The document discusses various narrative theories including Todorov's 5 stages of narrative, Levi-Strauss' concept of binary opposites, Barthes' codes of narrative including enigma, action, semantic, symbolic and cultural codes, Propp's 7 spheres of action that include hero, villain, dispatcher etc., and terms related to narrative such as diegesis, narrative range, and narrative depth. It also provides examples to illustrate concepts from various films and theories.

1. Assignment 8: Narrative Theory
By:
Marisha Inoke

2. PART A : TODOROV

3. Todorov
• Tzvetan Todorov (born
March 1, 1939) is a
Franco-Bulgarian
philosopher. He has lived
in France since 1963 and
now lives there with his
wife Nancy Huston and
their two children,
writing books and essays
about literary theory,
thought history and
culture theory.

4. Todorov's narrative theory
• Todorov suggested that stories begin with an
equilibrium (or normality).
• This is disrupted by an event which causes a
disequilibrium which then causes other chain
of events to occur.
• In the end the problem is solved and
everything is restored back to its equilibrium.

5. Todorov suggested that there are 5 stages of narrative (with 3
major parts).
THIS ARE THE FIVE STAGES:
• Equilibrium (or normality).
• Disequilibrium (conflict/disruption of
equilibrium by action or event).
• Recognition of Disequilibrium
(disruption/conflict).
• Attempt to repair.
- NEW equilibrium.

6. Equilibrium
NEW
Disequilibrium
equilibrium Todorov’s
narrative
theory
Attempt to Recognitions of
repair Disequilibrium

7. These five stages are familiar to the audience as it
is mainly used in 'mainstream' films.
An example of a film with these five stages is Harold &
Kumar escape from Guantanamo bay.

8. Equilibrium (or normality)
In the beginning of the film everything is at
equilibrium and it's just introducing the two
characters (which are best-friends).

9. Disequilibrium
• Then we have the dis-
equilibrium/disruption caused by an
event that happened on the airplane
where the gests misunderstood for
using a bomb instead of a bong
which he brought onto his flight.
• They both get imprisoned on
suspicions of terrorism. Then soon
after they escape from Guantanamo
bay and try to outrun the authorities.
Throughout the film they experience
one situation after another.

10. Recognition of disequilibrium
Harold & Kumar recognises the dis-
equilibrium and that their both in a serious
situation.

11. Attempt to repair disequilibrium
They both in the end get caught and taken into
interrogation where they are found to be
completely innocent.

12. Equilibrium is restored (NEW
equilibrium)
• In the end they are free
from imprisonment. Kumar
ends up with the groom’s
fiancé (his ex-lover) and flies
to Amsterdam so that
Harold can meet the girl he
had previously met in the
elevator.
• The ending scene is at a new
equilibrium and everything
is back to normal as it is a
happy ending for both
characters.

13. TODOROV TASK 1

14. PART B: LEVI STRAUSS

15. LEVI STRAUSS
• He believed that our world is described in
BINARY OPPOSITES.
• When we look at themes within stories they
consists of differences, contradictions and
conflict or opposites.
BINARY OPPOSITES
Night day
old Young
Good Bad
Boy Girl
Male female

16. Cont.
• Suggests that we are only able to understand
'good' when 'evil' is present. An example of
this is mainly in super-hero films where you
have a binary opposites like the Hero and the
Villain.
• Furthermore he believes that opposition
offers structure to a text.

17. Hero Vs. Villain
The hero is a handsome male
who is muscular. He is also
seen as a kind hearted
character.
Furthermore, The Hero is
always stronger and more
powerful than the Villain.
The villain is the opposition
to the Hero and sometimes
the same gender. The villain
is portrayed as a selfish
greedy unattractive character.
Unattractive, selfish,
weak and powerless.

18. Cont.
• The villain is portrayed as
the character who is much
more powerful and strong as
opposed to the villain.
• The colour black is
associated with ‘mysterious’
and ‘dark’ as Batman is a
mysterious individual.
• He also leads a very
secretive life as he lives two
separate lives.

19. Problem
• The problem with Strauss theory is that it creates
a dominant ideology for a Hero and a villain
which is incorporated in to the text.
• It can create the dangerous 'norms' like the Hero
is represented as a white, male, handsome,
muscular and a good citizen.
• Whereas you have the ethnic minorities
represented in a negative stereotype like causing
a felony, breaking laws or being a bad citizen.

20. DRAMA
ACTION
LEVI STRAUSS TASK 1 HORROR
SCI-FI
THRILLER
Genre: Action
Film: Opposite 1 Opposite 2 Explanation
Spiderman (2002).
(Spiderman is seen as a hero as he saves the
helpless girl).
Costume presents the character as a
Spiderman is presented as a Hero as binary opposite to Spiderman. It is conventional to see the binary
he saves the girl as Hero's usually do opposites in Action (Super-hero) films
in mainstream films, especially in as there has to be a hero and a villain.
super-hero films as it is incorporated
in them. Furthermore, he is presented Sometimes it can be between the
as a kind hearted individual when hero and his sidekick.
being
The hero is portrayed as an unselfish
character as opposed to the villain as
he is selfish and just wants POWER for
selfishness reasons.

