Research For Music Video: Vernalis' Theory

Carol Vernallis - Music Video Theory


The four key concepts:
- Narrative
- Editing
- Camera Movement and Framing
- Digesis

1) Narrative:
- The video is a visual response to the music
- There is not necessarily a balance between narrative and performance
- The narrative may be a partial, fragmented narrative
- The video may pose questions that it will not answer
- May be a running montage theme

2) Editing:
- Editing will match the musical phrase or the beat
- The video may break many of the 'rules' of continuity editing
- E.g. You may see - jump cuts, breaks of 180 degree rule and extreme jumps in time and space
- E.g You may not see - smooth transitions, match on action and an even pace throughout

3) Camera Movement and Framing:
- When it comes to shot types, extremes are very common
- The style of framing and movement are usually a continuing theme that is distinctive to that video/genre
- The master shot and close up shots are used frequently

4) Digesis:
- The digesis may be revealed slowly
- Characters may move to the music, E.g. dance sequences
- Some frames may be more important than others
- There may be gaps in the audience's understanding of the digesis - in time, space, performance and narrative.