Carol Vernallis Theory

Asia Thomas Jennings

Narrative in Music Videos are not always complete

Avicci - LevelsAvicci - Levels • The narrative of this video involves a boring man doing a job he doesn't enjoy turning insane and therefore dancing until he is restrained and sent to hospital. There, he releases some form of plant from his mouth and infects the rest of the hospital staff with “dancing fever”. This basic plotline proves Carol Vernallis’ theory as this narrative is completely irregular and makes very little actual sense.

Music videos are not always balanced between narrative and performance

American Idiot Green Day

American Idiot – Green Day In this music video for example, Green Day do not observe or narrate but instead just solely perform. This proves the theoretical point of Carol Vernallis as it evidently points out an imbalance between the visual aspects of narrating and performing in these videos.

Music videos don’t always have a resolution

Evanescence – Bring me to Life

Evanescence – Bring me to Life In this specific video, the ending leaves the audience guessing if she is actually dead after falling off of a building, as in the next jump cut shot she is asleep in her bed.

Music videos often pose questions in the narrative that are not answered within the video

Thriller Michael JacksonThriller – Michael Jackson In Thriller by Michael Jackson for example at the end of the video, being a narrative as well as performer throughout, Michael looks behind him towards the camera, breaking the 4th wall and reveals that what was first deemed to be fictional in their world was not actually the case. Consequently raising and therefore supporting Carol Vernallis’ theoretical points.