Researching & Applying Narrative Theory

Applying Vladimir Propp’s Theory- 7 broad character types

Vladimir Propp developed a character theory for studying media texts which indicates that there are 7 broad character types.

1.Hero – Leads the narrative, is usually looking for something or trying to solve something. Does not have to be a male character!2.Villain – Conflicts with the hero.3.Heroine – Is usually some sort if prize or reward for the hero. N.B. if your hero is a female, your heroine can be male.4.Father – An authoritative figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing their quest. That reward can be a prince/princess, or an object of value.5.Helper – Helps the hero – often acts as sidekick.6.Donor – Gives the hero something – a clue, a talisman, a special power – which helps them complete their quest.7.Mentor – Teaches and guides the hero.

Complexities 1.These roles could sometimes be distributed among various characters, as the hero kills the villain dragon, and the dragon's sisters take on the villainous role of chasing him.

2.Conversely, one character could engage in acts as more than one role, as a father could send his son on the quest and give him a sword, acting as both dispatcher and donor.

• The Villain Darth Vader• The Donor Obi Won Kenobe• The Helper Han Solo • The Princess Princess Leah• The Dispatcher R2 - D2• The Hero Luke Skywalker• The False Hero -Darth Vader (Luke’s

dad)

Propp’s Character Archetypes Applied to Star Wars & Sherk

• Hero – Shrek• Villain – Lord Farquaad• Heroine – Princess Fiona• Father – Lord Farquaad (In

this instance)• Helper – Donkey• Donor – Dragon• Mentor – None as such.

Using examples from your own planned production, what archetypical types do your group plan to feature and which specific film techniques have you elected to use to help construct desired meanings?

Franco-Bulgarian philosopher who coined the term narratology meaning to look at units of meaning in a text. Todorov felt that all stories start in a state of equilibrium, which is then disrupted, setting in a motion a chain of events. The resolution of the story is the creation of new/different equilibrium.  A film that follow these steps perfectly is Die Hard.

1. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is coming home to his family for Christmas and all is calm. (The equilibrium)2. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his team of terrorists take over the nakatomi building which is hosting a Christmas part of which McClane and his wife are attending.3. (2 points of recognition) McClane isn't in the room when the terrorists storm in so is able to move up the building when he hears screaming. People outside of the building realise there's a disruption when a police man's car is shot at from the building.4. The police try sending in a SWAT team in which fails. The situation is solved by John McClane throwing Gruber out of a high floor window which kills him.5. The equilibrium is restored when the police got McClane, his wife and the other hostages out of the building, and the McClanes leave in a police car.

Applying The Theory of Todorov

Applying The Theory of Todorov

With reference to the content of your script /storyboard, what stages of Todorov theory has been applied?

Although, Todorov's theory is so flexible it could be argued that Fight Club could fit in to the theory. Every film unless it is in a sequel should end with a new equilibrium. Star Wars is a sequel, and even that has a new equilibrium at the end of every flim.

My film will follow Todorov's theory.

1. Clarke Hammer living his everyday life and still mourning his brothers death. (Equilibrium)2. Starts looking into his death more and asking questions. (The disruption)3. He tries to avenge his brother's death (acknowledgement of the disruption)4. Attempts to kill the Home Secterary (Attempt to repair)5. Hammer's dead, and the Home Secretary resigns (New equilibrium)

Binary Oppositions

Hero Coward

Natural Artificial

Good Evil

Male Female

Rational Emotional

Strong Weak

Day Night

• Levi-Strauss looked at narrative structure and themes in texts in terms of Binary Oppositions.

• Binary oppositions are opposite values that reveal the structure of media texts.

• It is important to look at the detonations (literal meaning) and connotations (cultural significance) of the sign.

Looking at the narrative structure of your own productions, if and what binary oppositions are arguably present in your opening 2 minutes?

Restricted or /and Omniscient Narration (Bonus Marks)

• Restricted narration –Audiences see an event through the viewpoint of only one person. This can add surprise as audiences only discover events alongside the character seeing the film’s events through his/her eyes. A camerawork technique such as extensive use of ‘point-of-view’ shots is commonly used. It is typically used in the detective genre as a way of increasing the mystery and impenetrability of the story.

• Omniscient narration –Audiences see events from

multiple viewpoints adding suspense as audiences are privy to information other characters are not. This technique is often used in melodrama and is intended to introduce a discrepancy between the information held by the characters and that of the spectator. This is useful in increasing the dramatic suspense crucial to melodrama. Narrative information conveyed from a wide variety of sources by means of camerawork; the camera freely moves from one character to another so the events can be seen through the eyes of different characters.

Scream (Wes Craven 1996)Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) in ‘Scream’ is a good example of omniscient narration. As in ‘most horror genre films we know more than the victim does. (He’s behind you!)

Did your group opt for a restricted or omniscient narration and to what extent was your decision informed by your chosen genre?

Tim O’Sullivan (1998) Media texts offer a way of telling stories about ourselves – not usually our own personal stories, but the story of us as a culture or set of cultures. Through careful mediation, media texts offer a way of telling stories about ourselves (as a culture) – these are ideologies

Applying Tim Sullivan’s ideas– Which specific dominant ideologies does your plan to use, develop or challenge

Sherk: Moral ideologies , such as, ' it's not what's on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts.' It also emphasizes companionship, that friends should always stick together.

-when things go wrong/unplanned you must be responsible and deal with the situation as appropriate. Making an unplanned relationship work with your child’s biological parent because this is the ‘right’ thing to do

-pursue arelationship withideal partnerbecause love isImportant(sometimes youhave to sacrificeother things in lifefor this). Follow yourexpected role in life.

Narrative Analysis

Narrative Theory

Propp’s Character Archetypes

Applying The Theory of Todorov

Binary Oppositions

Restricted or /and Omniscient

Psycho None established in the opening 2 minutes, but music combined with the the slicing of titles connotates villainy

Opens up with an apparent equilibrium – established shot of the city, nothing seems a mist. Nice sunny day

Calmer music Vs deep piercing sonic exaggerated sounds

Not established

Narrative Theory

Propp’s Character Archetypes

Applying The Theory of Todorov

Levi-Strauss Binary Oppositions

Restricted or /and Omniscient

Film X

Film 1

Film 2

Film 3