Narrative theory

1. Elishia Selby MediaStudies
Narrative theory
Narrative
- Narrative is a ‘chain of events in a cause-effect relationship occurring in time’.
(Bordwell & Thompson)
- Narrative is a ‘way of organising spatial & temporal events in a cause-effect chain of
events with a beginning/middle/end that embodies a judgement about the nature of
events’.
(Branigan 1992)
The Narrative Theory
- The narrative theory analyses the way media texts communicate meaning about
events.
- It can be applied to range of different media (Film/TV/Photographs/Magazines)
- Narrative analysis of internet based media is more problematic (still relevant).
E.g. you could considers someone’s Facebook profile and how it creates a narrative
of their life.
Edward Branigan (1992)
- The narrative will embody a judgement-(ideology)
Vladimir Propp (1928)
- Russian Theorist
- When an audience reads a media text it deploys its knowledge of these character
types to decode the meaning of the text
- Limited number of character types that share a function:
Villain
Hero/character that seeks something
Donor (provides magic property) –i.e Obe wan and the light-saber
Helper (aids hero)/sidekick
Princess (reward for the hero/object of the Villain’s schemes) (can be male)
Her father (rewards the hero)
Dispatcher (sends hero on way)
False hero (lays to claimto the princess but is unsuitable/cause complications)

2. Elishia Selby MediaStudies
Tzventan Todorov (1969)
- 1. Equilibrium (everything normal)
- 2. Disruption of the equilibrium
- 3. Recognition of the disruption
- 4. An attempt to repair the damage
- 5. New equilibrium
Roland Barthes (1960s)
- Recognised 5 codes:
Action code-Event taking place through action (Fight/chase)
Referential code- Information and explanation
Semantic code- Characters and characterisation
Enigma code- Narrative device that teases the audited by presenting a puzzle/riddle
to be solved, to delay the story’s ending pleasurable (Mystery)
Symbolic code- Connotations of signs
Claude Levi-Strauss (1972)
- Social anthropologist- Studied myths of tribal culture
- Examined how stories unconsciously reflect the values/beliefs/myths of a culture
- Usually express in the form of binary oppositions
- His research has been adapted by theorists to reveal underlying themes and
symbolic oppositions in texts.
Allan Cameron (2008)
Modular Narratives:
- Since 1990s there has been a trend towards narrative complexity within popular
cinema
- Anachronic-Modified flashbacks/flash-forwards-No clear dominance between
narrative threads
- Forking-path- Alternative versions of the story-Outcomes that might result from
slight charges
- Episodic- collection of stories joined by a common theme
- Split screen-Spatial rather than temporal lines

3. Elishia Selby MediaStudies
Postmodern Narratives
- Some theorist suggest postmodern narratives are different from pervious narrative
structures:
Irony/playfulness/black humour
Intertextuality
Pastiche
Metanarratives
Extreme self-reflexivity/self-awareness
Temporal distortion
Hyper-reality
Narrative Analysis
- Narrative analysis involves considering a range of elements such as ‘mise-en-
scene/editing/camerawork/sound/events’ which all
- create meaning for the audience
- It focuses on how the meanings made by the audience are constructed
- How useful is this approach
Review Theorists
Theorist Example- Taylor Swift You belong with me
Propp - Taylor Swift- You belong with me
- Hero-Blonde Taylor
- Princess/prince- The boy next door
- Villain- brunette Taylor
Todorov - Normally talking
- Disruption is she loves him
- But he goes off with another girl
- Tries to get him by going to prom
- Chosen over the brunette (typical cliché)
Barthes - The white and red dresses symbolise good and evil
- Fight over the boy (slightly)
- We know she loves him by the placard
- Geek/band player/girl next door/doesn’t drive/princess/blonde/studying
- Slut/bimbo/drives a nice car/rich/brunette/partier
- Cute boy/boy next door/jock/sporty
- Challenges-Writing on paper not email/phone, blonde hair is the nicer one,
the brunette is the nastier one,
Levi-Strauss - Binary oppositions the two girls- one nice and one selfish
- Again the use of the red and white dress-code symbolises the differences
- The typical cheerleader and band player opposites
- She wearing short skirts opposite t-shirts
- Jock and geek
- Blonde and brunette