2. Theorist ‘Rick Altman’
The three ways of breaking down the features of genre
(Semantic/Syntactic/pragmatic)
3. Semantic (elements of genre)
• This is concerned with the conventions of
the genre that communicate to the
audience such as characters, locations,
props, music and shooting style.
4. Syntactic (the order/sequence of elements)
• This is concerned with the relations
between these elements and the structure
of narratives in genres
5. Pragmatic (reality of the genre)
• This is concerned with the effect of the real
world on the genre
6. Tzetuan Todorov (argues that narrative always has a structure of equilibria/ disequilibria/ new equilibria)
His theory identifies the classic narrative pattern – he says that all
stories can actually be broken down into the same 3 part structure
Equilibrium > Disruption > Restoration
In order to achieve restoration (ie a new equilibrium) the hero must develop an
understanding of the disruption and make many (thwarted) attempts to resolve things.
When he does achieve resolution (ie defeats the villain, removes the danger), then society
can move forward to a new equilibrium – everything has changed but order is restored,
and there is hope for the future.
7. Claude Levi-Strauss (argues that humans cultures understanding is
based upon a system of binary opposites such as good/bad; black/white)
• He identified the notion that all narratives are
based on a set of binary opposites that create
conflict and therefore drive the narrative
forward (eg heroes v villains, war v peace,
science v humanity etc)
8. Roland Barthes (the opening and closing of tect)
Barthes argued that all narratives are based on a set of
codes. The main two are enigma and action codes.
Enigma: all stories have questions or puzzles built into them
Action: where the character performs something that means
one set of actions will happen afterwards. For instance, a
cowboy puts a holster on; this means a gunfight will follow
shortly afterwards in the film
10. Representation
• The process whereby the media constructs versions of
people, places and events in images, words or sounds for
transmission through a media text to an audience
• The media provides models (stereotypes?) of how
audiences interpret gender, social groups…
• Representations are mediated and therefore reflect the
value systems/ ideology of their producer (Moral panics
against outsiders)
• No representation is real, just a version.
