2. Narrative Theory: Whammo theory Every ten minutes there needs to be some kind of ‘whammo’, an action beat that provides an adrenalin rush ..... Between the whammos are ‘zingers’: funny lines that ease the tension Joel Silver, film producer
3. Narrative Theory: Whammo theory Extension Task Complete the task on page 18 of your booklet: test out Silver’s theory on one of his films
4. Narrative Theory: Vladimir Propp By looking at 100’s of folk tales and fairy stories, Vladimir Propp identified 8 character roles and 31 narrative functions. Although his work was based around literature it can just as easily be applied to the storylines of films
5. Narrative Theory: Vladimir Propp Read the information on the handout and identify which characters from Raiders would fit the descriptions of the different character types.
6. Narrative Theory: Levi Strauss Narratives structured around a series of binary oppositions Two elements which have so many important differences that they create conflicts which drive the storylines
7. Narrative Theory: Levi Strauss Consider the following binary oppositions and identify which are appropriate to action adventure film: Past and present Good and evil Male and female Humans and aliens Normal and strange
8. Narrative Theory: Levi Strauss Explain how the binary oppositions you have identified relate to Raiders of the Lost Ark; for example list all the ways that the struggle between good, symbolised by Indiana Jones and evil, symbolised by Belloc and the Nazis causes conflict
9. Narrative Theory: Hero Archetypes What are the key characteristics of the action hero: fill in the chart that you have been given Is the villain the exact opposite, or do they share some characteristics? Give examples to support your ideas.
10. Narrative Theory: the Hero’s Journey According to Christopher Vogler, many film storylines are built around the hero’s journey In some film genres this might be an emotional journey but in action adventure films the idea of a journey is taken literally
11. Narrative Theory: the Hero’s Journey Read the example: ‘Stages of the Hero’s Journey’ from the handout Create a second chart for the Mask of Zorro, an example of the swashbuckler style of action adventure
