NARRATIVE
THEORY
INTRODUCTION TO NARRATIVE
Narrative explores the conventions of:
• Genre
• Character
Includes information
not shown
• Form
• Time
Narrative = how is the story told? (as events unfold)
The key events
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Linear Structure:
Beginning
(Audience introduced to
Middle
(Events –story builds)
End
(Closure)
characters and story)
Circular Structure:
The narrative begins at the end (or middle of events ) often
beginning with the climax. The audience are taking on a journey
arriving back where they started. (e.g. Pulp fiction)
Open Structure:
The audience are left to wonder what happens next and make sense of it
themselves (e.g. “Inception”)
?
Closed Structure:
Definite ending – clear conclusion for the audience
!
COMPLEX NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Today’s narratives have become increasingly complex as producers know that
audiences have a greater sense of media literacy when it comes to making meaning
of the text and reading the signs. There are often numerous plot twists and surprises
that keep the audience intrigued with carefully spun storylines.
Films such as “Memento” (Nolan,2000) which weaves the story in reverse gives the
audience a similar experience to the protagonist who has short term memory loss, as
they try and fit the clues together through the use of restricted narrative.
Unrestricted Narrative: What the audience are assumed to know
e.g. In a thriller there will be a crime so they will be expecting it
Restricted Narrative: The information that is withheld from the audience
Now test your knowledge:
http://quizlet.com/4162490/narrative-theorists-flash-cards/
An Ellipsis
An ellipsis is a break in time –it would be difficult to show everything that
happens in a film in 'real-time’.
Cutting out intervening time between shots:
Man gets out of bed, seen shaving, next scene eats breakfast, leaves
house. We understand time has been cut out of a morning routine.
-consider how narratives have been played with in recent years –
e.g. Pulp Fiction, (episodic scenes in a seemingly random order)
Memento (film that plays in reverse –reflecting the confusions of the
main character who has short-term loss)
NARRATIVE
PLOT
STORY
LINEAR
CIRCULAR
OPEN
CLOSED
RESTRICTED
UNRESTRICTED
“LIFE” QUESTIONS
How are we introduced to the main character?
What information do we learn about him?
How do we learn this information?
How many storylines are there (is there a subplot)?
What is the overall storyline or narrative?
Put the sequence of events into a chronological timeline
Does it follow Todorov’s theory of narrative?
Is the structure linear or circular, open or closed?
There are many theorists who use theory to explain narrative structure. We
shall be studying four of them:
• Vladimir Propp
• Roland Barthes
• Tzvetan Todorov
• Claude Levi-Strauss
NARRATIVE THEORISTS
*
TODOROV
Todorov describes narrative as going from equilibrium to disequilibrium back to an
altered equilibrium
TODOROV
Equilibrium: (sets the scene)
Everyday Life
Disruption: (complication)
Something happens to alter the equilibrium
Conflict: (climax)
Trying to solve the problem (seek resolution)
Resolution:
Problem is sorted
New Equilibrium: (satisfactory end)
Back to normal (but never the same)- a new normal
LEVI-STRAUSS
Levi-Strauss describes narrative as created by constant conflict of binary opposites
Love – Hate
Black – White
Man – Nature
Light – Darkness
Peace – War
Protagonist –Antagonist
Movement – Stillness
Civilized – Savage Young – Old
Control – Panic
Strong – Weak
Wealth – Poverty
Mankind – Aliens Humans – Technology
Ignorance - Wisdom
Man – Woman
“Sat Wars” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” “Avatar” “District 9”
“The Searchers” “Slumdog Millionaire”
Can you match them?
BARTHES
Barthes describes narrative as a series of codes that are read and interpreted by the
audience
BARTHES CODES
Action Code: (proairetic code)
something the audience knows and doesn't need explaining e.g. someone being wheeled
out on a stretcher tells us they are going to hospital
Enigma Code: (hermeneutic code)
something hidden from the audience (creates intrigue)
Semic Code:
something that the audience recognize through connotations
Symbolic Code:
Something that symbolizes a more abstract concept e.g. a darker than usual room of a
murder scene could symbolize the depth of darkness and depravity
Cultural Code: (referential code)
Something that is read with understanding due to cultural awareness (e.g. youth culture
use certain words that are understood by that culture)
PROPP
Propp’s theory of narrative is driven by the characters using a set of narrative
functions
Background: 1895 —1970 Vladimir Propp was a Russian scholar who analysed
Russian folk tales (fairy tales) by their narrative structure.
Often used in Hollywood or Disney Films (with a happy ever after)
He identifies 8 ‘types’ of characters:
• Hero (protagonist) has a mission of quest to complete
(e.g.Luke Skywalker)
• Villain (antagonist) tries to stop the hero
(Darth Vader)
• Princess love interest and/or object of the quest
(Princess Leia)
• Father person with knowledge
(Leia)
• Dispatcher sends the hero off
(Obi Wan)
• Donor gives the hero something to help him
(Obi Wan)
• Sidekick the helper (not as handsome as hero) –poss. comic relief (C3P0+)
• False hero villain that pretends to be good in order to trick the hero
Propp's 31 narrative functions
In addition to the characters Propp he says that it is narratemes (i.e. narrative
functions)-events that drive the narrative forward:
1.
2.
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31.
Family member leaves home -Hero introduced
Hero given a warning (e.g. not to do something)
Hero ignores the warning
Villain appears (e.g. trying to find jewels / children etc.)
Villain gains information about the victim
Villain attempts to trick the victim (guise / trickery)
Victim/ Hero is fooled by the villain
Villain causes harm or injury
Misfortune or lack is made known to Hero
Hero decides on counter-action
Hero leaves home
Hero is tested by the Donor
Hero responds to the test
Hero acquires a magical agent
Location / hero change to the place of lack
Hero and Villain in direct combat
Hero is branded (wounded / scarred)
Villain is defeated (killed)
Lack is met -resolution
Hero goes back home
Hero is pursued
Hero is rescued
Unrecognised Hero arrives home / another country
False hero claims Hero’s success
Difficult task is set
Hero resolves the task
True Hero now recognised
False hero exposed
Hero given transformation (new appearance e.g. new clothes)
Villain is punished
Hero marries and ascends the throne
COMPARISON & CONTRAST WORDS
Similarly
unlike
In contrast
different to
compared to
whereas
on the one hand
on the other hand
Although
however
juxta posed
alike
while
but