This document provides an overview of key concepts for analyzing comic book narratives, including: 1) It discusses three common narrative theories - Vladimir Propp's character archetypes, Tzvetan Todorov's three-stage model of equilibrium, disruption, and resolution, and Claude Levi-Strauss' concept of binary oppositions. Students are instructed to apply these theories to comic examples. 2) It also covers comic-specific terminology like panels, speech bubbles, and captions. Students are asked to identify these elements in sample comics. 3) Additional topics covered include analyzing representations of gender, developing original superhero characters, and converting a novel excerpt into comic format while maintaining the core narrative.

3. Key Term: = The story or plot of a text. Narrative

4. Narrative Theories (a) Vladimir PROPP Analysed Russian fairytales Decided narratives needed 7 key characters:

5. 1 – Hero 2 – Villain 3 – Princess 4 – Helper 5 – Donor 6 – Mentor 7 – False Hero CHARACTER DEFINITION EXAMPLE

6. Hi, I’m Vladimir PROPP! Your task now is to apply my theory to the trailer for Casino Royale! Apply Me!

7. BOND CHARACTER PROPP’S ROLE HOW CAN I TELL?

8. (b) Tvzetan TODOROV Said most stories follow 3 stages: 1. EQUILIBRIUM: Introduce setting, characters and storyline. 2. DISRUPTION of the equilibrium. Something happens to upset stage 1. 3. RESOLUTION – the problem is solved, things return to normal (?).

9. Apply Me! Hi, I’m Tvzetan TODOROV! Your task now is to apply my theory to the Pixar short film Presto! .

12. Oppositions can be… (a) VISUAL (things you see) Eg: Light/Darkness, movement/stillness Binary Oppositions (c) CONCEPTUAL (ideas) Eg: Love/hate, law/crime (b) AUDIO (things you hear) Eg: soundtrack, characters’ voices/accents

13. Applying The Theory TASK 1: List the Binary Oppositions you see in the slide show. TASK 2: Next to each one, write whether it’s visual, audio or conceptual.

14. Applying The Theory TASK: Apply Strauss’ ideas using Disney films. Eg: Visual: Hero wears light colours -v- villain is scruffy Audio: Upbeat for happy scenes -v- Downbeat for serious scenes Conceptual: Noble quest -v- Revenge

15. Warning! It’s difficult to apply these 3 theories to EVERY narrative! Some narratives deliberately defy conventions. Bending or breaking these rules can make a text more original and give the audience pleasure from this uniqueness.

16. Comics Glossary TASK: On the sheet, match the comic book terms to their definitions

17. Answers 1 = l 2 = f 3 = j 4 = a 5 = b 6 = n 7 = c 8 = e 9 = g 10 = d 11 = m 12 = h 13 = i 14 = k

18. Applying The Terms TASK: Apply the terms to the comic example. A B C D E F H I J K L M N P Splash page Blurb / subtitle Title Panel Splash balloon Gutter Sound effect Thought balloon Bubbles Speech balloon Pointer Bold/italic Credits Caption

20. Stereotypes

21. Applying Propp Q: Which of Propp’s 7 roles would your stereotype fit into? Why?

25. Applying Todorov TASK: Using Todorov’s 3 part structure, outline a typical comic book narrative.

26. TASK: Analyse the narrative , images and language of this comic. How does it appeal to its Target Audience of boys?

27. TASK: How does this comic represent men and women? How would this appeal to its Target Audience?

28. Qs: How is the visual style and narrative of this comic more modern? What’s its Target Audience?

29. Developing Your Superhero Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be and why?

32. Narrative Normal to extraordinary The dialogue Audience cue about setting. Credits Organisational details. Example: Batman - The First Cover

33. The title 3D font, colour, connotations? The sub title Narrative and genre? The character Body language, c olour codes, dress codes? Example: Batman - The First Cover

35. Developing Your Superhero TASK: Using the Batman first issue as an example, storyboard how your super hero got their powers.

36. Sound In Comics Comics use onomatopoeia to give a sense of sound to their narratives. TASK: Writing on the sheet, put down what emotion or action you think each word is conveying.

37. Your Comic Books Q1: What comic book conventions can you find? Q2: What characters have you found and how are they typical? Q3: What’s different about your comic book / what’s its unique selling point ?

39. Comic Protagonists Textual analysis: 1 3 4 5 2 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 Title Dress Codes Props Audience appeal Body language Position of image

40. Q1: How is Lara Croft a stereotypical comic book protagonist? Q2: How is she unconventional? TASK: Outline the narrative of the first comic in which she appears. Think about… How will she be introduced to the audience? What will we learn about her? Todorov’s structure

41. TEXT: Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz Narrative Task TASK: Turn this extract from the novel into a comic Remember… To use all the conventions of a comic while keeping the basic characters and narrative the same as the extract