This document summarizes four major narrative theories: 1) Todorov's theory proposes five stages that structure narratives: equilibrium, disruption, recognition, attempt to repair, new equilibrium. This structure applies to the film "Life Is a Journey" but in a different order. 2) Propp analyzed Russian fairytales and identified character types like villains and heroes, but these don't apply to "Life Is a Journey" which only has two characters. 3) Levi-Strauss saw narratives as reflecting cultural beliefs through binary opposites like poor/rich. "Life Is a Journey" may show this through the relationship between its male and female characters. 4) Mulvey's "male gaze"

1. Narrative Theory
Take Three Productions –
Jasdeep Kaur Jabbal

2. Narrative
By definition, a narrative is a way in which a story is told in both
fictional and non-fictional media texts.
The 4 main narrative theorists are Todorov, Propp, Mulvey and
Levi-Strauss.

3. Todorov
Todorov was a Bulgarian literary theorist,
this theory provides a basic format for all
narratives – he suggested that most
narratives start with a state of equilibrium.

4. Tzvetan Todorov
He then goes on to describe five stages that structure
conventional narratives:
1. A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)
2. A disruption of that order by an event.
3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.
4. An attempt to repair the damage of the
disruption.
5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium

5. Todorov Theory – Our Production
• This structure is valid to our own production, Life Is a Journey, but the states are
not in the same order.
• At the beginning it starts of with the recognition that the disorder has occurred
by Tom who waits and watch’s Anna packing her bag.
• Then there is an attempt to repair the damage of the disruption by when Tom
stops Anna packing and push’s her to the wall.
• Also the state of disruption is when Tom and Anna get into a heated argument;
this is a disruption of the equilibrium which is at the beginning.
• Then there is a rewind of everything to the state of equilibrium, where there is a
montage of both Anna and Tom, this allows the audience to gain an
understanding and a strong liking towards both characters.
• Finally towards the ending the state of disruption is shown again; this is when Tom
and Anna get into a heated argument; this is a disruption of the equilibrium.
• From this, we get the audience to not only experience the idea of how they met,
both characters are reminiscing and remember how they got together, and
why they are still together – this also adds to the attempt to repair the
disruption and also the question about the disruption.

6. Vladimir Propp
Vladimir was a Russian critic and literary theorist that analysed over 100
Russian fairytales in the 20’s. The model is applicable and useful in that it
highlights the contrast between supposedly unique stories. He
anticipated that it was possible to categorise characters and their
actions into clearly categorised functions and roles.
• Vladimir also stated that there are 8 main characters involved in
such a narrative, these are:
• The villain
• The dispatcher
• The donor
• The hero
• Her father
• The helper
• The princess of the prize
• The false hero

7. Propp Theory – Our
Production
It does not seem as though this narrative will be applicable to our short
film, the reason being, our short film only has two characters, both of
which are in love and there is no such villain or father, or a helper or a
princess, etc.

8. Claude Levi-Strauss
Strauss was a French anthropologist who studied Myths and Tribal
cultures, examined how stories subconsciously reflect the values, beliefs
and myths of culture; his theory argued that all narratives could be
reduced down to binary opposites for instance, the poor and the rich,
the old and the young, a boy and a girl.
According to Claude “All narratives have to be
driven by a conflict by a series of opposing
forces”. This conflict would eventually cause the
narrative to restore some sort of balance. A good
example of a binary opposition could be in many
marvel films, however, specifically, Batman; The
Joker being the villain, and of course, Batman
being the hero.

9. Claude Theory – Our
Production
Within the media industry, this theory is used very frequently in films,
however perhaps not so much my own. There may be a binary
opposite as there are two characters, one is a boy, the other a girl, and
so, once they argue, this may show a binary opposition.

10. Laura Mulvey
Laura is a British feminist film theorist;
she came up with the theory of “the
male gaze”. She believes that
audiences have to be able to view
the characters from the perspective
of a heterosexual male – this involves
the camera lingering on certain
parts of a females’ body for
instance, her breasts or her curves,
this relegates women to the status of
objects.

11. Laura Mulvey Theory – Our
Production
For our production, it may be likely that this theory is to be used as we
are using a young, beautiful girl and therefore, it may inevitable that
people are to ‘gaze’ at her feminine aspects, such as her curves.
Also, due to the fact that both characters are to be in a relationship,
Tom, the male character may present Anna in such a light that she will
be desirable for those in our target audience that are males as out
production is to be aimed at both males and females.