Red Thread Of Fate

After analysing the lyrics of 'Sober', I have started to think of symbols I can use throughout my music video, to help represent the plot events within my narrative. Considering the lyrics discuss a relationship that is failing, I decided to explore something that could represent this.

After completing the group discussion we decided that we wanted to include the theory of 'the red thread of fate'. This is relating to a Chinese myth as they believe that the gods tie an invisible red cord around the ankles of those that are destined to meet one another in a certain situation or help each other in a certain way. According to Chinese legend the God in charge of "the red thread" the ‘old lunar matchmaker’ god. Throughout a lot of Chinese media, and recently in some English media, the red thread of fate has been used top represent a relationship between couples. This has been adapted as the red string is attached to two people’s fingers. It creates a physical connection between them and shows they are destined to be together.

 We would like to feature it within our music video because it conforms to Barthes' theory that audiences appeal to things that have symbolic meaning. This is because within the lyrics Lorde says ‘every ribbon you use to tie yourself to me’ which shows similarities to the myth. In this case, the thread would be symbolism for two things throughout the music video as when I analysed the lyrics, I realised there was a double meaning:

Her relationship with someone:

Throughout the song, Lorde uses repeated personal pronouns to create the sense the song is almost something she has written specifically for someone. However, in the beginning of the lyrics, Lorde describes a relationship that is struggling but there is still hope. She says ‘but my hips have missed your hips’ and she calls them both ‘king and queen of the weekend’. This metaphor implies that they are still strong and relying on each other. This is juxtaposed to the lyrics at the end of the song. She sings ‘midnight, we’re fading’, ‘we know that its over’.

This shows the clear difference between a relationship that was spoken about with hope at the beginning compared to the relationship that is defined as ‘over’ in the end. Also, the difference of the pronouns ‘you’ at the beginning and ‘our and ‘we’ at the end, can again show a change in the relationship. It shows that at the beginning Lorde mainly focused on ‘you’ (whom the listener assumes is a male) seeing them as above her, as a form of guidance. At the end, the change in lexical choices shows the listener that she sees them as equal now and doesn’t have to rely on them anymore.

                                                   
                                                      Drugs and alcohol:

This is similar for her relationship with drugs and alcohol that is connoted throughout the lyrics; ‘kicks’, ‘a pill that could touch our rush’ and the title of the song ‘sober’. The song could be interpreted to tell a story of drug and alcohol abuse that eventually ends with lyrics that could have connotations of overdosing.

Therefore, the thread in both cases can symbolise something breaking; either the ending of a relationship or the end of life. The thread could be a symbol throughout the video for both of these situations by being strong and intact as the beginning of the narrative and becoming continuously more frayed and damaged throughout until it breaks at the end. This can also conform to Todorov’s narrative theory, to help represent the progression through the order disorder order.