Friday, 20 June 2014

Binary opposition within music videos

Binary opposition is a theory which Levi Strauss advocated, involving the use of binary oppositions, i.e. complete contrasts, in order to construct a narrative within a text. The use of binary opposition within visual codes when introducing two characters, for example in the video for You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift the first character is shown in naturalistic lighting and natural imagery, however the second character is introduced by destroying the natural imagery by driving a red car, a symbol of lust and love. The use of binary opposition constructs two characters in the audiences mind along with the stereotypical portrayal of the archetypal character types.

Good         vs      Evil                                                            Crime       vs       Police

Happy       vs      Sad                                                            Young      vs       Old

Civilised     vs     Uncilvilised                                                  Nature     vs       Man

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