2. IZETAN TODOROV
Izetan Todrov was a Bulgarian Structuralist linguist publishing
influential work on narrative from the 1960‟s onwards. Todorov
suggested that stories begun with an equilibrium or status quo
where any potentially opposing forces are in balance. This is
disrupted by some event, setting in chain a series of events.
Problems are solved so that order can be restored to the
worlds of the fiction.
3. TODOROV SUGGESTED THAT CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE
IS STRUCTED IN FIVE STAGES
1. A state of equilibrium at the outset – The state of equilibrium
is at balance. The atmosphere and mood is calm and happy.
2. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action – The state of
the equilibrium is disturbed. A problem arises. The content
and happy mood that was portrayed at the beginning is lost.
3. A recognition that there has been a disruption – The
protagonist will recognise that the state of the equilibrium is
disrupted.
4. An attempt to repair the disruption – The protagonist will
restore the equilibrium after a series of falls.
5. A reinstatement of the equilibrium – The calm and happy
mood is restored and there are no complications just like in
the beginning.
4. HOW DOES TODOROV‟S THEORY APPLY TO OUR
PRODUCTION?
Since our production is only the two minute opening sequence it
wont apply to the whole of Todorov‟s Theory.
This type of narrative structure is very similar to our opening
sequence as the equilibrium would have been Bella sitting in the
shower but as when she‟s in the shower she‟s crying and
shaking, it doesn‟t apply to Todorovs theory. It then starts to
apply when a „problem occurs‟ and the equilibrium is disturbed.
During Bella‟s flashbacks she starts to remember the events of
what have happened to her, causing a problem.
5. ROLAND BARTHES
Rowland Barthes was a French semiologist. Barthes theory of the five codes
is a way of signifiers according to the role they play in the text.
1. The Hermeneutic code (The Voice of truth) - Is the way the story avoids
telling the truth or revealing all the facts. In order to drop clues in through out
to help create mystery.
2. The Proairetic code (The voice of Empirics) – the way the tension is built
up and the audience is left guessing what happens next
3. The semantic code (The voice of person) – Points to any element in a text
that suggest a particular, often additional meaning by the way of connation
which the story suggests.
4.The symbolic code (The voice of symbol) – Similar to the semantic code but
acts at a wider level, organising semantic meanings into boarder and deeper
sets of meaning. This is typically done in the use of antithesis, where new
meanings arise out of opposing and conflict ideas.
5.The cultural code (The voice of knowledge) - Looks at the audiences wider
cultural knowledge, morality and ideology.
6. HOW DOES BARTHES THEORY APPLY TO OUR
PRODUCTION?
This type of narrative structure applies to our opening
sequence very well. When Bella is sitting in the shower crying
this can be seen as The Hermeneutic Code. The story avoids
revealing what‟s about to happen. It drops clues to what may
have taken place as her clothes are ripped. Once Bella‟s
flashbacks have finished and the voiceover says “Now it‟s my
time for revenge” The proairectic code applies. Tension has
built up and the audience will probably be wondering what‟s
going to happen.
