Theories - Carol Vernallis 'The Kindest Cut'

Carol Vernallis analysed editing in music videos and Hollywood film. As seen below, Vernallis has identified the approaches these two forms of editing takes, and how they are different from each other.


Whilst in Hollywood film, there is a single clear path throughout the film's world, there are many more paths that are incomplete and perhaps even obscure in music videos. What this means, is that a lot of shots featured in music videos will be completely different, and will likely make no sense.


Robin Thicke - 'Blurred Lines' f.t T.I. Pharrell; there are multiple paths in the video that will likely confuse the viewer, and the shots that are shown in the video make no sense whatsoever.

The order of shots are conventional in Hollywood film. There is a typical shot order that films often use (for example; there will more than likely be an establishing shot in the opening of a film, because establishing shots are frequently used in Hollywood films). In music videos, the order of shots are unconventional. Music videos can transition between shots more freely, without the worry of having to deal with continuity.


Miley Cyrus - 'We Can't Stop'; because there isn't a big focus of continuity in music videos, a high quantity of videos (such as Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop') use montage editing instead, making the order of the shots in the video unconventional.

There is a unity of time and space in Hollywood film. In music videos, the time and space are unclear to the viewers, who are unaware of when and perhaps where (if a studio is the main location of a music video) the artist performed the music video.


will.i.am - 'Scream & Shout' ft. Britney Spears; because this video was shot inside a studio, there is no sense of time or space. From watching the video alone, viewers will not know where or when will.i.am and Britney shot this video.

Hollywood film draws viewers into the narrative, whereas music videos draws viewers away from the narrative, focusing more on other elements (such as the lyrics, star, etc.)


Jessie J - 'Domino'; in this music video, there is no narrative. This video focuses on Jessie J lip-syncing and performing to the song.