3. Part A: Todorov Task 2
•
He believes that that the narrative structure works in 5 stages.
•
1) Equilibrium- meaning that there is a sense of normality that everything is normal and calm.
•
2) Disequilibrium- that there is a destruction to the normality causing a problem/conflict.
•
3) Recognition of disequilibrium- meaning that the characters recognise the disturbance.
•
4) Attempt to repair disequilibrium- meaning that the character will try and final a resolution
for the problem.
•
5) New equilibrium- meaning that there is a resolution but it means that everything is solved
but things will never be the same as it was in the beginning.
•
He also believes that stages 2-4 can be repeated as many times in order to create tension for
the audience and have them waiting until the end for the resolution.
4. Todorov’s Theory
Equilibrium- The character goes to a Princeton University he is a co-recipient of the
prestigious Carnegie Scholarship for mathematics and starts an unlikely friendship.
Disequilibrium- Nash becomes obsessive with looking for hidden patterns, After punching
Rosen in an attempt to flee, Nash is forcibly sedated and sent to a psychiatric facility.
Recognition of disequilibrium- Alicia investigates and finally confronts Nash with the
unopened documents he had delivered to the secret mailbox.
Attempt to repair disequilibrium- Nash is given a course of insulin shock therapy and
eventually released.
Disequilibrium- He secretly stops taking it. This causes a relapse. accidentally knocks Alicia
and the baby to the ground (thinking he's stopping Parcher from killing her), she flees the
house in fear with their child.
New equilibrium- he finally accepts that they are part of his hallucinations. He learns to
ignore his hallucinations and earns the privilege of teaching again
5. Part B: Strauss
Strauss’ theory of binary opposites
• His theory is that there is a binary opposite
that creates a better narrative structure in
order for the movie to flow and make sense.
• He believes that this theory is fundamental for
our everyday lives to make sense and to have
meanings.
• He believes that the binary theory works for
everything such as : books, films, plays and
stories.
6. Strauss’ Theory of binary opposite
Film
Opposite 1
Opposite 2
Explanation
They are opposites because
they boy is alive having a
mental problem and the guy is
dead trying to help him with his
mental problem.
The sixth sense
The kid can sees
dead people and is
tormented by it
throughout the
movie. He doesn’t
know what to do
because he fears
nobody will believe
him if he exposes his
little secret yet
nobody knows what
is wrong with him.
He is bullied and
called weird in his
school.
The Guy is a
psychiatrists and
helps little kids with
their problems. He
does not understand
that he is the one
that he is dead but
still continues to help
the little kid with his
problems and
becomes a really
close friend with him
and helps him with
his unwanted
burden.
The binary opposites provide a
narrative structure because
when the audience find out that
the man is dead its reveals that
the boy became comfortable
with his problem because the
man that is trying to help him is
dead himself.
Binary opposites helps the
narrative of the movie fall into
place perfectly like a puzzle. It
also helps the movie make
sense and gives the audience
satisfaction that the elements in
the movie are balanced out and
are even.
