Three key theorists - Todorov, Propp, and Levi-Strauss - studied how stories are constructed and understood by audiences. Propp identified character archetypes like heroes, villains, and helpers that follow spheres of action. Todorov described five stages that stories progress through - equilibrium, disequilibrium, recognition, reparation, and new equilibrium. Levi-Strauss said narratives represent a struggle between binary opposites like good and evil.

1. Narrative
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3 key theorist, Todorov,
Propp and levis-Strauss
studied the construction of
stories. They each proposed
their own model or
explanation of how they felt a
story was told and how the
audience could understand it.

2. At its simplest narrative describes the way a story is told to an audience.
This includes how the elements are structured and organised.
A theorist called Vladimir Propp
proposed an idea. He said that…
The narrative is motivated by a variety of character
functions. Primarily there will be a hero who is sent
on a quest by the sender who has to overcome the
villain usually with the aid of a helper and in doing
so gains a reward, often a princess. If the
audience can spot these character types they will
be able to predict how the narrative will work out.

3. Propp said there was 8 spheres
of action: 1. Hero- seeks something
2. Villain- obstructs the hero's quest
3. Helper- helps the hero
4. Donor- provides something
5. Princess- reward
6. Father- gives the reward
7. Dispatcher- sends a message
8. False hero- not the real hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W37DlG1i61s&feature=related
In the film Shrek, there are clear examples of
what Propp suggested was the construction of a
story.

4. Todorov…
came up with 5 stages
of which a story is told.
-Equilibrium
-Disequilibrium
-Recognition
-Reparation
-New Equilibrium
Consider the story of jack and the bean stalk.
Jack and his mother live happily- Equilibrium
They have to sell the family cow because they need money but
jack gets magic beans instead- Disequilibrium
Jack understands his mother is very angry and he climbs up the
beanstalk to investigate- Recognition
Jack defeat the giant ogre and takes his gold coins- Reparation
Jack and his mother become rich and live a happy life- New
Equilibrium

5. Finally Levi-Strauss…
A narrative is motivated by a
struggle between binary opposites,
one side of which will be
represented as the ‘right’ side that
the audience should identify and
support and the other as the ‘bad’ or
‘wrong’ side. We can see this take place in many films such as
batman, spider man. There are both hero's and
villains, therefore represents the binary
oppositions of good and evil.

6. Another element that affects our understanding of a
video is the way it is told or the narration. There are
two types of narration:
-> Restricted Narration
This is when the narrative is tied to one character and
the audience only sees or knows what they know, this
generally creates a feeling of mystery in the audience
as they don’t know what is going on.
-> Omniscient Narration
This is when the narrative is not tied to one single
character and the camera reveals elements that they
may not voluntarily of wished it to do so. The audience
know more than the character this usually creates
suspense as the audience are waiting for something to
happen.

7. Another element that affects our understanding of a
video is the way it is told or the narration. There are
two types of narration:
-> Restricted Narration
This is when the narrative is tied to one character and
the audience only sees or knows what they know, this
generally creates a feeling of mystery in the audience
as they don’t know what is going on.
-> Omniscient Narration
This is when the narrative is not tied to one single
character and the camera reveals elements that they
may not voluntarily of wished it to do so. The audience
know more than the character this usually creates
suspense as the audience are waiting for something to
happen.