Ragini ranjanaNarrative Analysis · 2!Narrative)Analysis)Of)Film) RepresentingOtherWorld))!...

Narrative Analysis Of film representing the other world

By Ragini Ranjana

M.des , IDC, IIT Bombay

Composed Under The Guidance of prof. Nina Sabnani

2 Narrative Analysis Of Film Representing Other World

Abstract In a narrative, other world is an imaginary universe weaved with combination of words, images and sound. It is developed in a way that the interpreter can unfold and mentally construct the whole world and this world is active in their mind throughout the story. In films, which revolve around other world, audience are the interpreter who engage themselves with the diegetic environment of this world to follow the protagonist and takes the journey with him/her. These narratives follow a structure, which varies in its version, but have a common pattern. These patterns can be analyzed through a theory. This paper is an effort to study two different narrative story of other world and analyze it with the help of a theory; joseph Campbell: The Hero Journey.

Keywords: -‐ Hero’s Journey, other world, Diegetic world, Avatar Hero’s Journey, Spirited Away hero’s journey.

Narrative Analysis Of Film Representing Other world

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Introduction: The other world The other world is a fiction realism created by a narrator. It can be completely diegetic universe with imaginary characters and set of events, or a part of earth which is hidden and have limited access to certain kind of creature. In either ways, it is a creative tool for telling story where a balanced mixture of known and imaginary events arise interest and binds audience with amazement. In films the different ways in which the other world are narrated mostly falls under three categories;

• First: in which a diegetic world is created, other then human world • Second: where the other world exist on earth but it is hidden from

conventional human eyes • Third: different possibilities of other world exist around the earth (depending

upon the basis of different parameters like geographical location, inhabitant creature ... ).

The narrative structure differs in accordance with the way in which the other world is created. And similarly the character, her/his purpose to visit the other world and the challenges being faced will depend. In these type of narrative the main lead plays a very important role. He is the protagonist through whose eyes the audience is going to experience the whole world. We call them “hero”, they are mostly introduced as normal human who gets surrounded by a situation where he goes to the other world and from there the adventure begins. The departure of the character from human world to the other world also depends on the type of world where they are entering, like for other planet, it is either going to be a scientific research or a mission; like in avatar, jack is called for a mission. For hidden world it can be magical transition or a gate which open accidently/ intentionally for the hero; like in harry potter, Narnia and spirited away. Once the hero enter the other world the adventure begins and the action starts, where the hero interacts with the other world and faces the challenges. As the story unfolds he faces newer challenges which needs to be bigger than the earlier one and every time the hero fight bravely and gains victory. Other then the hero, the aspect which effect the narrative structure in other world is binary function i.e. the reason for which the protagonist introduced to the other world need to be fulfilled. If there is lack liquidation should happen through hero. Different narratives are portrayed differently but follows the same pattern. This pattern was describe by scholars and are widely used to analyze narratives. Two popular and widely accepted theories are Joseph Campbell – Hero’s journey and Vladimir Propp Structuralism-‐ syntagmatic analysis.

4 Narrative Analysis Of Film Representing Other World Joseph Campbell: Hero’s journey The theory comes into existence during a documentary where Campbell talks about Monomyths, the universal theme of hero’s birth and journey. He use the phrase the hero’s journey to describe the context of mythological story of Christ and Buddha in terms of similarities in narrative structure. He found that the narrative consciously or unconsciously follows the same narrative patterns irrespective of the place, era and religion. They all are based upon the ancient pattern of myth and revolve around the journey of a person, whom we call “Hero”. So, from years we are narrating the story of Hero with different version. In Monomyth narrative pattern the hero must be one of the human who pass through the difficulty, which can enrich him to overcome his weakness and fight against the villinary power. In Peter Stillman words “The hero must leave behind her, or overcome, the weaknesses and temptations that we get into; must be totally committed to her heroic role; and must suffer dangers and agonies…even if she suffers them in a basically meaningless contest. Furthermore, the hero must have a difficult goal, which she must reach on her own,” The hero’s journey has different stages, which he has to pass in order to complete the journey, the narrative may not have all the stages and can follow different path but the hero has to go through and complete it. The different stages of journey are-‐

• Ordinary world • Call to adventure • Refusal of the call • Meeting the mentor • crossing the threshold • Test, allies and enemies • Approach • Ordeal, death and rebirth, Abyss • Reward, seizing the sward • The road back • Resurrection • Return


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The Hero’s journey by Joseph Campbell The stages state the position of protagonist and his development, struggle and acceptance as a hero. The narration happens in two different places, Initial the niche of the hero is an ordinary world where he is part of human society like anyone of us. So that the audience can relate themselves to him and once that link is set hero gets a call to adventure to special world where his enrichment and transformation happens. Then the situations eventually lead to a crisis where he must overcome the obstacles, defeat the enemy. In return he gets his reward and goes back to the ordinary world.


