narrative theory

1. NARRATIVE THEORY

2. TODOROV
A state of equilibrium.
A disruption of that order by an event.
A recognition that disorder has occurred.
An attempt to repair the damage of disorder.
A return or restoration of new equilibrium.
A circular narrative.
More than one disruption can happen in a film.

3. LEVI STRAUSS
Binary opposition - offers powerful levels of meaning within a text
and can summarise the theme of a film.
Good Vs Evil, Dark Vs Light, Humanity Vs Technology etc.
Jacques Derrida took Barthe's and Levi Strauss' ideas a stage
further by recognising that these 'binary pairs' were never equal in a
text e.g. masculinity over femininity. One was Always more valued
than the other depending on the genre - often enforcing stereotypes
and dominant cultural ideas.

4. BARTHES
concluded that a text has many meanings, or is like a 'galaxy of
signifiers' which can be interpreted in many ways.
Action codes allow audiences to interpret and identify what is to
come, for example, a hand on a door handle would mean
somebody's about to open a door.
Enigma codes drive the force of the narrative and is what creates
tension and satisfies audience demands. An example of an enigma
code would be 'who died and how were they murdered, why were
they murder and by who?'