Narrative Theorists

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The evaluation question that this post relates to is:

 

How did you attract/address your audience? (Enigma is important to discuss re attracting your audience.)

Task: Create a prezi with a thriller film embedded to outline Strauss, Propp and Todorov's theories on narrative.When discussing Levi-Strauss's theory of binary opposites, think about the following:
1. What is the genre of the film? How are the genre signifiers introduced?
2. Who are the main characters and how are they opposed?
3.What are the main themes of the film and how are they introduced?
4.  How is the narrative organised to show conflict?
YOU MUST illustrate your answers with clips or images from the sequence

 


Narrative Conflict  Claude Levi-Strauss (20th century theorist) suggested that all narratives are moved forwards by conflict and that this conflict is caused by opposing forces for example: rich and poor, love and hate etc. Also opposites within a storyline are extremely important in a successful story, as drawing two different worlds or characters together inspires conflict and interesting narrative. 

Roland Barthes suggested that there are codes within a film which serves to engage audiences. These codes are as follows:
The Enigma Code generates and controls what information a viewer is aware of within a narrative and holds their interest throughout the film. It introduces problems or puzzles which must be solved as well as mysteries which must be uncovered.

The Action Code refers to events that occur which the viewer immediately can identify with as being significant to the development of the narrative. Resolution may also be achieved through action.

Propp Narrative Devices:

Vladimir Propp also proposes narrative structure which is similar to Todorov's, but slightly more detailed and complex:

• Preparation - Introduction to the story.
• Complication - Keys or clues to the direction of the story.
• Transference - The donor events.
• Struggle - Dealing with complications.
• Return - Back to 'home' however there are still issues remaining.
• Recognition - Loose ends are tied up.

Propp's also looks at character theory which identifies more character roles than the previous antagonist and protagonist. Propp identifies seven main roles:

• The villain
• The donor - Prepares the hero or gives them a magical object
• The (magical) helper - Helps the here throughout the quest
• The princess - Object of the heroes desire, sought for during the narrative
• The princess's father - Rewards the hero
• The dispatcher - Character to send the hero off
• The hero (victim/seeker) - Reacts to the donor, weds the princess, completes the quest
• The false hero, usurper or anti hero