Narrative- Applying Todorov to Music Videos.

Equilibrium- Everything starts with normal.
Disruption- Something then happens to disrupt normality.
Recognition- The person/ characters recognise the disruption.
Attempt to Restore- Characters try to make everything normal again.
New Equilibrium- New start but everything is slightly different due to the journey you've been on.


Applying this theory to Let You Go, Chase and Status.



Equilibrium- He's a chat show host.

Disruption- Occurs when we see him wiping his nose in the car suggesting he is taking illegal substances.

Recognition- Comes from the montage of shots that demonstrates that he is out all night consistently having affairs and generally out of control.

Attempt to Restore- He's back in the studio in the make up room ready for a new day acting like nothing has happened.

New Equilibrium- He is an addict, his life will change. His life is spiraling out of control.


Applying this theory to Dilly, Band of Horses.


Equilibrium- Normality in the town, the bikers are not known by anybody and demonstrated freedom of the open road.

Disruption- The bikers go in to the bar and disrupt the normality of the town causing aggravation to the women and general sense of unease.









Recognition- The sheriff is called, they pull their guns out on the bikers and ask them to leave. However the bikers fight back metaphorically.










Attempt to Restore- The sheriffs are trying to restore the normality in town by creating a trap for the bikers. However the bikers are aware of this and are prepared.

New Equilibrium- Death to a number of the law enforcement officers, this bikers go on their way as outlaws. The town will feel differently about new comers into the town if they didn't already and always be wary.

There is an intertextual reference: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Easy Riders.

Bad Blood By Taylor Swift

There are intertextual references throughout. This looks like the beginning of a traditional opening sequence to a sci fi film like The Avengers.

 The next two screenshot show the futuristic elements that John Stewart states in his theory of music videos. The lighting is very bright and the room on the right looks very high tech. This also demonstrates Richard Dyer's star image shown by the use of close ups connoting youthfulness and rebellion.

The video also cuts to the beat which is a convention of a music video as stated by Andrew Goodwin. This makes the video flow better and create rhythm and pace.

John Stewart also says that there are loads of close ups of the main singer. Richard Dyer agrees with this and says it's to emphasise their star image which associates the main character with youthfulness.

Applying Music Theorists to Britney Spear's Toxic.

Andrew Goodwin states that there is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals. For example, "Baby can't you see I'm calling." She sings this as she picks up the phone and staring straight into the camera. This simplifies the lyrics.

Another theory is that the music links with the visuals, for example the cuts go with the beat. This makes the music video flow better making it an easy watch for fans and also improves the narrative

Another theory is that the record company demands for lots of close ups of the main artists. This is also a theory of John Stewart where the light is focused on the artist.

John Stewart also states that the mise en scene in a video can be used to emphasise an aspirational lifestyle. For example these two screen shots of the Toxic video above show that the lighting may represent futuristic elements.

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