Vladimir Propp Structuralism-‐ syntagmatic analysis.

In his book Morphology of the Folktale released and published in1928 Vladimir prop introduce a methodology to syntagmatic analyze the Russian folktales. He comes up with thirty one function known as propp’s function to explain the nature and structure of narrative. Each propp’s function has a representation symbol and combination of these can derive a formula for that narrative. He also explain the bipolar relation of the propp’s function in narrative, where one function leads to its opposite function like lack will always recovered through liquidation, departure will follow return. The thirty-‐one propp’s functions are – 1. ABSENTATION (β) -‐ A member of a family leaves home 2. INTERDICTION (γ) -‐ An interdiction is addressed to the hero; 'don't go there' 3. VIOLATION (δ) -‐ The interdiction is violated 4. RECONNAISANCE (ε) The villain makes an attempt to find information on intended Victim 5. DELIVERY (ζ) -‐The villain gains information about the victim 6. TRICKERY (η) The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of victim or victim's belongings 7. COMPLICITY (θ) -‐ Victim submits to deception 8. VILLIANY (A) -‐ Villain causes harm/injury to family member by abduction, theft of magical agent etc. 9. LACK (a) A Alternately a member of family lacks something or desires something 10. MEDIATION (B) -‐ Misfortune or lack is made known, 11. BEGINNING COUNTER-‐ACTION (C) -‐ Seeker agrees to, or decides upon counter-‐ action 12. DEPARTURE (↑) Hero leaves home 13. FIRST FUNCTION OF DONOR (D) Hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc., preparing the way for his/her receiving magical agent or helper 14. HERO’S REACTION (E) -‐ Hero reacts to actions of future donor 15. PROVISION OR RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT (F) -‐ Hero acquires use of a magical agent 16. SPATIAL TRANSFERENCE BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS (G) -‐ Hero is transferred, delivered or led to whereabouts of an object of the search 17. STRUGGLE (H) Hero and villain join in direct combat 18. BRANDING (J) Hero is branded; wounded/marked, receives ring 19. VICTORY (I) Villain is defeated 20. LIQUIDATED (K) Initial misfortune or lack is resolved 21. RETURN (↓) Hero returns 22. PURSUIT/CHASE (Pr) -‐ Hero is pursued 23. RESCUE (Rs) Hero is rescued from pursuit 24. UNRECOCNIZED ARRIVAL (0) -‐ Hero unrecognized, arrives home or in another Country


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25. UNFOUNDD CLAIMS (L) False heroes presents unfounded claims 26. DIFFICULT TASK (M) Difficult task proposed to the hero 27. SOLUTION (N) Task is resolved 28. RECOGNITION (Q) Hero is recognized 29. EXPOSURE (Ex ) False hero or villain is exposed 30. TRANSFIGURATION (T) -‐ Hero is given a new appearance 31. PUNISHMENT (U) Villain is punished

Set of these functions is combined together according to the story to extract a formula, which explain the structure analysis of that narrative. The props function can be divided into four blocks where first block (function 1 to7) introduce the situation and character and set the scene for subsequent adventure. Second block (functions 8 to 12) start the story and extends to the departure of the hero in main quest. Third block (function 3 to 27) describes the adventure and victory of hero and form the body of narrative. The forth block (function 23 to 27) is the final phase of story where hero action after victory, his return and linked action are described. To each narrative analysis propp’s has given a brief summery, definition and designation.

