1. Narrative Theory
Media Studies AS

2. Narrative:
the way in which a story is told in
both fictional and non-fictional
media texts.

3. Vladimir Propp
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Russian critic and literary theorist.
Analysed over 100 Russian fairytales in the 1920s.
He proposed that it was possible to classify the
characters and their actions into clearly defined roles
and functions.
Films such as Star Wars fit Propp’s model precisely,
but a a significant number of more recent films such
as Pulp Fiction do not.
The model is useful, however as it highlights the
similarities between seemingly quite different stories.

4. Propp’s Character Roles
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The hero (seeks something)
The villain (opposes the hero)
The donor (helps the hero by providing a magic
object)
The dispatcher (sends the hero on his way)
The false hero (falsely assuming the role of hero)
The helper (gives support to the hero)
The princess (the reward for the hero, but also needs
protection from the villain)

5. Tzvetan Todorov
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Bulgarian literary theorist
Suggests most narratives start with a state of
equilibrium in which life is ‘normal’ and
protagonists happy.
This state of normality is disrupted by an
outside force, which has to be fought against
in order to return to a state of equilibrium.
This model can easily be applied to a wide
range of films.

6. Equilibrium
Disequilibrium
Attempted Repair
New Equilibrium
Equilibrium
New
Equilibrium
Disequilibrium
Attempted
Repair

7. Roland Barthes
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French semiologist.
Suggested that narrative works with
different codes which activate the
reader to make sense of it.

8. Barthes’ Codes
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Denote – what the audience sees encoded by the
director
Connote – what the audience decode it to mean
Action – a narrative device by which a resolution is
produced through action, e.g. a shoot-out.
Enigma – a narrative device that teases the audience
by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved. Works
to delay the story’s ending pleasurably.

9. Claude Levi-Strauss
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Social Anthropologist.
Studied myths of tribal cultures.
Examined how stories unconsciously reflect
the values, beliefs and myths of a culture.
These are usually expressed in the form of
binary oppositions .
His research has been adapted by media
theorists to reveal underlying themes and
symbolic oppositions in media texts.

10. Binary Oppositions
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A conflict between two things – often
opposites.
For example 1970’s Western films:
Homesteaders
Native Americans
christian
pagan
domestic
savage
weak
strong
garden
wilderness
inside society
outside society

11. Task:
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Apply the key narrative theorists to the
a thriller opening sequence
Propp
Barthes
Todorov
Levi-Strauss

12. Thriller Film is a genre that revolves around anticipation and
suspense. The aim for Thrillers is to keep the audience alert and
on the edge of their seats. The protagonist in these films is set
against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery. No matter
what sub-genre a Thriller film falls into, it will emphasize the danger
that the protagonist faces. The tension with the main problem is
built on throughout the film and leads to a highly stressful climax.
As media students you need to know HOW to achieve
this?

13. Conventional characters
Serial killers, Psychopath
Ordinary couple
Frustrated protagonist
Lighting
Sound
Camera work
(shots and
Non-diegetic – music – progressive, movement)
mysterious, low notes, high string
instruments, violins – back chilling
Short takes,
Sound effects – rain, screams,
fast pace, POV
heartbeats, explosions, hyperbolic
shots, extreme
sounds – punches, kicks – foley
close ups,
No non-diegetic sound to aid
close ups
realism
Locations
Narrative
Low key lighting
Flashing/strobe –
confusion/danger
Cities, populated places, urban
settings - chaos
Common effects
Common themes
Slow motion
Flash cuts, wash ins,
wash outs
Flash backs, flash
forwards
True story, isolation, loss, death,
murder, stalkers, assassins,
espionage, hostage, ransom,
investigation,
Linear,
omniscient
Non-linear,
restricted
Iconography
Guns, conflict,
powerful
supporting
character, dim
lighting

14. HMK this week
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Complete the 2 class analyses
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Using media language and key theories