Narrative theories

1. NARRATIVE THEORIES
Samuel Penn

2. Todorov
He predicts that narratives follows a structure of
equilibrium, disequilibrium and once again returning to a
new equilibrium. Presented in a graph it would look like
this:
A trailer that this could link to is Spectre as the equilibrium
of a new film is established and then parts of the narrative
are shown to have action and fights in them, implying a
new disequilibrium as there is a need to fight.

3. Propp
Propp created a theory in which he proposed 31 narrative features and 7 broad character
types.
1.The villain (struggles against the hero)
2.The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
3.The helper (helps the hero in the quest)
4.The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative)
5.The false hero (perceived as good character in beginning but emerges as evil)
6.The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off)
7.The hero [AKA victim/seeker/paladin/winner, reacts to the donor, weds the princess]
A trailer that this theory could link to is the avengers assemble trailer in which they have
multiple of these character types but not in the conventional sense. The main characters
enable each other to be multiple roles such as the hero, the helper and the donor.

4. Strauss
Proposed that the constant creation of conflict drives
narrative and narrative can only end on a resolution of
conflict. This includes the use of binary opposites, stating
that if one character exists their exact opposite will exist,
creating conflict for the story to progress.
An example of this in a film trailer is that of star wars VII. In
which is the main protagonist, an unnamed Jedi and the
antagonist, an unnamed Sith who embody good and evil
respectively.

5. Barthes
Enigma code within stories refers to the fact that in some
films clues are given as to what will happen later in the
production without actually giving anything away that is
crucial to the main story line. This makes the viewer more
engaged and interested in the media text.
An example of what film this could apply to is any trailer as
no trailer is designed or purposefully made so that key plot
points and information is not given to the audience before it
should be revealed.