2. Todorov Theory
Todorov in 1969 produced a theory, which he believed to be able to be applied to
any film. He believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern. They all
went through stages called equilibrium, disequilibrium, acknowledgment, solving
and equilibrium.
There are five stages the of the narrative process:
A state of equilibrium
A disruption of that order by an event
A recognition that the disorder has occurred
An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption
A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium
3. How it links to our work
“In the western, the gangster and the detective films,
disruption is always figured literally- as physical force”
(quote)
Todorov’s five stages of narrative link to our music video,
since at first there is a state of equilibrium when they are
just walking and nothing happens, a disruption happens
when they all began running and start chasing the person
on his own. A recognition of the disruption is the fight, an
attempt to fix the disruption is when he runs again trying
to escape and the return of restoration is when he gets
caught and becomes one of the people chasing him.
4. Vladimir Propp
Vladimir Propp is known for the character theory, he states that every narrative
has eighty different character types, these types are:
The Villain – Fights the hero in someway.
The Dispatcher – Makes the villains evil known and sends the hero off.
The Helper – Helps the hero on the quest.
The Princess/Prize – What the hero gets in the end of the quest.
The Donor – Gives the hero an object that is useful for their quest.
The Hero – The main protagonist of the story.
False Hero – Falsely assuming the heroes role.
The Father – Looks after the princess/prize.
5.
6. How it links to our work
"Functions of character serve as stable, constant
elements in a tale, independent of how and by whom
they are fulfilled. They constitute the fundamental
components of a tale” (quote)
The number of functions known to a fairy tale is
limited. Our music video has limited character type
for example a hero/ damsel in distress which can be
seen as the black guy running and the villains which
are the people in the masks.
7. Claude Levi-Strauss
Binary Opposites Young vs Old
Good vs Evil Man vs Nature
Black vs White Protagonist vs Antagonist
Boy vs Girl Action vs Inaction
Peace vs War Motivator vs Observer
Civilized vs Savage Empowered vs Victim
Democracy vs Dictatorship Man vs Woman
First World vs Third World Good Looking vs Ugly
Domestic vs Foreign/Alien Strong vs Weak
Articulate vs Inarticulate East vs West
Decisive vs Indecisive Humanity vs Technology
Ignorance vs Wisdom Middle class vs Working
Class
Claude Levi Strauss
said that narratives
are formed around
binary opposites.
Conflict is based
around binary
opposites and binary
opposites are the
climax of a narrative
structure.
8.
9. How it links to our work
“That all narratives had to be driven forward by
conflict that was caused by a series of opposing
forces” (quote)
The binary opposites that we have in our music
video is a group of people vs one. There is also an
opposite if everyone wearing masks and the person
not wearing a mask. Finally there is an unintentional
one where it is one race vs another.
10. Roland Barthes
Hermeneutic/Enigma Code – This code refers to a mystery in a text. Hints
are dropped throughout the narrative. Having enigmas in this try makes
the audience wants to find out more.
Proairtec/Action Code – This code contains sequential elements of action
in the text, proairtec adds suspense to the story.
Semantic Code – This code refers to parts within the text that suggests
another meaning.
Symbolic Code – This code is about symbolism within text. It exercises
opposites to show contrast and create greater meaning, creating tension,
drama and character development.
Referential Code – This code refers to anything in the text which refers to
an external body of knowledge such as scientific, historical and cultural
knowledge.
There are five narrative codes in Barthes's Theory which are:
11. How it links to our work
Roland Barthes Theory links to our work, for example by the enigma code as in our
music video we see this person running from this group of masked people, therefore
it is mystery due to the fact we don’t know why he is running.
The action code can be linked due to the person running and not understanding why
and the fight scene when he gets caught which adds the suspense as we don’t
know what's going to happen when he gets caught until it happens.
Semiotic code links to our music video where you have one guy that is black guy
running from white people which could suggest a white supremacist ideology, which
can also link to Levi Strauss theory of binary opposites (black vs white). This can
also lead to symbolic code where it creates a greater meaning.
Referential code can be linked to our music video as in current culture everyone
rejects what they aren't apart of for example nerds culture rejects jock culture where
as in our music video its white culture rejecting/ changing black culture to match
white culture.
