date are watching in the cinema. After leaving the cinema the two are shown walking down a foggy road which ends up to be an actual thriller when the two become surround by zombies. However, Michael Jackson becomes one of them and is shown performing the famous ‘thriller’ dance. This is followed by all of the zombies hunting the young girl down after she makes her escape. When she is finally captured and surrounded by all of them, Michael Jackson reverts into human form and we come to understand that it was all a dream.

This video changes throughout to portray both equilibrium and disequilibrium at numerous parts in the video, I identified that it doesn’t fit into Todorov’s theory much like others do.

Equilibrium – Michael Jackson is shown with a young girl driving into the forest. They appear to be getting along really well and enjoying each other’s company. Michael is also shown asking the young girl out and giving a ring to make their relationship official.

Disequilibrium – We are immediately faced with the disruption of the video whereby Michael says he’s not like other guys and is different. As a full moon appears Michael transforms into a werecat who attacks the young girl.

Resolution/New Equilibrium – When we realise that it is actually a film that is being watched in a cinema, and the two people that were in the film are shown as normal young people on a date.

Villain – The Werecat and Michael Jackson in the form of a zombie

Hero – Michael Jackson in human form

Princess – His Date (The Young Girl)

In this music video, there are only three characters that have been used in accordance to Propp’s theory.

The Binary Opposites in this video are as follows:

Girl/Boy – The girl appears innocent and scared. Whereas the boy is shown to be brave.

Bad/Good – The werecat and the zombies are bad and Michael Jackson and his date are good.

Weak/Strong – The girl is portrayed as the weak character who screams a lot and Michael Jackson is portrayed as the strong character that isn’t afraid.

My interpretation of this film is that Michael Jackson is shown in different states portraying him to be positive and negative. Whilst trying to be a normal guy who wants to be accepted he uncontrollably changes into a werecat when there is a full moon which is what makes him different.

Action – Michael Jackson and his date are being captured by the zombies, the girl running away out of terror and having to be saved.

Enigma – The scenes cutting from a scene in the film to a modern day movie theatre to a house that makes everything into a dream.

Symbolic & Semic - There are numerous connotations and denotation in this music video.

Disequilibrium – The two become surrounded by zombies after passing the cemetery. Whilst under attack, there is another disruption which is Michael Jackson turning into a zombie.

Resolution/New Equilibrium – Michael Jackson saves the young girl and takes her home.

Cultural – The audience can recognise the movie theatre, Michael Jackson and his date because it takes place in the lives of young people and couples.

Artist

Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

GenrePop

DirectorBen Knechtel

This video draws away from your classic and typical boy meets girl story. It is about Carly who develops a crush on her neighbour who she first sees mowing his lawn. As she peers through her bedroom window she seems him mowing the lawn and cannot get enough. As a result, she tries to get his attention in a number of ways such as washing the car outside her house, where he is also. Unfortunately, she drops off the car whilst posing in various sexual ways on her car, to clean it. Nonetheless, she eventually grabs his attention when he helps her and performs to him in her rock band. Eventually, when she thinks everything’s going well she writes down her number yet, finds him showing interest

Equilibrium – Carly notices this guy from her window, who she instantly takes interest in and tries to get his attention.

Disequilibrium – Whilst trying to get his attention, she embarrassingly drops off the car.

Resolution /New Equilibrium- Carly discovers him helping her and to her advantage, performs to him and attempts to give him her number. However, she finds out he is homosexual when he gives his number to the guy in her band.

Hero – Carly because she is seeking something which is the guy to take interest in her.

Princess – The neighbour who she is interested in.

Helper – The members from her band who encourages her to wash the car which in turn will make him notice her.

The Binary Opposites in this video are as follows:

Girl/Boy – The girl is interested in the boy buy the boy isn’t because he is homosexual.

Outside/Inside – Inside Carly has a big crush on the guy and is shown lusting over him. Outside the guy is getting on with mowing the lawn and is completely unaware of Carly liking him.

My interpretation of this music video is that Carly is your typical young girl who likes the guy next door. She doesn’t know much about him but immediately thinks she will have a chance. However, her intentions don’t go to plan because he is interested in someone else and doesn’t even like girls.

Another interpretation would be that she is subtly stalking him which is emphasised through her spying on him and hiding when he looks, in order to not get caught out.

Enigma – The whole storyline acts as a enigma because it provides the audience with a number of things to think about

elsewhere when he gives his number to one of her band members.

throughout to eventually twist the whole storyline when we find out the neighbour is homosexual.

Artist

2pac – Ghetto Gospel

Genre Hip-Hop

Director N/A

This video begins with the present day and flashbacks on to what happened previously. During this video, we see a life of a young man who is a father, has a girlfriend and a loving mother. However, he is on the streets trying to make a living with his friends which is what is dominantly portrayed. One night he is shown alone eating outside a food place and is unfortunately shot by a drive by car. This brings upon much heartache for his mum who is deeply saddened and distraught by his death. At the end of the video, the mother is shown outside the church on her son’s funeral day and spots him across the road – where he would normally sell drugs and make his money. This however is all a figure of her imagination on what she would like but can no longer have because he is dead.

Equilibrium – The young male living a decent life and making a living for himself in the best way he’s able to. Life is also good because he has friends and family (girlfriend, son and mother) around him.

Disequilibrium – When the young male is shot by a car driving by.

Resolution – The message to find God before it’s too late and end the war in the streets before everyone dies.

Hero – The Young Guy who is still trying to figure out life and the right route to go down.

The Villain – The Guy who shoots him

The Helper – The love from his family

The Binary Opposites in this video are as follows:

Good/Bad – The guy is portrayed to be good in terms of trying to make money to provide for his family. But the person who shoots him is bad because he end his life.

Happy/Sad – The mum is shown to be happy when sitting at the table at home, looking at her son. By the end of the video, she is deeply saddened by his death.

Inside/Outside – Inside he seems to be this loving person for his family who is genuine. Outside he is portrayed as a thug selling drugs.

My interpretation of this video is that it simply portrays life as a young male on the streets, trying to make money for his family. It also portrays the negative side to this type of lifestyle which is death. One symbolic element to this film is the church which is reference to God in which the young male should turn to. This could be the message that is trying to be showcased.

Another interpretation of this music video could be the reality of death which everyone thinks deeply about at the beginning of the film as they circle the young man. It also highlights topics such as poverty, crime and drug addiction.