The document discusses several narrative theories: - Todorov's narrative theory describes a cycle of equilibrium being disrupted, disequilibrium, and attempts to restore equilibrium. - Propp's theory identifies character roles like hero, villain, and princess that drive the narrative. - Levi-Strauss analyzed binary oppositions like good/bad, male/female that are present in many narratives. - Barthes believed narratives could be open to multiple interpretations or closed with a single meaning.

1. NARRATIVE THEORY Ben Bateman

2. TODOROV’S NARRATIVE
THEORY
Todorovs narrative theory is neither a liner or non – linear narrative. Although there is
an apparent beginning middle and end rather than it being a straight storyline, it’s
more of a cycle. What this cycle includes is having an initial state of equilibrium, and
then that becoming disequilibrium.
The five stages are as follows:
Equilibrium
Disruption to that equilibrium
Disequilibrium
Attempts to restore equilibrium
New found equilibrium
All of these aspects culminated to make Todorovs narrative theory, and create a
foundation for many storylines.

3. HOW DOES THIS NARRATIVE
THEORY RELATE TO OUR
FILM?
Throughout our short film we never get the sense that there is a state of
equilibrium. So although there are some aspects of it, it doesn’t completely
follow the narrative structure of Todorovs. From our film there is the
disequilibrium, attempts to restore equilibrium and also many additional
disruptions to the equilibrium.
Disruptions would consist of her conflict with her parent, her getting kicked out
of school.
Her attempts to restore equilibrium, or at least feel better, although it may seem
unusual comes through the smoking and the drinking, in an attempt to forget
her situation.

4. VLADIMIR PROPP NARRATIVE
THEORY
Vladimir Propp’s narrative theory is based on a set of characters that play a specific role in a film. These
kind of characters have become compulsory in many films as they provide a structure to follow.
The characters that are part of Propp’s theory are as follows:
The hero – the main character usually catalyst for restoring equilibrium
The villain – the opposition, blocks attempts to restore equilibrium
The donor – usually assists the hero on his quest by donating something
The dispatcher – sends the hero out on his mission
The false hero – acts as a hero only to betray the actual hero and become a villain or is a villain
The helper – helps the hero on his quest
The princess – the reward for the hero completing his quest
Her father – ensures that the hero is rewarded

5. VLADIMIR PROPP NARRATIVE
THEORY
The functions that the characters carry out are as
follows:
There is a state of order, where the surroundings are
normal and tranquil
The villain then harms one person or multiple people
in the community.
Creates disorder
Person in the community is vengeful or needs saving
Hero is sent out on a quest
Puts plan in place to overcome villain

6. HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO
OUR FILM.
This narrative theory doesn’t really relate to our film. As there is not a heroic
character setting out on a mission to restore equilibrium. However there are
aspects of this theory that can relate to our film, as there are people in the film
who can be deemed as villainous characters. E.G the parents and teacher. People
may be led to believe that Natalie is a victim of ill treatment from her parents
and that the teacher was too ruthless in kicking Natalie out of school.

7. CLAUDE LEVI – STRAUSS
BINARY OPPOSITIONS
The binary opposition theory's is basically sets of opposites which reflect
the difference between good and bad. These are values. Some of the
examples of which opposites prominently appear in many narratives are:
Good/bad
Male/female
Ability/disability
Love/hate
Black/white
Intelligence/brute force

8. HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO
OUR FILM?
There are many binary opposites that our evident in our film. Good and bad are
evident in just Natalie alone. We get glimpses of her good side, a young innocent
girl however we do see her inner demons take over and a bad side to Natalie is
revealed.
We see one side to the male/female binary opposites. We are exposed to
females vulnerabilities during our short film and the struggles young girls face
in the current society.

9. ROLAND BARTHES
NARRATIVE THEORY
Roland Barthes believed that all people that
observed any type of media text would receive it and
then would interpret it in many different ways. His
theory was that a text could either be ‘open’ and have
multiple meanings or could be just ‘closed’ and have
one sole meaning. Barthes created narrative codes,
such as the enigma code whereby the resolving of the
text comes from the audience. The narrative was
categorised in to five different ways. These ways
were:
Enigma code
Symbols and signs
Cultural reference
Simple description/reproduction