8 Narrative Analysis Of Film Representing Other World Narrative structure of the other world story Avatar and spirited away Narrative synopsis of Avatar and Spirited away Avatar Avatar falls under the category of narratives in which the other world exists outside the earth. The story is plotted in and around 22nd century when human has over exploited the natural resources and are bond to live with masks. The ordinary world is futuristic earth suffering because of their greed. And the special unknown world is Pandora, a planet rich in resources. Human has set their mercenary camp to provide support to mining of mineral, which is life support resource of Pandora. The story is: Beginning: -‐ Jake a handicapped soldier called by a mercenary army for the mission of Pandora and was transferred into new body of avatar in which he can walk run explore and have fun. There he meets his mentor, Grace. Jack with Grace and team entered in the land of Pandora and got attacked by animals. Jack got separated from the troop, left alone in jungle. Neytiri saved him and with the call of nature ” seed of scared tree” she took him to the Navi. Initiation: Tribe accepted him, let him enter their secret world and taught him. Coming back and forth from avatar to soldier on mission and soldier to avatar. Jake enjoyed the world of Navi and falls in love with Neytiri. At the same time he shared the secrets at camp. Unraveling and fall in action:-‐ It began with the first attack and one hour negotiation time avatar got after first attack to convince them to leave the home tree. Which they refused and decided to fight. Avatar lost his trust in people, wanted to help but got disconnected to Navi. Jake with his team escaped from camp to help Navi. Resolution: -‐ Avatar went back, gathered them for fight. Won the fight but got heavily injured. Cured By Navi people. Reborn got his leg for rest of his life as Avatar. As a punishment send the army back to earth. Spirited Away It is story of a spirit world existing somewhere in japan. The protagonist is a small girl named chihiru who is unhappy to shift her house. In her way to new house her father take a wrong turn and ended up in an amusement park with no one around. The goes inside instead of several refusals from chihiru. Chihiru followed them and ends up in a small town within park, which turns into a spirit world at night.


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Beginning: -‐ Chihiru a small girl is upset because of shifting her house like small children as they are attached to their little world and don’t like to leave it. On their way to new house her father take a wrong turn and stop in front of a dead end which seems to be an amusement park to them. Chihiru hesitate and refuse to go but parents continue. Ultimately she followed them. They entered a city with in park with no people but lots of food they start eating chihiru refuses to eat and goes to street to wonder around. Initiation: When return she saw her parents turned into pig. She runs to get out but stop by magical power of spirit world. While running on street in order to find a way out she meet Hakku who instructed her to leave the city before night. Chihiru was unable to find the way out and started getting disappear. Hakku help her and gave her something to eat in order to prevent her vanishing. He helped her to cross the bridge. Chihiru follows Hakku instruction and meet Kamaji and Lin. She then meet Yubaba and get a job in spirit bath house, while singing contract Yubaba changes her name to Sen. Lin help her to settle in bath-‐house. At bath house she provide her service to a polluted river spirit who reward her with a medicine, at the same time she also allow a lonely spirit No face to enter. No-‐face creates a mess in bath house by engulfing the worker and food. She cures him by sharing her half medicine. Unraveling and fall in action: chihiru see bird like thing attaching Hakku. She followed it and reaches yubaba office and open the gate for Hakku, Hakku enters severely injured. One paper bird stick to her cloth, while searching Hakku she meet Yubaba’s son. The paper bird turn into Zeniba Yubaba’s sister who turn the son into bee. Chihiru run to find Hakku and find him injured in Kamaji place. Chihiru cure Hakku by feeding him half medicine which she keep for her parents, -‐Hakku vomit the Zeniba seal but as he is week Chihiru decide to go to Zeniba to return the seal, Kamaji provide her ticket to train. :-‐ she return Zeniba her belonging and return back to spirit world . On reaching bath house Yubaba give her a test after which she can take her parents back home, she passed. Resolution: -‐ She was told that her parents are at the gate from where she entered. While returning she remember about her childhood, which make Hakku remember that he is a river spirit. She goes back to human world with her parents.

10 Narrative Analysis Of Film Representing Other World Narrative analysis through Joseph Campbell Hero’s Journey Avatar

Avatar story in the above analysis perfectly fits into a hero’s journey, where all the stages are designed accurately in accordance with the Jake “the Hero” except the return part where instead of him the army and mining troop are sent back to earth but even in this situation the evil which was their in the beginning of narrative return back, which fulfills the demands of situation and satisfy an audience. The hero in the beginning is handicapped and as he is already suffering from lack create sympathy, which rejoice when he got leg in his Avatar form. When he precedes the journey he encounter challenges of Navi and every challenge seems bigger than the earlier one. Other than that the surprised element is balanced by providing equal power to audience. There are some part of narrative where audience known what going to happen before the reaction of hero, which has provided additional command to audience that they know this other world well for example the audience know about the attack before Jake wake up. Which seems to be an intelligent take to narrate the story.

