Carol Vernallis

The kindest cut: Function and meaning in music video editing

By Zak Swindell

The Theory

Carol Vernallis analysed the editing which we see in both music videos and also Hollywood film. She managed to find distinct approaches to each. From this research she created the theory ‘The kindest cut: Function and meaning in music video editing’.

She managed to find a difference between music videos and Hollywood film in that in music videos there doesn’t need to be a story the focus is based on other things (the star). Also that in a music video there is not a time structure we don’t need to see the characters arrival in the music videos. Otherwise in Hollywood film there is a single path and the film draws the audience into the narrative which is used and there is a conventional shot order.

Music videosIn music videos the order of the shots are more free and not a specific shot order. The audience don’t need to understand the character arrival and there is not really a time structure. Also the star is the main focus of the music video and the music video does not need a story.

In the song of Shakira – Can’t remember to forget you. There are multiple paths with a free choice of shot order. There is no story to this video just multiple paths of this artist going from one place to another taking out the sense of time and space.

Hollywood film When editing a Hollywood film, the highly used conventions are that there is one clear path and that the order of the shots are in a conventional order. With a Hollywood film the film draws the audience into the narrative and the unity of time and space needs to be clear. Below the scene from inception there is a one clear path and there is a conventional order to the shots.