1. Emma Mc Conologue
Narrative theory
Narrative theoryanalysesthe wayinwhichmediatextscommunicate meaningaboutevents.
Narrative theorycanbe appliedtoarange of differentmediaincludingfilm, T.V,photographsand
magazines.
Narrative analysisof internetbasedmediaismore problematic,thoughmaystill be relevant.For
example,youcouldconsiderhowsomeone’sFacebookprofilecreatesanarrative abouttheirlife.
VladimirPropp (1928)
Proppwas a Russiantheoristwhosuggeststhatthere are a limitednumberof charactertypesthat
share a function.
The eightcharacter typesare:
- 1. The Villian(The badpersoninthe film) (LordFarquaad)
- 2. The Hero (or characterwho seekssomething) (Shrek)
- 3. The Donor (whoprovidesan objectwithsome magicproperty) (N/A)
- 4. The Helper(whoaidsthe Hero) (Donkey)
- 5. The Princess(rewardforthe hero,and objectof the villian’sschemes) (Fiona)
- 6. Her father (whorewardsthe hero) (The King)
- 7. The Dispatcher(whosendsthe heroon hisway) (Lord Farquaad)
- 8. The False (Anti) Hero (The character whoalsolaysclaimto the princessbutis unsuitable
and causescomplications). (The QueenorLord Farquaad)
Whenan audience readsamediatextitdeploysitsknowledge of thesearchetypal charactersin
orderto decode the meaningof the text.
Nowadaysinfilmwe oftensee the charactersmerged.
Todorov (1969)
TzvetanTodorov was a Bulgarianliterarytheoristwhosuggestedthatmostnarrativesstartwitha
state of equilibriuminwhichlife is‘normal’andprotagonistsare happy.
Thisstare of normalityisdisruptedbyanoutside force,whichhastobe foughtagainstin order to
returnto a state of equilibrium.
Thismodel can easilybe appliedtoa wide range of fairytales,folklore,fictiontextsandfilms.
Equilibrium ----> Disequilibrium ----> Resolution (New Equilibrium)
2. Emma Mc Conologue
RolandBarthes(1960s)
RolandBarthes’ narrative theoryclaimsthata narrative thatcan be brokendownintofive codesor
setsof rulestohelpthe readermake sense of it.
He emphasisesthe active role of readersincreatingmeaning,andtheir‘culturallyformed
expectations’.
The five codes:
- Action code – referringtothe eventstakingplace throughactione.g.a fightor a chase.
- Referential code – referringtothe informationandexplanation e.g.InGuardiansofThe
Galaxyexplainingwhat the Orb does.
- Semantic code – referringtothe charactersand characterisation e.g. gender,sexuality,
personalityetc.
- Enigma code – a narrative device thatteasesthe audience bypresentingapuzzle orriddle to
be solved.Worksdelaythe story’sendingpleasurably. E.g. the questinShrek.
- Symboliccode – referringtothe connotationsof signs. E.g. the highermeaningsof the film
– the importance of familyin Hole Alone.
Claude Levi-Strauss(1972)
He wasa social Anthropologistwhostudiedmythsof tribal cultures. He saidthat charactersare
usuallyexpressedinthe formof binaryoppositions.
Examples:
- GoodVS Bad
- DomesticVS Savage
- Pretty VS Ugly
- InnocentVS Devious
- Christian(Kings and Queens) VSPagan (Witches)
- WeakPrincessVS Strong wrong doers
- Safe CastlesVS Dark wildernessForest
