Monday, 13 September 2010

Goodwin: narrative theory

Goodwin focused on the narrative of media texts, and after analysing various sections, he summed up a general narrative theory. This theory included eight main principles, which are usually found in most texts. Although he focuses upon music videos, sections of his main principles could also be found in teaser trailers. These 8 stages include:
  1. Links between lyrics and visuals
  2. Links between music and visuals (e.g. complimentary, contradicting and amplification)
  3. Genre characteristics
  4. Intertextual reference
  5. Notions of looking
  6. Voyeurism (direct gaze, other people looking at artist, insight into artists life, screens and mirrors)
  7. Demands of the record label (representation of the artist)
  8. Performance based, narrative based or concept based music videos

In relation to trailers, the non-diegetic music put over the trailer would work in time to the beat, as well as the lyrics of a song corresponding the images e.g. there may be links between a repetitive drum beat and the editing of a shot. From this, we can notify voyeurism, the base of the narrative and focus on 'notions of looking' - therefore focusing on the shot. Therefore, areas of Goodwin's theory can be applied to the teaser trailer.

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