The document explores four media theorists - Tzvetan Todorov, Vladimir Propp, Claude Levi-Strauss, and Roland Barthes - and their theories on narrative structures. It discusses Tzvetan Todorov's view that narratives follow a structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium, and new equilibrium. It then examines Vladimir Propp's theory that stories contain up to eight character archetypes. Next, it covers Claude Levi-Strauss' idea that narratives revolve around binary opposites. The document analyzes how the theories relate to the films Gangster Squad, Cinderella, Pulp Fiction, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

1. Theory
This is section of the blog explores how people think how films are structured. I will look into the views of 4 media theorists. These 4 media theorists are Tzvetan Todorov, Vladimir Propp, Claude Levi-Strauss, and Roland Barthes. There are 3 overall ways of narrative structures which include:
Linear- this is the traditional and ‘normal’ way to structure a story as it just involves the beginning then the middle then the end.
Circular- this is a strange narrative type as it starts with the end, then the middle as it goes forward in time, then it links back to the start at the end of the film.
Episodic- this is when chapters are broken up but the same event occurs but as the film progresses, the audience see it from different peoples perspective.

2. Tzvetan Todorov
This media theorists believes that all narratives follow a simple structure that includes an equilibrium, then a disequilibrium and then lastly a equilibrium. This basically means that at the start everything is okay. Then as the story progresses there becomes a problem and the characters realize then try to fix the problem. Then lastly there is always a solution to the film, for example a happy ending or even all the characters dying. An example of a film that supports this theory is Gangster Squad as it starts with everything being okay, then a shoot out occurs being lead by a particular gang with a top leader of the city behind the attack (antagonist). The police (protagonist) find out, then they try to fix the problem by hunting down the top leader of the gang and lastly the antagonist being arrested. However there are films that don’t suit Todorov’s structure theory. For example Pulp fiction does not suit this as it starts with a couple organising a robbery and then it links back to this scene at the end.
This structure will help me when making my film opening because it has inspired me to think about to layout and how it has effected my opening. I think that from this I need to think about if it is a good idea to include the ending of the film into the start or whether to keep it as a simple start as a equilibrium.

3. Vladimir Propp
Vladimir Propp’s media theory involves that there only up to eight characters in a film and that every character fits into a certain category. These categories are:
Hero. Villain. Donor. Helper. Princess. Princess’s father. Dispatcher. False hero.
A film that supports this theory is a typical Disney film or fairy tale. His theory’s are mostly about this genre as that was what was around at this time and this is what Propp chose to focus on. Cinderella is an example of a fairy tale that supports the structure as it has prince for a hero, the evil stepmom for the villain, the mouse for the helper and so on. There are a lot of films that do not support this structure like pulp fiction as it does not have a clear protagonist. In relation to my opening I could use and collect information from Gangster Squad as this involves a women who could also represent the princess. This film also is hard to tell and pick put most of the characters and to put them in individual characters as most films nowadays are more completed and try to break the mould.
This theory has helped me to realize how to portray the characters and how to make them represent their respective roles whether it be the hero or the villain. I will use the theory as a platform to base my opening on this and to plan out how I will represent my characters.

4. Claude Levi-Strauss
This persons theory suggests that every film is revolved around binary opposites and suggests that everything is based on opposites. This can include films based on a male vs. female, power vs. weakness, and crime vs. justice. An example of a film that supports this theory is Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as this revolves around the idea of money and involves people who lose their money and then try to get it back. The plot of this film is about a group of hustlers that get together and participate in a game of poker. However they lose their money in this game and then as a result the film goes onto show their plan to get the money back.. This could then suggest that the binary opposites of the film are rich vs. poor, or power vs. weakness. This is quite a good theory and it seems that almost all films do include a structure that has binary opposites.
This structure has helped me in the way of how I'm going to portray the themes and how to make the audience realize what the binary opposites of the film are. In addition to this the binary opposites will probably involve money and power as my film is based a traditional British gangster theme.