Ja'van Kinghorn AS Media 2013: Narrative Theory

Narrative Theory

In As Media, we have been investigating into the world of narration and stories. We have looked at the differences between a 'Narrative' and a 'Story' and how a story is set out. We learnt how these stories are set out by looking into 5 different theories from 5 different theorist.

Narrative: The way in which a story is meant to be told. It is an organised way of how the story will be told by or how something is set out to be.

Story: A sequence of events which is know correctly as the plot.

How to analyse a Narrative?

When analysing a narrative, we analyse the construction of the story (i.e.: the way it has been put together, not the story itself). You also need to consider what the story is about in its most basic term, the 'Theme'.

Narrative Theories

Theory 1:

Tzvetan Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov believed that a story is always told in the same 5 order:

Equilibrium- where everything is balanced or at the normal

Disequilibrium- Something comes along to disrupt the equilibrium

Recognition of disruption- Something or someone notices the problem

Attempt to repair disruption- Something or someone does something to try and solve the problem

Resolution/ New equilibrium- Start of a new equilibrium or back to the normal

Theory 2:

Syd Field

Syd Field believed that a story is made out of 3 act and within each act there are parts, in act 1 it is 'Set-Up', Act 2 is the 'Confrontation' and act 3 the 'Resolution'. Also in this paradigm there are two plot points, these plot points change the plot of the story into another direction.

Act 1:

This part of the story introduces the main character, the dramatic premise, and the dramatic situation.

Main character- the person in the story who has a need/objective to fulfill and whose actions drive the story

Dramatic premise- what the story is about

Dramatic situation- the circumstances surrounding the action

Act 2:

Obstacles--In the second act, the main character encounters obstacle after obstacle that prevent him from achieving his dramatic need.

First Culmination--a point just before the halfway point of the film where the main character seems close to achieving his or her goal/objective. Then, everything falls apart, leading to the midpoint.

Midpoint--a point approximately halfway through the film where the main character reaches his/her lowest point and seems furthest from fulfilling the dramatic need or objective.

Act 3:

Climax (Second Culmination)--The point at which the plot reaches its maximum tension and the forces in opposition confront each other at a peak of physical or emotional action.

Denouement--The brief period of calm at the end of a film where a state of equilibrium returns.

Theory 3:

Vladimir Propp

Vladimir says that each story will always have 8 character types in the story, these character types are:

The Hero- leads the narrative, usually looking for something

(Batman)

The Villain- Conflict with the hero, they always try to stop them

(Joker from Batman)

The Donor- Gives the hero something to help them to complete the quest

(Uncle Ben from Spider-man)

The Princess- Prize or reward for the hero

(Princess Fiona from Shrek)

The Helper- Helps the hero on his journey, usually in the form of a side-kick

(Robin from Batman)

The Princess' Father- Offers a reward to the hero

(The Sultan)

The False Hero- Takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess

(Prince Charming from Shrek)

The Dispatcher- Character who sends the hero on his journey

(Lord farquaad from Shrek)

Theory 4:

Claude Levi- Strauss

Claude believes that every story is set around a 'Binary Oppositions'. A Binary Oppositions is a conflict between two qualities or terms (i.e.: Good vs Evil, Boy vs Girls, etc), Every story must have a binary oppositions.

Theory 5:

Roland Barthes

Roland's theory was that narrative works with five different codes which becomes active to the audience, these codes are:

Action- Narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action (i.e.: Shoot-out)

Enigma- Narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved. Works to delay the story's ending pleasurably

Symbolic- Connotation, the descriptions that is linked or associated with specific symbols

Semantic- Denotation, the meaning that is linked or associated with the narrative

Cultural- Narrative device which the audience can recognise as being part of a culture (i.e.: a 'made man' in a gangster film is part of the mafia culture).

Jelly Babies:

Looking into these narrative theory, mainly focusing on Tzvetan Todorov's theory, we wanted to create our own little story and use each dilemma of Tzvetan Todorov's theory within it. These jelly babies will tell a story by using Todorov's theory: An Equilibrium, Disequilibrium, New equilibrium.