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Narrative Theories

It is important that in your understanding of conventions in film you relate it towhether you conform to subverted or challenged the following theories.

Here is a quick recap of the main ideas of the four theorists we have studied:

Roland Barthes Enigma Codes

Barthes' Enigma Code is a theory that suggests a text (whether that be television,film, a poster etc) portrays a mystery to draw an audience in, pose questions and, assuch, become intrigued in the piece. For instance, a murder mystery will often notreveal the identity of the murderer until the end of the story, which poses thequestion "Who is the murderer?"

Key Term:

Enigma Code - questions that your film makes the audience think of to help drawthem into the narrative such as why is that ma nangry?, where are they? Who isthat disguised character?

Tsvetan Todorov-Equilibrium

All stories start in a state of equilibrium, which is then disrupted, setting in amotion a chain of events. The resolution of the story is the creation of anew/different equilibrium.

Eg. Titanic

Rose is engaged

Rose then leaves her finance for Jack; Jack the dies

Rose continues her life as an independent woman

Key terms:

Equilibrium a state of normality that is then disrupted andf then restored

Levi-Strauss- Binary Oppositions Meanings, including narrative, depend on binary oppositions he explores

these in terms of underlying paradigmatic themes rather than events.

Eg: Titanic

Rich /Poor * Artistic/Materialistic

Brave/Cowardly * Irish/English

Key Terms:

Binary Opposites (2 total opposites that are established e.g rich and poor, nightand day good and evil)

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Vladimir Propp

Propp was essentially interested in the narrative of folk tales. He identified a theoryabout Folk tales were similar in many areas. They were about the same basicstruggles and they appeared to have stock characters. He identified a theory about

characters and actions as narrative functions.

Characters, according to Propp, have a narrative function; they provide a structurefor the text.

Characters that perform a function

The Hero a character that seeks something

The Villain who opposes or actively blocks the heros quest

The Donor who provides an object with magical properties

The Dispatcher who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message

The False Hero who disrupts the heros success by making false claims

The Helper who aids the hero

The Princess acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villains plots

Her Father who acts to reward the hero for his effort