21. cont.
GENRE: ACTION
Film: Opposite 1 Opposite 2 Explanation:
The binary
The Transporter opposites within
an action film
explicitly shows
who is the hero
and the villain.
The transporter
is sympathetic
He is a hero as he protects the Portrayed as a villain as he is to the female
girl from the villain. It is made dressed in dark clothing and
clear which side he is on facial expression suggests that
character.
during the film as there is he is unwelcoming.
binary opposites.

22. PART C : BARTHES

23. ROLAND BARTHES
• Similar to Todorov’s
theory, the audiences
experience of
narrative involves
anticipation and
expectation of
resolution to
disruption/conflict.

24. Barthes Codes:
• Enigma code
• Action code
• Semantic code
• Symbolic code
• Cultural code

25. Barthes - Enigma
• Narrative is set up as a puzzle.
• Enigma = mystery/puzzle

26. Enigma code example
• An example of an enigma is a trailer for a film.
Example: The trailer of Slumdog millionaire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIzbwV7on6Q&safe=active
In the beginning of the trailer it poses a question
for the audience.
The enigma is
that will he find
his true love.

27. Barthes - Action Code
• Codes of behaviour and actions that lead
audience us to expect certain consequences.
• Based on other stories/films and their
convention.

28. Action code examples
Thriller/Mystery Slasher/Horror Romance
Action: Action: Action:
A) A)
A)
B)
B)
B)
Assumption: Assumption: Assumption:
a) The male character is going to get a) The female character is going to get a) Body language and facial
bitten by that snake. hooked on to that hook, which kills expression suggests that they are in
b) The male character is going to her. love.
shoot as it is in his intension as he b) She’s going to get killed. b) Facial expression and gazing into
holds in his hand a weapon. each others eyes implying that they
are going to kiss.

29. Barthes Semantic code
• Connotative (imply or suggest) meanings of
characters, objects and locations.

30. Colour = Black
Predator Black Swan Spiderman 4
Creates The colour black suggests Black can suggest evil being
enigma/mystery/bold/maje ‘modern, seductive, evil, present or taking over.
stic. majestic and bold’.
The reflection scene in
Spiderman 4 is relevant as it
connotes a change in
character, old vs. new.

31. Iconography (sci-fi)
• Iconographic features have clear
connotations and meanings to the
audience.
Sci-fi = Aliens, Spaceship, Hi-tech
futuristic gadgets used in the film.
Furthermore, the colour black suggests ‘Modern’.
Alien or unknown
species.
A gadget used.

32. Barthes – Symbolic code
• Symbolic features often signify oppositions and anti-theses
Examples of symbolic code within a film like The Mona Lisa
smiles as it is set in a time where females where it was
uncommon for a female to stay in education and pursue a career.
• It made it explicit that the men where privileged enough to go
onto further education as opposed to females.
• Females where subjected to doing house cleaning, cooking
and taking care of their husbands and family.

33. Symbolic code examples from Mona Lisa
smiles. (females)
Cook book for stay at home housewife's that are expected to cook for
their family.
This is a traditional view of women from a period of time.
Apron – suggests that she’s a house-wife.
Facial expression
suggests that they are
both happy.
Portray a happy stay
Female professor is not a stay-at home housewife and at home house wife
does not believe that women should be limited. and husband who is
the breadwinner.
Strongly believes in education and that it can help
women become independent, self-reliance and a
dominant character.
Women from a certain time period are subjected to being a stay at home housewife who cleans, cook and is
submissive to their husband.

34. Symbolic code examples Mona Lisa
smiles (males)
The males are successful as they are
privileged to go to university and
get a degree, as it is acceptable.
Portrayed as quiet successful and
well presented.

35. Barthes – Cultural code
In the modern adaption A male dressing up as a woman Costume were not to represent the
of Romeo & Juliet they (Drag queen) was not originally historical period of time that it was
use guns as weapons featured in Romeo & Juliet. initially set in.
instead of swords.
Costume makes it explicit that this
is a modern version.
Initially the men used
swords to fight their Pool is a more modern
enemy. adaption to the scene
when Romeo & Juliet
meet in the garden.

36. PART D : PROPP

37. Vladimir Propp
• Studied folklore and fairy tales.
• He formed 2 theories, the first
one is the 7 distinctive
character types called the
spheres of action.
• The 7 spheres of action are
mainly based on historic fairy
tales as they include the hero,
villain, dispatcher, donor, helper,
heroine and false hero.

38. Propp – 7 spheres of Action
1) Hero
2) Villain
3) Dispatcher
4) Donor
5) Helper
6) Heroine
7) False Hero

39. HERO
• An example of a Hero is
Katniss from the film
‘The Hunger games’.
• She is portrayed as an
independent strong
female character
because she is like a
mother to her little
sister.
• Furthermore, she is also
portrayed as a kind
hearted hero.

