Research: Narrative in the media

My second example of music videos with narratives is Eminem - Stan.



Stanley is dying his hair in the bathroom → his girlfriend comes to the door → he opens it and  starts shouting at her  then he leaves the room → he has become obsessed with the artist 'eminem' and keeps writing him letters →  he has become so fixated that he starts to neglect his pregnant girlfriend  → he continues to write eminem letters but one gets lost in the post office  → eminem doesn't reply which  makes him angry and he goes crazy  → his girlfriend finds his special room for eminem full of posters etc..  → this also makes him angry so he ties her up and locks her in the boot of his car  → whilst recording a message to eminem on his tape recorder he drives his car into a river killing both him and his girlfriend  → eminem eventually reads his letters but its too late.

Narative Theories

Todorov - Equilibrium - Stanley and his girlfriend are living together and expecting a baby
                 Disruption - Stanley goes insane from Eminem not replying to his letters
                 Re equilibrium - doesn't occur

Binary Opposites - Sane vs Insane?

Propp - The Hero = Stanley - on a quest to be with Eminem
             The Villain = His girlfriend - who wants him to stop his obesssion
             The Princess = Eminem
             The Helper = The postman? helping Stanley reach Eminem

Barthes - Will Eminem ever reply?
              Will Stanley get better and quit his obsession?
           
The video's narrative matches the lyrics perfectly. Eminems cold emotional lyrics match the microelements used throughout the video eg- lighting, location etc.. The narrative helps the audience to understand the story he is telling and it was the audience expects from this artist.


Francesca Rigg