Vernallis Analysis

The theorist Carol Vernallis is known for her theory based on music editing. I will be viewing her theory and applying it to actual music videos. Carol Vernallis theory is based around 4 key concepts that all relate to the way a music video is manufactured, these concepts are:

Narrative
Editing
Camera Movement and Framing
Diegesis

Carol Vernallis when describing her theory particularly the narrative aspect, suggests that the video is a visual response to the narrative. Therefore whatever is happening onscreen reflects the choice of lyrics that the artist is singing. However Vernallis then goes on to say how the narrative may not always be completed and can be partial with the video appearing disjointed, disconnected and appear in fragments. The video has something driving it forward but this may not necessarily be the narrative, it could be the music itself or other elements in the video. However if the video is left uncompleted it can lead to many questions about the narrative that won't always be answered throughout the video. Finally although the video may have a theme or narrative, it is probably displayed in a montage style, rather than in one clear focus.


Carol Vernallis states that a clear convention of music editing is that the video may disrupt or break the conventions of continuity editing. The editing may also be bought to the foreground, become visible and not hidden apposed to the invisible style of continuity editing. Meaning the video will have a style of editing running throughout that is distinctive to that video. For example you may see:

Jump Cuts
Breaks of the 30’ Degree Rule
Cutting with the lyrics
Extreme changes in pace
Juxtaposed Frames
Graphic Matches

Carol Vernallis states that establishing shots are one of the key camera features of a music video and are used frequently throughout a music video as well as close up shots. The style of framing of the video again is quite distinctive to the video and also the camera may move in time with the lyrics. Extreme shots also known as master shots are also very common.

In terms of media the diegesis is the world of the music video. Carol Vernallis explains how the diegesis will be revealed quite slowly. The actions in the video won't always be completed and may be disrupted in some way. There will be many repetitions throughout the video and some frames will appear more important than others due to the way they have been shot/framed.