This document discusses different narrative theories and how the author's media product relates to them. It explains Todorov's narrative theory, which suggests media texts follow a pattern from equilibrium to conflict to resolution. The author's film deliberately subverts this pattern by including a false resolution in the middle to keep the audience guessing. The document also discusses Rick Altman's genre theory, which argues genres are progressive and evolving through hybridization. The author's thriller combines psychological and horror elements to create an intriguing hybrid genre film.

1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real
media products?
Media Evaluation

2. Todorov’s Narrative Theory
Todorov’s Narrative Theory suggests all media texts follow a similar pattern.
This pattern both starts and ends with equilibrium, allowing whatever
‘’problem’’ or ‘’conflict’’ that has arisen to be solved. This equilibrium at the
end forms a resolution allowing the audience to believe the text has come to
a comfortable ending where there has been a big reveal on who was the
protagonist throughout the text. This is known as the denouement.
The pattern follows a graph as shown below...

3. Our Film...
Our film follows Todorov’s theory to a certain extent, however we chose to
deliberately subvert this theory and go against what is expected of a media text. We
decided to subvert this theory as we did not want our film to be like many other
thrillers, and so decided to have a false denouement in the middle of the film to
keep the audience guessing. We decided the entirety of our thriller film would look
as follows on a tension graph...
Beginning/Opening Middle End
Equilibrium
Tension Rising
Conflict
Rapid
Decline to
Denouement
Sharp Tension From
False Denouement
Ending still in conflict

4. Example...
This can be seen in the opening to our thriller when the hand grabs the females ankles
from underneath the bed. This shows a contrast to Todorov’s theory as it has already
created a climax within the film that is unlikely to be solved.

5. Rick Altman Genre Theory
Rick Altman suggests that there is no such thing as a ‘’pure’’ genre any more.
Contrasting with Chandler’s Theory, he says genre is progressive and will always
change. Altman suggests that generic conventions do not exist anymore and suggests
audiences are tired of the same formula that Todorov suggests.
Altman suggests that genre is surviving due to hybridisation – the ideology of genres
‘’borrowing’’ conventions from one and thus making them harder to categorise.
Our thriller adverts to this as it follows the themes of both psychological thrillers, and
horrors which combined make a thriller more interesting than just the singular
convention. This joining of conventions allows our thriller to make the audience
experience both fear and mind games, creating the ultimate storyline to confuse and
intrigue those experiencing the film. Many films of modern day adhere to Altman’s
theory, and often hybrids are more exciting and often target late teens to early 20’s.