Hero a handicapped

soldier Called on a mission to

Pandora Jake doesn't refuses but

Grace refuses to take him as he lack tranning and have no

knowledge of Pandora

Grace mentor him and introduce him to his avatar and pandora

Lost and got attacked by animals, saved by Neytiri ( heroin). She bring him to the Navi ( tribe). he learn the

way of navi.

Quaritch offer jake real lag in exchange of information of Navi and announces the attack. He tried to stop him and later tried to convince Navi to leave. But

failed

Avatar escape from camp to Xight for Pandora. he capture Toruk . Which give him the regard of Toruk Makto t"he

leader

he leads the Navi in battle against human

Navi wins the Xight, avatar got injured and saved by

Navi

He transformed completely to Omaticaya. Retain in Navi and send the mercenary to earth


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• Narrative analysis of Spirited away: -‐

The protagonist of the story spirited away is a little girl who enters the world of spirit inherited in a barren city. She is worried, unhappy and not so adventurous girl, not so much hero like, but still the analyses of the story falls under the joseph Campbell theory of Hero’s journey. The only stage where we can say it slightly differ is call for adventure where she instead of getting a call for adventure she fall into it. In this narrative various discourse are used to symbolize the act of hero like providing bath to polluted river spirit can be symbolic to purifying the water sources. So, different symbolic act are used to depict the heroic job rather than involving the character into fight. In the above two stories we saw both the movies have different narrative and have portrayed the other world in the different ways. Even the protagonist in the story differs a lot in their character; age and thinking but still both have followed the same narrative structure of hero’s journey

Hero A little girl unhappy with her house shift.

Turn to a wrong path and enter a spirit worldEnter

Meet Hakku who instructed her to leave the place and later

mentor her.

Hakku helped her to cross the bridge and enter the

bath house

Chihiru meet Kamaji, Len and Yubaba. Get job in bath house.

where she provide service to river spirit who gave her medicene and also let no face enter the bath

house.

Hakku get injured. and Yubaba's sister convert her son to bee

Chihiru feed hakku half of the medicine. he vomite Zeniba's golden seal, get cure but too sick and week to return it..

She goes to Zeniba's place to return her golden seal.

return to spirit world ,pass the test conducted by Yubaba and rescue her

parents.

Return to human world with her Parent.


Narrative analysis through Propp’s function: -‐ Propp’s functions are mainly designed for analysis of fairy tales. None of the movie Avatar or spirited away belong to fairy tales but yet as they are fiction, it would be interesting to analyze them through propp’s function. Avatar Propp’s function RECONNAISANCE (ε): -‐ Jake is called on a mission to replace his dead brother. The mission seeks information about the planet Pandora. DEPARTURE (↑):-‐ Jake leaves for planet Pandora LACK (a): -‐ Jake is a handicapped ex-‐ marine, who can regain his limbs after operation but doesn’t have enough money to operate. SPATIAL TRANSFERENCE BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS (G): -‐ Jake is transferred from his human body to Avatar body. LIQUIDATED (K): -‐ In Avatar body Jake can feel his leg and is able to run and jump. But this is partial liquidation as he comes back to his initial state when he is human. INTERDICTION (γ): – Grace warns Jake and tells him to stay close. VIOLATION (δ): -‐ out of curiosity and boredom he moves inside and start exploring leading to animal attack PROVISION OR RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT (F):-‐ When attacked by animals in jungle Jake receives help from Neytiri due to belief on magical or super power element called Eywa , whose seeds attach on to Jake projecting that he is the selected one. FIRST FUNCTION OF DONOR (D): -‐ Jake is tested in Navi, trained and let to learn the way of living in Navi. HERO’S REACTION (E): -‐ Jake realizes the importance of nature in Navi people and himself loves it. DELIVERY (ζ): -‐ he communicates the Navi information in camp. VILLIANY (A): -‐ the army attacks Navi


