2. What is narrative?
Narrative is a sequence of events
that are put together and then
presented to the audience. Can be
fictional or non-fictional.
3. Tzvetan Todorov’s
Theory…
Todorov is a Bulgarian literary
theorist and suggests that two
narrative structures can be
found within media texts (
Circular and liner) and stated
the narratives are led by events
in a cause and effect format,
here are the five steps which
Todorov came up with and
believes that each narrative
follows…..
4. TODROV’S FIVE STEPS:
1) The narrative starts with an equilibrium
2) The disruption of the equilibrium
3) Recognition of equilibrium
4) Attempt to fix damage
5) Resolution New equilibrium
5. Tzvetan Todorov..
Todorov suggested that the primary function of narrative was to solve a
problem and then pass through a series of liner narrative events which
follow in chronological order.
Some media texts defy the idea of resolution or return to the
equilibrium, this could be down to a number of things such as the genre
or the director wanting to the leave narrative open to the audience’s
interpretation.
An example of a film which does this is ‘Se7en’ which ends with a
desolate ending and there is no equilibrium to the main characters –
this helps to reinforce the genre of thriller.
6. Pro’s and con’s of Todorov’s theory.
PROS:
• A simple, yet well understood concept which is often used within media texts.
• Makes sense.
CONS:
• Could be seen as old fashioned.
• Some films purposely challenge this and could be seen as the director manipulating the
understanding of narrative.
7. Vladimir prop’s
theory…
Vladimir founded certain idea’s that
certain types of characters was to be
used in every narrative structure.
Vladimir’s theory influenced many
film makers to writing and producing
successful narratives.
Vladimir also believed that fairy tales
follow a particular narrative
structure..
8. Vladimir prop’s
theory…
Typical characters…
• The villain.
• The dispatcher.
• The helper – helps the hero defeat the villain.
• The princess or the ‘prize’.
• The hero victim .
• False hero.
9. Claude Levi-Strauss’s
theory
Strauss came up with the idea that
binary opposition and the idea that
objects and qualities are directly
parallel and opposite to help
understand and fuel each other.
This shown within media through:
• Strong VS week.
• Good VS Evil.
• And many more.
