Todorov's theory proposes that stories follow a 5-stage structure: equilibrium, disruption, realization, restored order, and new equilibrium. This is exemplified in a Superman scene where the story starts with Niagara Falls in calm state (equilibrium), a boy falls in (disruption), people notice and panic (realization), Superman saves the boy (restored order), and returns to normal (new equilibrium). Levi-Strauss's theory is that narratives need binary opposites like good/bad to create conflict resolved at the end. Propp's theory is that stories typically include 8 character types like the villain, dispatcher, and hero.

1. Media Theories

2. Todorovs theory
• Todorov's theory is that there's an idea how
a story is structured in certain way.
• There is 4 aspects that has to take place
1. Equilibrium
2. Something that disrupts this equilibrium
3. Realisation
4. Resorted order
5. New equilibrium

3. Equilibrium
The start of the story starts with everything calm , everyone is acting normal.
In the superman Niagara scene, it starts with a establishing shot of the beautiful Niagara falls .

4. Disruption
• Second part of the story , where something bad happens that disrupts equilibrium
• In this instance , a little boy is falling from the Niagara falls

5. Realisation
Realisation is where everyone notices that there's a problem and there's chaos.
In this scene everyone is running toward the Niagara falls to see what's going on .

6. Resorted order
• This is where someone attempts to repair the problem and return the place of equilibrium.
• In this instance , the character superman attempts to catch the boy before he hits the water.

7. New equilibrium
• This is where everything is fixed and everyone goes back to normal .
• In the scene , superman goes back to his normal form and act likes he missed everything.

8. Levi Strauss
• Levi Strauss theory is about binary oppositions. He says that narrative can be resolved at end
of conflict but you need opposites to create this conflict.
• Examples of binary opposites are
1. Good/bad
2. Light/dark
3. Love/hate
4. Protagonist/antagonist
5. Strong/ weak

9. Vladimir Propp
• Vladimir prop theory is about characters , he says that there are 8 typical
characters in each film.
• Below is the typical characters he mentioned:
1. The villain- antagonist , fights with hero
2. The dispatcher- sends the hero to fight off the villain
3. The helper- helps out the hero on mission
4. The princess/prize- someone who the hero is awarded with at the end of
quest
5. The father- gives the hero the quest ,identifies the false hero. Propp says
that princess and the father cannot be clearly recognised
6. The donor- prepares the hero with the equipment needed
7. False hero- takes credit for hero’s actions or tries to take the prize at the
end
8. The hero- protagonist, who reacts with the donor.