Narrative Theorists

Narrative Theorists

When we look at a narrative we examine the conventions of genre, character, form and time.

Very few screen stories take place in real time, a whole persons life can be depicted in 90 minutes.

Examples of time

• Flashback
• Dream sequence
• repetition
• different characters
• flash forwards
• real time interludes
• pre-figuring of events

                                                                            flashback

                                                                      dream sequence

Levi Strauss

Binary oppositions. Strauss said that all stories 'Accelerated forward by conflict which is caused by opposing characters or events.'  Opposites within a storyline are extremely important in a successful story, as drawing two different worlds or characters together inspires conflict and interesting narrative. The presence of binary opposition in film is an important one as the differences within the world of the story collide.

Roland Barthes

Proposes that there are codes within film which serves to engage audiences.
The enigma code- generates and controls what information a viewer is aware of within a narrative and holds their interest throughout the film. Problems and puzzles which must be solved as well as mysteries which must be uncovered.
The action code- refers to events which occur that the viewer immediately can identify as being significant to the development of the narrative. Resolution may be achieved through action also.

Tsvetan Todorov

The consists of five stages and is known as Todorov's Theory of Narrative.

• Equilibrium  (at the beginning of a story),
• Disruption (when something happens that changes the storyline, usually 15 minutes into the film),  
• Recognition (we see the effects that the changes have caused, tensions constantly build up),
• Repair (resolve the damage caused from the disruption) 
•  New Equilibrium (everything is restored but adapted to the new dynamic)

   
Vladimir Propp also proposes a narrative structure which is similar to Todorov's, but slightly more detailed and complex.

•  Preparation- Introduction to the story.
• Complication- keys or clues to the direction of the story.
• Transference- the donor events.
• Struggle- dealing with the complications.
• Return- back to "home" however there are still issues remaining.
• Recognition- Loose ends tied up.

This ties in directly with Propp's Character Theory, which identifies more character roles than the previously obvious protagonist and antagonist. He states the importance of 'spheres of action' for each character as opposed to rigid character types, with one character having the ability to assume more than one role. Propp identifies seven main roles:

• The villain
• The donor- prepares the hero
• The helper- helps the hero through the quest
• The princess- object of the heroes desire
• The princess's father- reward the hero
• The dispatcher- character to make the lack known and sends the hero off.
• The hero- weds the princess and completes the quest
• The false hero