Media Theory in Music Videos

Feminist Theory – Van Zoonen
Anaconda - Nicki Minaj

Anaconda by Nicki Minaj is the ideal music video to showcase Van Zoonen's theory of how women can be exploited in media texts for the pleasure of the male. As the video was directed by a male we know that it was created with a male viewpoint in mind. 
The women in this video are dressed in minimal, revealing clothing and are dancing provocatively throughout - opening their legs, twerking, and appearing very sexually motivated whenever they're on the screen. Their hair and makeup appears flawless, and the 'main character' (Minaj) looks the most decorated, with extra gold and diamond jewellery to make her appear more alluring. 
Van Zoonen would criticise this video heavily, insisting that the women in the video are dancing only to attract male attention, as it is extremely hyper-sexualised. 

This reinforces the patriarchal culture of our time, as the women’s bodies are represented as objects. This is different to the typical representation of male bodies as a spectacle. Therefore, Van Zoonen's theory matches this video clearly.

Narratology – Todorov

Take On Me - a-ha

Todorov's Narratology theory relates heavily to the music video for Take On Me by a-ha. The video takes on a clear beginning, middle and end. In Todorov's terms, the girl reading the comic book has her equilibrium disrupted by the characters coming alive, and then again as he pulls her into the comic alongside him. These changes in the equilibrium are what drives the narrative within the video forward and keeps the story moving in time with the music. The transformation occurs when the main character in the comic book becomes a real human being and the pair can be together in real life. This transformation encapsulates the message of both the song and the video - if you chase love you will receive it. Therefore, Todorov's narratology theory ties into it very clearly.