Evaluate A2 production in terms of narrative theories

For my A2 Media Coursework, we had to produce a music video. We chose a song by Meaning in Masterpiece called “Never Again” which is of an alternative genre played mainly with an acoustic guitar. We sparked a few ideas for the storyline and narrative from when we first heard the song. The group decided that we wanted it to represent a sad and depressing atmosphere in which the audience feel sympathy for the protagonist (Jake). We also wanted scenes of Jake playing the guitar in synch with the song as a parallel narrative. It was made slightly easier for us as Jake already knows how to play the guitar and was able to mime and pick up on the song quite quickly.

The lyrics helped us to think of a basic idea to what we wanted to portray to our audience. It shows Jake confused in his life as a girl keep appearing and disappearing throughout the video. As an audience, we have no idea who she is and this creates an enigmatic effect amongst us. We intended to capture Jake’s ‘day out’ and how emotionally scarred he is with the thoughts of this girl who keeps appearing and disappearing, allowing us as audience to make our own assumptions. Levi Strauss can be related to our product as there is a 'constant creation of conflict/opposition', in this case, the difference in colour. The use of black and white presents his mood and the atmosphere, and the colour at the end to show his present life and him literally ‘moving on’.

In comparison to other music videos that were similar to ours (eg Coldplay and James Blunt) we noticed a few codes and conventions used in their videos in which we decided to implement in ours. They seemed to have slow edits, slow movement and a simple narrative/storyline. In one of Coldplay’s videos – “Yellow”, he is seen walking on a beach, stressing how simple music videos of this particular genre can be. However we subverted to this as we wanted to bring something different to our audience, by having a complicated storyline with fast cuts where needed and rewinding to make a difference to the typical music video. Slow edits are evident in our music video, as our chosen song is slow. This subverts to similar products on the market, as discussed before.

A narrative theorist that our product can relate to is Roland Barthes and the "enigma code". The enigma code is that the narrative will establish enigmas or mysteries as it goes along. We see the appearance and disappearance of the antagonist which creates questions that remain unanswered until the end of the music video. The use of black and white also brings to attention on what the current tense may be and whether things are set in the past or the present.

Both Propp and Todorovvs theories suggest that there is a protagonist who is the hero in the narrative. It can be said that in our music video, Jake plays this part. The antagonist can be said to be the girl in which he keeps seeing therefore conforms to both of their theories. However there is no villain or 'princess' present, in which this subverts from their theories too. It can be argued that he needs 'saving' from himself as he is confused and broken and needs to escape his mind.

In conclusion, it is clear to see that our music video consists of many narrative theories, both conforming and subverting from them. The codes and conventions are clear and apparent for our audience to refer and relate to. Our music video brings something new onto the market, with unexpected scenarios; creating difference and uniqueness which is what most products aim to achieve nowadays.