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DIFFICULT TASK (M) : -‐ Jake gets an hour to convince them to vacate the place but fails. UNRECOCNIZED ARRIVAL (0): -‐ Jake is forcefully brought back to camp BEGINNING COUNTER-‐ACTION (C): -‐ Jake with Grace and team escape from camp. SOLUTION (N): -‐ Jake finds a way to get recognized in Navi and conquers Toruk RECOGNITION (Q): -‐ Toruk gives him the regard of leader as Toruk Makto. STRUGGLE (H): -‐ He joins the kingdoms at Pandora and involves in direct combat with army. PROVISION OR RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT (F): -‐ Gets help from Eywa to win the war BRANDING (J): -‐ Jake gets injured and is about to die when Neytiri saves him in his human form. VICTORY (I): -‐ Navi win the war TRANSFIGURATION (T): -‐ Jake is transformed into Avatar completely LIQUIDATED (K): -‐ Jake gains his limb when completely transformed into avatar form. PUNISHMENT (U): -‐ Humans who are at the other side in the war were sent back to earth. So the story of Avatar is ε↑aGKγδFDEζAMOCNQHFJITKU

14 Narrative Analysis Of Film Representing Other World Spirited away: -‐ INTERDICTION (γ): -‐ Chihiru has this inner call not to go inside that Amusement park VIOLATION (δ): -‐ Chihiru parents don’t listen to her and go inside, Chihiru follows them. DEPARTURE (↑): -‐ Chihiru enters a Spirit world.

ABSENTATION (β): -‐ Chihiru’s parents transform into pigs and she loses them in the spirit world. SPATIAL TRANSFERENCE BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS (G):-‐ With night, the city inside that Amusement park turns into a spirit world. TRICKERY (η): -‐ Yubaba, owner of the bath house in the spirit world signs a contract and changes her named to Sen. She used to do it to every person as the servant who forgets his /her name, their identity will be lost and they permanently serve her HERO’S REACTION (E): -‐ Chihiru works at the bathhouse and tries to serves well and find out a way to get her parents back. PROVISION OR RECEIPT OF A MAGICAL AGENT (F): -‐ At the bathhouse she serves a polluted river spirit who gives her a medicinal cake. STRUGGLE (H): -‐ In her attempt to get her parents back she helps Hakku and No-‐face and goes to Zeniba’s house to return the golden seal. VICTORY (I): -‐ She comes back to spirit world with Yebaba’s son. In return of which Yubaba supposed to give her parents back. She conditions it on passing a test. DIFFICULT TASK (M): -‐ Yubaba asks her to identify her parent’s in-‐group of pig. SOLUTION (N): -‐ She identifies none of pig as her parent and passes the test. RETURN (↓): -‐ Chihiru with her parents returns back to human world. So the story of Spirited away is γ δ↑βGηEFHIMN↓


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Conclusion: -‐ The existence of another world has always amazed human race since ages and will continue to be. This has always been one of the favorite themes of many storytellers. Also, these stories have something which is different from the normal routine life for their audience which excites and amaze them. These stories covers the journey of protagonists who at the starting of the story are common people, as everyone of us, but certain circumstances leads them into an unknown world, either intentionally or accidently and they undergo an adventurous journey, struggling and facing the challenges in the process and for the community survival, and finally returns overcoming all challenges and evils. This is the audience connect of these stories which binds the audience and they imagine themselves to be in place of the protagonist. . Irrespective of the character’s personality this bond which link audience with the character is their human background, and the real life difficulties we face in our journey of life, which make them believe in it. Almost every story has similar journey and pattern which is illustrated in the above paras as The Hero’s journey by Joseph Campbell. The plot and pattern varies with the narrative origin, time period when it is constructed and area where it is developed. The hero characteristic also differs from story to story. The sole, which remains the same or related is the journey, which he/she takes.

16 Narrative Analysis Of Film Representing Other World Reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJwPIiUPfK4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCDh5SdxAdo http://jlr.sagepub.com/content/35/1/591.full.pdf http://thewritelife.com/worldbuilding/ Vogler, Christopher. The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers. Studio City, C https://sarapangadp.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/et-‐20-‐spirited-‐away-‐as-‐heros-‐journey-‐comparison/

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