2. Narrative
• In a media piece, the narrative is the organisation of
events that are shown to the audience.
• There are many different types of narrative. They are;
closed/open narrative, non
linear, flashback, foreshadowing, binary oppositions,
3. Tvzetan Todorov
• A philosopher who writes essays and books on this
theories through studying many folk tales. He’s published
21 books focusing on historical matters.
• Todorov’s theory implies that every narrative must have a
structure split into three. Starting with an equilibrium, then
a disruption to the equilibrium and finally the equilibrium
returns.
4. Todorov’s narrative approach
• His theory is that films start with an equilibrium with
everything balanced.
• Then during the middle there is a disturbance to the
equilibrium which is the disequilibrium.
• Finally at the end the equilibrium is restored which is the
new equilibrium.
5. Example of a film using Todorov’s
narrative
The Shining
Point: start of film has balanced equilibrium
Explanation: the character is happy and there is nothing busy
going on
Effect: calm and steady atmosphere
Point: middle of film has disrupted equilibrium
Explanation: faster pace and audience is more drawn
Effect: eventful and unsettling atmosphere
Point: at the end equilibrium is restored
Explanation: the film has gone back to happy characters
Effect: calm and stable atmosphere
6. Claude Levi-Strauss
• French ethnologist and anthropologist.
• He dealt with people’s race, origins and their unique
characteristics.
• He’s published many books on anthropology and the
community.
• He also researched myths of tribal cultures.
7. Levi-Strauss’ narrative theory
• The narrative is centred on the forces of opposites and
the purpose of conflict.
• Consequently, after researching many myths
worldwide, Levi-Strauss concluded that we understand
the world, events and people by using and observing
binary opposites.
• Binary opposition helps us to contemplate how ideas are
formed.
8. Example of a film using Levi-Strauss’
narrative
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• Point: Levi-Strauss’ narrative is being used in this film
• Explanation: the girl is alive and dies within seconds
• Effect: shows audience that life can be snatched from you at any time which engages
the audience because the death is realistic.
9. Vladimir Propp
• A Russian Soviet formalist professor
• He examined the plot of Russian folktales to recognise
aspects of narrative.
• He published a Russian book in 1928 called Morphology
of the Folktale signifying key elements such as
morphology.
10. Propp’s narrative theory
• After all his research he discovered that in stories there
are 8 types of characters always present; the villain, the
donor, the princess, the helper, the dishonest hero, the
dispatcher, the hero and the father.
• This is very ambiguous as he didn’t confirm that the 8
characters types were different people; i.e. the father
could be the dishonest hero as well.
• He claimed there were 8 character types and 31 they ever
do.
11. Examples of a film using Propp’s narrative
• Point: close up is used of the • Point: close up shot is • Point: the woman is holding a
woman’s face used of the news paper knife
• Explanation: her mouth and article • Explanation: this is an
eyes are wide open to • Explanation: makes the example of Propp’s narrative
emphasise revenge woman seem dangerous as she seems like the villain of
• Effect: close up enables you • Effect: the audience the film
to see the facial expressions already has a perception of • Effect: the audience already
which allows the audience to the character, which is that has the perception that she is
immediately distinguish the she could commit crime. dangerous and out of control.
character’s role in the film The atmosphere also becomes
intense.
