This document discusses various concepts and theorists related to narrative structure in media. It outlines Aristotle's beginning, middle, end structure. Todorov's equilibrium, disequilibrium, re-equilibrium structure is presented. Propp is discussed for identifying 31 narrative functions and 7 character archetypes based on Russian folktales. Other concepts covered include plot vs story, cause and effect, Levi-Strauss's binary oppositions, and Barthes' codes for how audiences decode narratives. Examples are given like Propp's archetypes in Star Wars and definitions from Bordwell and Thompson.

1. NARRATIVE
Media StudiesMedia Studies

2.  “Narrative is a way of organising spatial
and temporal data into a cause and effect
chain of events with a beginning, middle
and end that embodies a judgement about
the nature of the events as well as
demonstrates how it is possible to know,
and hence to narrate, the events. “
Brannigan E. Narrative Comprehension and Film

3. Features of Narrative
Structure
• Aristotle’s beginning, middle and end.
• Todorov’s equilibrium>disequilibrium>re-equilibrium
• Propp’s “functions”
2. Temporal order, temporal duration,
temporal frequency
3. Story and Plot
• Explicitly presented actions/events
• Implicitly inferred actions/events
• Non diegetic material (captions/titles, drama enhancing music
etc.)

4. Other Features
1. Constructional Devices
 Cinematography
 Mise- en- scene
 Editing
 Sound
2. Genre Associations
Genre Codes (e.g. Iconography)
Genre Conventions
3. Narrative Codes
Levi Straus’s Binary Oppositions
Character Psychology
Semiotic Analysis

5. Todorov
 Initial Situation (Equilibrium)
 Disruption (Non equilibrium)
 Restoration (Re Equilibrium)
‘The Shining’

6. Propp 1928
 Based upon the Russian Folktale 1928
 Types of Characters, Specific Forms of
Action, function in the Narrative.
 Thirty One Functions identified.

7. Specific research on narrative
• Vladimir Propp
• Russian Formalist in the 1930s
• He identified seven archetypal
characters..

8. Propp’s character archetypes
 The Villain
 The Donor/giver of knowledge
 The Helper
 The Princess (sought after person)
 The Dispatcher
 The Hero (or victim)
 The False Hero

10. Propp’s character archetypes
 The Villain Darth Vader
 The Donor Obi Won Kenobe
 The Helper Han Solo
 The Princess Princess Leah
 The Dispatcher R2 - D2
 The Hero Luke Skywalker
 The False Hero Darth Vader (Luke’s dad)

11. Definitions from Bordwell and
Thompson (1991)
 Plot: What we see on screen. Includes extra-
narrative things.
 Story: all that we know about the narrative
including seen and unseen.
 Cause and effect: Cause and effect. Causes
can come from a character.

12. Levi Strauss
 Binary Opposites
• Protagonist/Antagonist
• Action /Inaction
• Good looking / Ugly
• Witty / Humourless

13. Barthes
 Audience Decodes
• Enigma Code (sets up a question to be answered
later)
• Action Code - understood by cross reference to
other narratives in our culture
• Semic Code (How characters, actions ,events,
settings etc. take on meaning within a culture.
• Symbolic Code - Binary Oppositions or
Psychological symbols
• Cultural Codes - understood through our interaction
with the wider world.