Narrative Theory

1. Narrative Theory
Ben Bateman

2. TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY
• Todorovs narrative theory is neither a liner or non – linear
narrative. Although there is an apparent beginning middle
and end rather than it being a straight storyline, it’s more
of a cycle. What this cycle includes is having an initial
state of equilibrium, and then that becoming disequilibrium.
• The five stages are as follows:
• Equilibrium
• Disruption to that equilibrium
• Disequilibrium
• Attempts to restore equilibrium
• New found equilibrium
All of these aspects culminated to make Todorovs narrative
theory, and create a foundation for many storylines.

3. How does this narrative theory
relate to our film?
• Throughout our short film we never get the sense
that there is a state of equilibrium. So although
there are some aspects of it, it doesn’t
completely follow the narrative structure of
Todorovs. From our film there is the
disequlibrium, attempts to restore equilibrium and
also many additional disruptions to the
equilibrium.
• Disruptions would consist of her conflict with her
parent, her getting kicked out of school.
• Her attempts to restore equilibrium, or at least
feel better, although it may seem unusual comes
through the smoking and the drinking, in an
attempt to forget her situation.

4. Vladimir Propp Narrative Theory
• Vladimir Propps narrative theory is based on a set of characters that play
a specific role in a film. These kind of characters have become compulsory
in many films as they provide a structure to follow.
• The characters that are part of Propps theory are as follows:
• The hero – the main character usually catalyst for restoring equilibrium
• The villain – the opposition, blocks attempts to restore equilibrium
• The donor – usually assists the hero on his quest by donating something
• The dispatcher – sends the hero out on his mission
• The false hero – acts as a hero only to betray the actual hero and become
a villain or is a villain
• The helper – helps the hero on his quest
• The princess – the reward for the hero completing his quest
• Her father – ensures that the hero is rewarded

5. Vladimir Propp Narrative theory
• The functions that the characters carry out are as follows:
• There is a state of order, where the surroundings are normal and
tranquil
• The villain then harms one person or multiple people in the
community.
• Creates disorder
• Person in the community is vengeful or needs saving
• Hero is sent out on a quest
• Puts plan in place to overcome villain

6. How does this relate to our film.
• This narrative theory doesn’t really relate to our film. As there is not a
heroic character setting out on a mission to restore equilibrium.
However there are aspects of this theory that can relate to our film,
as there are people in the film who can be deemed as villainous
characters. E.G the parents and teacher. People may be led to believe
that Natalie is a victim of ill treatment from her parents and that the
teacher was too ruthless in kicking Natalie out of school.

7. Claude Levi – Strauss Binary Oppositions
• The binary opposition theory's is basically sets of opposites which reflect the
difference between good and bad. These are values. Some of the examples of
which opposites prominently appear in many narratives are:
• Good/bad
• Male/female
• Ability/disability
• Love/hate
• Black/white
• Intelligence/brute force

8. How does this relate to our film?
• There are many binary opposites that our evident in our film. Good
and bad are evident in just Natalie alone. We get glimpses of her good
side, a young innocent girl however we do see her inner demons take
over and a bad side to Natalie is revealed.
• We see one side to the male/female binary opposites. We are
exposed to females vulnerabilities during our short film and the
struggles young girls face in the current society.

9. Roland Barthes Narrative Theory
• Roland Barthes believed that all people that observed any type of
media text would receive it and then would interpret it in many
different ways. His theory was that a text could either be ‘open’ and
have multiple meanings or could be just ‘closed’ and have one sole
meaning. Barthes created narrative codes, such as the enigma code
whereby the resolving of the text comes from the audience. The
narrative was categorised in to five different ways. These ways were:
• Enigma code
• Symbols and signs
• Cultural reference
• Simple description/reproduction