a powerpoint on narrative theorists

1. Narrative theorists

2. Roland Barthes
• All shots that make up a video are full of action
and enigma codes.
• Action codes are all the small things which show
something is about to happen e.g. pouring a glass
of water because the person is thirsty.
• Enigma codes are things that happen which makes
you ask questions and are the ‘bigger picture’. E.G.
What will happen?, Will they stay together?
• Enigma codes help to move the narrative along,
and keep the audience engaged
• These codes can be interpreted in different ways
dependant on people’s cultures and background.
• He says that you have to think about every little
thing that you put in the shot.

3. Claude Levi Strauss
• Strauss declares that most videos
include binary opposites.
• Examples of this are Male/female,
Light/Dark, Good/Evil
• Jaques Derrida took Barthes’ and
Strauss’ theory and recognised that
these ‘binary’ pairs are never equal.

4. Vladamir Propp
• Propp identified 31 plot elements which he
developed into 8 spheres of action narrative
theory.
• They are: The villain, The hero, The donor, The
helper, The princess, Her father, The
dispatcher

5. Todorov
• Todorov has developed a simple five step narrative
which can be used in videos. They are:
• The narrative starts with a state of equilibrium
• It then get disrupted
• The disruption is recognised
• There is an attempt to repair it
• The equilibrium is restored

6. My video
• I think that I can apply several theories to my video.
• Firstly, Barthes theory of action and enigma codes can
definitely be applied. One example of an action code is that
when he is running away from the amazons he is scared. An
example of an Enigma code is, Will he get the girl?
• Secondly Strauss’ theory of Binary opposition can be applied.
We have the obvious opposition of the Male and Female, we
have Good and Bad. The slightly less obvious ones are the
opposition of country(fields) and town(streets).