40. VILLAIN
• Opposes the hero.
• The villain who usually creates the
narrative disruption.
• An example of a villain is the
Green goblin from the super-hero
film ‘Spiderman’.
• The Green goblin is portrayed as
the villain as in most super-hero
films there is a binary opposites.
Another example of a villain from
another film is the creator/inventor of
the Hunger games who allows peoples
lives to be taken for entertainment.

41. DISPATCHER
• Starts hero on it’s way
• An example of the
dispatcher is the
Godmother from
Cinderella.
• She Sends Cinderella on
her quest to restore the
equilibrium

42. DONOR
• A Donor is someone
who helps hero by
giving him magic
tool/gift to help him
on his journey.
• The tool or gift may be
advice.
• In the film ‘Hunger
games’ her tutor gives
her advice that will
help her on her quest.

43. HELPER
• An example of a Helper is
Rue from The Hunger
games.
• Rue is portrayed as a
Helper as she helps
Katniss from dying from
the bee-stings in the
forest.
• She also looks after
Katniss when she was
unconscious for days.
• Rue

44. HEROINE
• Often referred to as
Princess.
• Usually female but not
always
• Peeta is a Vulnerable
character and just like
Princess’ in fairy tales
they need a Prince/Hero
to rescue them.
• Often in love with the
Hero or ends up with the
hero.

45. FALSE HERO
The false hero is a stock character in fairy
tales, and sometimes also in ballads.
The character appears near the beginning
of a story in order to claim to be the hero
or heroine and is, therefore, usually of the
same sex as the hero or heroine.
• An example of a false hero is Scar from
Lion King, The brother of Mufasa.
• He appears to be a false hero as he
only wants to be king but the only two
Colour black = dark, mysterious or things standing in his way is Mufasa
perhaps dangerous. and the future king; Simba.
- Eyes are unusual colour
- Scar near his eye

46. PART E: Terms

47. Diegesis
• Diegesis is the world of film or programme we
see on screen is known as the diegesis or the
diegetic world.
• The world that the characters live in TV/Film.
• The things that make up the Diegesis is the
diegetic elements.

48. An example of Diegesis
• A TV programme or film is
considered to be DIEGESIS as
long as the characters do not
look directly into the camera
or talk to the camera, which
breaks the Diegesis as it
brings the diegesis and reality
together.
• An example of Diegesis :
http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=276mzf_Go8U&safe=active

49. Narrative range
• Unrestricted narration – A narrative which has
no limits to the information that is presented.
• Restricted narration – Only offers a minimal
information.
Restricted narration = Enigma/mystery/puzzle.

50. An example of unrestricted narration
This an example of a
unrestricted narration as
information is not restricted
from the audience.

51. An example of restricted narration
An example of this is a trailer for a film. Trailers give so
little information so that people will go and watch it in
cinema’s to see the ending.
Trailer for the film The Life of Pi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B
xY4l9kFGD0&safe=active
Trailer makes the audience
feel a sense of enigma as it
brings up questions on
whether Pi ever got to see
English (Tiger) again.
Shows the relationship
between Pi and English the
tiger.

52. Narrative depth
Objective character
identification – The
viewer is given unique
access to a character’s
point of view. It is seen
from their perspective.
POV Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W
4CCU9M4&safe=active
This is from a characters
perspective where we are given
the unique access.

53. Cont.
Subjective character identification –
The view is given the unique access to what a
range of characters can see and do.

54. PART F : MODULAR NARRATIVE
(CAMERON)

55. Modular Narrative
• Modular narratives articulate a sense of time
divisible and subject to manipulation.

56. Modular narratives (Cameron theory)
• Forking path
• Episodic
• Anachronic
• Split Screen

57. Forking path
• Narratives juxtapose alternative
versions of a story, showing the
possible outcomes that might
result from a small change in a
single event or group of events.
• An example of Forking Path is
Groundhog day as it revolves
around a character who wakes up
every day experiencing Déjà vu.
When he realises he then
Allan Cameron shows how this formal
play reflects a persistent fascination with
questions of chance and destiny, memory
and history, and the representation of
simultaneous events.

58. Episodic
• Narratives are organised
as an abstract series or
narrative anthology.
• Anthology consists of a
series of shorter tales
which are apparently
disconnected but share a
random similarity, like
episodes.
• Examples of Episodic is
F.R.I.E.N.D.S and Lost.

59. Anachronic
• Contains flashbacks and
flash-forward's.
• An example of Anachronic
is Memento.
• In the film Memento the
main character has a
condition where he has
temporary memory loss,
He can only have memories
of his past and tends to
have flashbacks of his dead
wife.

60. Split Screen
• The screen is divided
into two or more.
• Example of a split
screen is used in
films and YouTube
videos.