1. Assignment 8: Narrative TheoryBy: Marisha Inoke

2. PART A : TODOROV 3. Todorov Tzvetan Todorov (born March 1, 1939) is a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher. He has lived in France since 1963 and now lives there with his wife Nancy Huston and their two children, writing books and essays about literary theory, thought history and culture theory. 4. Todorovs narrative theory Todorov suggested that stories begin with anequilibrium (or normality). This is disrupted by an event which causes adisequilibrium which then causes other chainof events to occur. In the end the problem is solved andeverything is restored back to its equilibrium. 5. Todorov suggested that there are 5 stages of narrative (with 3 major parts).THIS ARE THE FIVE STAGES: Equilibrium (or normality). Disequilibrium (conflict/disruption ofequilibrium by action or event). Recognition of Disequilibrium(disruption/conflict). Attempt to repair.- NEW equilibrium. 6. Equilibrium NEW Disequilibriumequilibrium Todorovsnarrative theory Attempt toRecognitions of repairDisequilibrium 7. These five stages are familiar to the audience as itis mainly used in mainstream films.An example of a film with these five stages is Harold & Kumar escape fromGuantanamo bay. In the beginning of the film everything is at equilibrium and its justintroducing the two characters (which are best-friends). Then we have the dis-equilibrium/disruption caused by an event thathappened on the airplane where he gests misunderstood for using abomb instead of a bong which he brought onto his flight. They bothget imprisoned on suspicions of terrorism. Then soon after they escapefrom Guantanamo bay and try to outrun the authorities. Throughoutthe film they experience one situation after another. Harold & Kumar recognises the dis-equilibrium and that their both ina serious situation and crashes their friends wedding to ask the groomto help them out as they are in trouble with the law, without notknowing that the groom is the villain and they are arrested and gettaken into interrogation. In the end they are free from imprisonment. Kumar ends up with thegrooms fianc (his ex-lover) and flies to Amsterdam so that Harold canmeet the girl he had previously met in the elevator. The ending sceneis at a new equilibrium and everything is back to normal as it is ahappy ending for both characters. 8. TODOROV TASK 1 9. PART B: LEVI STRAUSS 10. LEVI STRAUSS He believed that our world is described inBINARY OPPOSITES. When we look at themes within stories theyconsists of differences, contradictions andconflict or opposites.BINARY OPPOSITES nightday Youngold Good Bad lightdark male female 11. Cont. Suggests that we are only able to understandgood when evil is present. An example ofthis is mainly in super-hero films where youhave a binary opposites like the Hero and theVillain. Furthermore he believes that oppositionoffers structure to a text. 12. Problem The problem with Strauss theory is that it createsa dominant ideology for a Hero and a villainwhich is incorporated in to the text. It can create the dangerous norms like the Herois represented as awhite, male, handsome, muscular and a goodcitizen. Whereas you have the ethnic minoritiesrepresented in a negative stereotype like causinga felony, breaking laws or being a bad citizen. 13. DRAMA ACTIONLEVI STRAUSS TASK 1HORROR SCI-FI THRILLERGenre: ActionFilm: Opposite 1 Opposite 2ExplanationSpiderman(Spiderman is seen as a hero as he saves thehelpless girl). Costume presents the character as aSpiderman is presented as a Hero asbinary opposite to Spiderman. It is conventional to see the binaryhe saves the girl as Heros usually do opposites in Action (Super-hero) filmsin mainstream films, especially in as there has to be a hero and a villain.super-hero films as it is incorporatedin them. Furthermore, he is presentedSometimes it can be between theas a kind hearted individual whenhero and his sidekick.being The hero is portrayed as an unselfish character as opposed to the villain as he is selfish and just wants POWER for selfishness reasons.