By Harry Lee

Narrative Theory

What is Narrative?

Refers to the way the film’s story is structured – the way in which events are ordered and

revealed.

Roland Barthe’s Enigma Code Roland Barthes Described Five Codes which are woven into any narrative, these include:

-The Hermeneutic Code,

Todorov's Narrative Structure

Todorov thinks that most story’s or plot lines follow the same pattern or path.There are 5 stages in this pattern:

Todorov proposed a basic structure for all narratives, he stated that films and programmes begin with an equilibrium, this is where the story is at its most calm period, then agents of disruption causes disequilibrium, this is where the story is at an unsettling and ‘disquiet’ period. This is then follow by a renewed state of peace and harmony for the protagonists and a new equilibrium brings brings the chaos to an end.

Film: Jennifer’s body1.Equilibrium- Jennifer and Needy are two high school teenagers, Jennifer is the ‘attractive girl who gets all the boys’. Needy is the girl who is classed as a ‘nerd’.

2.Disruption of the equilibrium – Jennifer gets goes away with other boys, returns but has turned into a succubus(demon).

3 .Recognition of the disruption – Jennifer starts to kill all the boys at her and Needy’s high school, after killing all of them, she starts to hunt Chip (Needy’s boyfriend).

4. Repairing the damage caused by disruption - Needy tries to stop Jennifer from killing her boyfriend.

5. New equilibrium - Needy has created problems for herself as she fails to save her boyfriend and ends up in a mental institution due to no one believing her about Jennifer being a succumbs.

Example of Todorov’s Theory

Propp’s character types and narrative functions

Vladimir Propp studied hundred of folktales and found they contained 8 character types and 31 functions that move the story along. The 31 functions include events such as :-The hero is prohibited from doing something-The villain learns something about the victim-The villain is punished-The hero is awarded for his actions (Depending on what type of film it is)-Etc…

Character Type Person in the film

Hero Ig Perrish

Villain Lee Tourneau

Donor Dale Williams

Helper Glenna Shepherd

Princess Merrin Williams

Princess’ Father Dale Williams

Dispatcher n/a

False hero Terry Perish

Example of Propp’s TheoryFilm: Horns

Levi-Strauss’ Binary Oppositions

Levi-Strauss suggested that binary oppositions are key to the meaning making in narrative - he argued the constant creation of conflict and opposition narrative, and that narrative can only end on a resolution of conflict.

Note:It is important to note that we judge one half of each binary opposition in a more negative way. There the meanings of the binaries are ideological as they are culturally constructed.