1. TZVETAN TODOROV
Todorov is a theorist in media, he writes about narrative structure. He believes that all
narrative structures start from a ‘equilibrium’ then it goes to a ‘disequilibrium’ and finally it
resolves its self to a ‘equilibrium’ again. But in-between there were 2 factors that was part of
the structure, Acknowledgment of disequilibrium and Attempted repair disequilibrium.
Equilibrium means a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced. Disequilibrium
means a loss or lack of balance or stability.
So during these steps the character tries to understand what’s going on, what’s right and
wrong. After the character would try to resolve or repair the situation leading to balance
again. So: All is well -> Disruption -> Closure. For example this structure is used in the movie
Taken because it follows these steps. But some movies don’t follow this structure, such movies
as Pulp fiction where the beginning opens up with the ending.

2. VLADIMIR PROPP
Vladimir Propp is also a theorist in media and his view on a narrative structure is shown in the
table below. He believes that everyone in every movie has one of those roles in the table. For
example, the movie ‘James Bond’ James is the Protagonist; there are many antagonists; James
always gets a girl; Q helps is him along the way and M is the donor.
Character type
Roles within narrative
Protagonist (or hero)
This character leads the narrative, usually is looking for someone in particular or is on a quest. This
character could also be trying to solve something like a mystery and this character does not always
have to be male.
Antagonist (or villain)
This character normally is getting in the way of the protagonist.
Heroine
She is usually some sort of prize or reward for the hero. So if your hero is female then the heroine
can be male.
Father
This character is an authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing the task or
quest. That reward could be a prince or princess or something better.
Helper
This character helps the hero and is often a sidekick
Donor
This character helps the hero subtly by giving him something like a clue, a talisman or a special power.
This helps them complete their quest
Mentor
A mentor helps and guides the hero, teaching them important skills throughout their quest or task.

3. Claude Levi-Strauss
Claude believed in binary opposites. For example: Good & Bad, Light &
Dark, Day & Night and etc. This theory shows how each main role had an
equal opposite. This also shows us a clear understanding of each force
and how each character is driven. This makes the narrative move
forward until it’s been resolved.
Film
Opposite 1
Opposite 2
Explanation
Good – Rob Pattinson
Evil – Christoph Waltz
Both male, however
one represents evil
and the other
represents good.
Innocence – Jennifer
Lawrence
Violation – Max
Thieriot
Both characters are
opposite sex,
however, one is
innocent and the
other one is violent
(evil).
Hero – Andrew
Garfield
Villain – Rhys Ifans
As a usual action
movie, there’s
good vs bad, and
there’s also hero
vs the villain.

4. Roland Barthes was another Media theorist who came up with the formula of Codes.
There are 5 main codes that he spoke about which played an important part in films
and was basically the story line. These codes were: Enigma code, Action code,
Semantic code, Cultural code and Symbolic code.
The action code is when the character’s
action or behaviour leads to a consequence to
what the audience expects to happen, or what
normally happens in a film.
In these screen grabs, Rose
realises she was wrong and
she wants to be with Jack
and they kiss, just like the
audience would expect them
too.
Roland
Barthes
The semantic code is the meaning
of the objects, characters,
locations. Sometimes we learn this
with experience from a young age,
for example we know the hero will
be a handsome guy, and the villain
would be a unattractive guy.
By enigma code, Barthes means, that
instead of giving the audience answers,
the film just leaves them questioning
making the audience paying more
attention to the film.
For example, in this image from ‘The Lucky
One’, it doesn’t show what the character is
looking at on the laptop screen, making the
audience paying more attention to the film.

5. 
The semantic code is the meaning of the objects, characters,
locations. Sometimes we learn this with experience from a young
age, for example we know the hero will be a handsome guy, and
the villain would be a unattractive guy.
As you can see the hero’s from a young age,
are charming and very handsome, where as
the villains are scary and unattractive.
A symbolic code means the real meaning behind what’s
happening in the scene with the characters by the way their
actions are taken place.
These screenshots are from the movie ‘Fish
Tank’. In this scene Mia is dancing, however the
real meaning behind her dance is freedom.
Dancing is one of her way to feel free.

6.  C u l t u ra l c o d e i s u s e d t o e n h a n c e o u r r e a d i n g a n d
understanding of the text, and the places where the
film is set enhances our understanding even more
stronger. Or even the costumes the characters use,
c a n e n h a n c e t h e a u d i e n c e ’ s k n o w l e d ge .
The screenshots are from the film
‘Pride and Prejudice’, this film is
based on 1813 novel. The setting and
the costumes that the characters
use, demonstrates the type of
building and clothes that were seen
during that time period.