Conflict

• Claude Strauss argued that narrative is driven by the “constant creation of conflict and opposition...” For many music videos, this may mean verbal or emotional conflict. However, this idea can be applied more literally to ‘Them Changes’, as one on one physical conflict is the source of action that the narrative returns to and focuses upon.

• The first glimpse we get of our protagonist is during a sword fight with another samurai. Samurai tradition is an important factor to consider in the music video in terms of narrative and in other aspects too...

Samurai Tradition • Samurai warriors existed in 12th century

Japan, and were obliged to follow a set of rules known as bushidō - the way of the warrior.

• Bushidō manifested from Samurai moral values, including loyalty, the martial arts, and honour until death.

• The Tokugawa shogunate were the last feudal military government in Japan, they existed between 1603 and 1876. Under the Shoguns of this government, multiple aspects of warrior values became formalized into Japanese feudal law.

• The opening shot of ‘Them Changes’ depicts two men in full Samurai attire engaging in combat (our protagonist in blue and the victor in red).

• What we see of the fight complies with bushidō, as both warriors fight clean, showing restraint, skill and discipline (the red adversary even waits for the warrior in blue to return to his feet before continuing the fight after 0:23). This affects the narrative drastically: The red warrior leaves our protagonist as a dishonoured failure, as without arms, he may never practice the way of the warrior again. This failure becomes the source of the protagonist’s anguish, as he mopes around watching television after the fight.

• However, the events are set in a seemingly normal household garage; this reveals a deeper subplot: As the protagonist’s disappointed family members are forced to do the housework and serve him, for he no longer can, it becomes apparent that he is a disappointment to them in another sense, as he has become to engrossed in samurai fantasies and swordfights to the point where he can no longer live life like the rest of society. His daughter and wife seem exasperated, perhaps at his failure in traditional Japanese battle, or perhaps at his childish obsession with his make-believe Samurai antics.

A Conceptual Clip

• ‘Them Changes’ is a conceptual clip, as the video contains a story rather than a performance from Thundercat himself.

• The video conforms to Goodwin’s theory that a video’s visuals relate to the lyrics of the song. For example, the lyric “nobody move, there’s blood on the floor” foreshadows the antagonist falling to the floor, armless and bleeding.

• The video travels through multiple different narrative techniques as the rest of the story unfolds...