This document discusses key concepts in narrative theory, including the idea that people understand the world through stories and make decisions based on narrative frameworks. It introduces theorists like Vladimir Propp, who identified narrative structures in Russian folktales, and Tzvetan Todorov, who described narratives as having an initial equilibrium disrupted and resolved. The document also mentions Roland Barthes' five narrative codes and how classical narrative conventions are used in moving image texts through techniques like editing and camerawork.

1. Narrative Theory: Revising key terms and introducing Propp and Todorov.

2. Narrative Theory What is it? The idea that people approach their social world using story-like frameworks. People act and make decisions within a narrative framework.

3. Narrative Theory: rational world paradigm. People are rational Being rational is determined by how much we know. The world is a set of logical puzzles to be solved.

4. Narrative Theory: narrative paradigm. People are storytellers. People make decisions based on good reasons. We decide what these ‘good reasons’ are based on character, culture and history. The world is a set of stories we re-create to make up our lives.

5. Narrative Theory: narrative rationality. All communication can be looked at like a narrative – through a ‘narrative lens’ Individuals are able to distinguish what makes a story legitimate by using ‘narrative rationality’ Rationality consists of two factors: coherence and fidelity. Coherence can be best defined as if a story makes sense structurally.

6. Narrative Theory: narrative rationality. Rationality consists of two factors: coherence and fidelity. Coherence can be best defined as if a story makes sense structurally. Is the story consistent, with sufficient detail, reliable characters, and free of any major surprises? Narrative fidelity is concerned with whether or not the story is true.

7. Chomsky, Propp and Todorov. Chomsky argues that narrative is a fundamental aspect of human existence. Why? Vladimir Propp published ‘Morphology of Folktale’ 1968. He studied the Russian fairytale and isolated 31 functions(actions or events)…(see sheet) He also described seven roles…(see sheet)

8. Classical Narrative Has events organised on a logical ‘cause and effect’ basis. A fictional world which is believable. Narrative economy.

9. Todorov Believed that a fictional world has an ‘initial equilibrium’ which is disrupted to produce a ‘new equilibrium.’ Thesis Disruption Antithesis Synthesis

10. How does this link to moving image texts? EDITING : Classical Editing – credible fictional space. Bridge temporal and spatial ellipses. 180 degree rule and invisibility. CAMERA: How is stable fictional space created?

11. How does this link to moving image texts? How does classical narrative work in self-contained stories within episodes? What must happen at the end of each episode?

12. Roland Barthes. Describes five narrative codes: SEMIC : describes characters. REFERENTIAL : refers to the ‘real world.’ SYMBOLIC : metaphoric allowing audience to generalise.

13. Roland Barthes. PROIARETIC : referes to narrative development through ‘action’. HERMANEUTIC : proposes ‘enigmas’ which the narrative must solve.

14. Classical Narrative. Endemic in Western society. Narrative transivity Identification Transparency Single diegesis Closure Pleasure Fiction

15. Counter-Cinema. Narrative intransivity Estrangement Foregrounding Multiple diegesis Aperture Un-pleasure Reality