narrative theory

Narrative is the way the story (plot) is organised.

elements of narrative:

-time: -chroninoligical time period, so the time it cover.

- some films look back over years

-closure: -lose ends are closed up

- enigma- mystery/ problems

- e.g. thrillers don't know what will happen

- gives us drama otherwise it be dull

(who, why, whats going to happen)

classical hollywood narratives:

- linear (in order)

the earlierst chronioligical point happens first ( in sequence) not all films are in sequence for example in pulp friction

- few if any, sub-plots e.g. pulp friction

- tendency towards closure - all lose ends are tired up

Theories of narrotive

1) Todorov

- equilibrium : story begins fine,normal

e.g. big heat- begins with a normal day

-disruption : e.g big heat- car blows up with wife and kid inside

- resolution- problems solved, enigamas solved

- new equilibrium- order restored

2) Propp

analysed folk stories

he came up with 8 key character roles that always come up:

1) the hero (protagonist)

2) villian (antagonist)

3) the doner (provider) gives hero a magic item

4) the helper, helps protagonist

5) the father ( figure) can be played by a women

6) the dispatcher, sends hero on their mission

7) the princess, always a girl, doesnt have agencey

8) the false hero, character who we think is on same side of hero, when in the end they arent, they are on the side of the villian

3) Levi- oppositions and binary oppositions ---(click on the tittle for the link to take you to a picture of levi)

binary oppositions are opposite to each other

- Levi- Strauss argued that a stracture of narratives was a dependence on binary oppositions

- a conflict between two qualities or terms

-these binary oppositions can form the basis of narratives

-e.g. young and old, male and female

for example

Gender:

-narratives can be organised through binary oppositions of gender stereotypes

gender stereotypes: masculine

professional, strong, rational, competitious, independant, aggressive, ruthless

gender stereotypes : feminine

domesticated, week, emotional, co-operative, communal, passive, sensitive, supportive

Binary opposition

- constructions of gender roles in narratives lead to a series of binary oppositions

dominant vs subordinate

dominant

-male

-while

-middle class

-middle aged

-heterosexual

-able - bodied

Subordinate

-female

-other ethnic groups

-working class

-young and old

-homosexual, bisexual

-disabled

eq the western

- homesheaders - native American

-christian - pagen

- domestic -savage

-weak - strong

-feminine - masculine

-garaen - wilderness

-inside society - outside society