The document discusses Vladimir Propp's theory of 8 character archetypes that commonly appear in folk and fairy tales (hero, false hero, villain, donor, princess, father, helper, dispatcher) and applies these archetypes to characters in the British realism films Bullet Boy and Fish Tank. It assigns each of the main characters from the two films to one of Propp's archetypes, such as assigning Mia from Fish Tank to the princess archetype and her mother to the villain archetype. It also notes that neither film includes the father archetype.

1. Applying it to Bullet Boy and Fish Tank

2. Theorist Vladimir Propp, looked at the
characters in stories (fairy/folk takes in
particular) and stated there were eight basic
characters in traditional narrative that we can
again transpose to film. According to Propp,
the characters are: the hero, the false hero,
the villain, the donor, the princess, the father,
the helper and the dispatcher. I have selected
a character from two British Realism films that
I think would be each of Propp's characters
according to his theory. I chose to look at Fish
Tank and Bullet Boy.

3. Bullet Boy: Fish Tank:
RICKY MIA
The main character The main character trying
trying to seek a new to seek a new life through
beginning dancing

4. Fish Tank:
CONNOR
Mia’s mom’s boyfriend who
tricks Mia into loving him

5. Bullet Boy: Fish Tank:
THE RIVAL MIA’S MOM
GANG Mia’s mom causes many
The rival gang who cause problems throughout the film
problems throughout the and is constantly having
film for Ricky, even death of arguments with her
loved ones

6. Fish Tank: Bullet Boy:
BILLY RICKY’S MOM
He is Mia’s friend who He tries to guide
she eventually travels Ricky to a better life
with

7. Bullet Boy: Fish Tank:
RICKY’S MIA
She is the damsel
GIRFRIEND throughout the film who
The damsel for Ricky who
gets mislead and mis-
becomes the victim of
understood
Ricky’s trouble

8. Both films don’t have this figure in their films
suggesting most British Social Realism film
do not include this character for a reason.