4. Narrative Theory
Russian theorist, Tzvetan Todorov, suggests that all narratives follow a three part
structure.
They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something
comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when
equilibrium is restored.
Propp theory suggest that there are set characters in every TV Drama. For Example: the
hero, the villain, the helper and a mentor.
Tzvetan Todorov examples are Crime drama, medical drama and costume drama.
Proop example is a soap opera
5. Crime
The main conventions of a crime drama:
• main characteristics: officers of the law, victims, suspects &
criminals.
• one or two main crimes per episode, sometimes more. New
victims created every time police officers stay the same.
• Usually set in rooms eg: an interview room, court room,
autopsy room or a squad room at the police station.
• Mainly set in the city.
NCIS
The Bill
6. Medical
The main conventions of a medical drama:
• Events center upon a hospital, ambulance staff, or any
medical environment. (point of interaction)
• Most deal with one or two main accidents per episode,
sometimes more.
• New victims are created each time, whilst the staff
remain the same.
• Technical terms
• Possible romance
• Mise-en-scène – medical props
ER
Casualty
Holby City
Scrubs
7. Soap opera
The main conventions of a soap opera:
• daily events in the lives of the same group of recognisable
characters.
• includes relationships within different family's in the area.
Usually several different stories at the same time.
• Nearly always a central meeting place. (Point of interaction)
• Never really ends to keep the viewer interested
8. Costume Drama
The main conventions of a Costume drama:
• A television or cinema production set in a particular historical
period, in which the actors wear costumes typical of that period
• Romance.
• Mise-en-scène is used
- Old costumes, props and
locations.
• Recognisable characters
• Point of interaction
– stately home
