1. Learning Objective:
To understand and apply Audience & narrative theory to the films
Learning outcome:
All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to the films(Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories (Grade
A/B)

2. Vladimir Propp (1895 – 1970)
8 Character Roles
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The Hero – a character that seeks something Tsotsi
The Villain – who opposes or actively blocks the hero’s quest
Tsotsi/Butcher
The Donor – who provides an object with magical properties The Mother
The Dispatcher – who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message
Tsotsi’s Father
The False Hero – who disrupts the hero’s success by making false claims
The Police
The Helper – who aids the hero Boston
The Princess – acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villain’s
plots Miriam
The Father – who acts to reward the hero for his effort The Baby’s Father
All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief examples of how it applies to
Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories (Grade A/B)

3. Tzvetan Todorov simplified the idea of narrative theory whilst
also allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts
with his theory of Equilibrium and Disequilibrium.
• The fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium
(everything is as it should be)
 It then suffers some disruption (disequilibrium)
• New equilibrium is produced at the end of the narrative
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All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories
(Grade A/B)

4. There are five stages the narrative can progress through:
 A state of equilibrium (all is as it should be)
 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
All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
 Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
 Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories
(Grade A/B)


5. Here narrative is not seen as a linear structure but a circular
one.
The narrative is driven by attempts to restore the equilibrium.
However, the equilibrium attained at the end of the story is
not identical to the initial equilibrium.
Todorov argues that narrative involves a transformation. The
characters or the situations are transformed through the
progress of the disruption.
The disruption itself usually takes place outside the normal
social framework, outside the ‘normal’ social events.
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All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories (Grade
A/B)

6. TASK:
1. Apply Todorov’s theory to Tsotsi, does it conform?
2. Why do you think narrative’s follow these common
patterns?
3. Can Propp & Todorov’s theory be applied to The City of
God and to what effect?
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All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories
(Grade A/B)

7. Injection & Rejection
(Hypodermic needle Theory) AUDIENCE EFFECTS THEORY
The idea is injected into the audience and it is immediately
accepted and acted upon. It is often disregarded now as
audiences are considered more sophisticated now, this can
be because audiences are bombarded with more ideas now –
or that audiences were merely underestimated .
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•
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All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories
(Grade A/B)

8. Passive Audience:
Accept passively the ideas that they are sold to them through the media text –
in this case Tsotsi & City of God.
They are the victims of the hypodermic needle theory. They are most likely to
respond to a text by imitating the idea of judging themselves in comparison.
The passive audience does not have to murder because they saw it on tv – they
may behave in a certain way because of what they have seen (not letting
children play outside – not going out at night in fear of being attacked)
The passive audience accepts the stereotype and apply it without consideration.
TASK: Using the theory of the Passive Audience – what notions would a passive
audience take from Tsotsi and City of God.
How would they behave of they were to visit the areas?
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All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief examples of how it
applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an argument
(Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories (Grade A/B)

9. Active Audience:
They measure and mediate what they receive from a text – they
question the message!
• They know that a representation isn’t necessarily a reality but a
creation to either support the narrative or attract an audience
• Feelings are still provoked but acceptance is challenged.
TASK:
What messages would an active audience question in the films Tsotsi
and City of God?
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All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories (Grade
A/B)

10. Audience Positioning
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The irony of Tsotsi is that the audience follow a thug who steals a baby
form its mother and attacks his friends yet the audience like him and feel
sympathy for him which goes against the audience’s ideology .
TASK:
How has Hood positioned the audience in this way – what narrative
devices have been used?
What is the audience positioning in City of God?
What narrative devices does Meirelles use to create this positioning?
All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories (Grade
A/B)

11. How is the culture represented in the film Tsotsi?
You should consider:
• Challenges that world cinema poses for the audience
and how this is overcome
• Director’s intentions & Narrative theory
• Audience Positioning
• Use of micro elements and how they affect the macro
elements
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•
•
All of you will be able to Explain audience and narrative theory with some brief
examples of how it applies to Tsotsi (Grade D/E)
Most of you will be able to explain how it does and does not apply and develop an
argument (Grade B/C)
Some of you will consider the Director's intentions against the two theories (Grade
A/B)

12.  Passive audience in Tsotsi (understand the
characters)
 Why is Tsotsi involved in crime, the purpose
of the flashback, why does he give himself
up?
 Active audience in Tsotsi (Accept what’s
happening)
 Poor living conditions, crime, volience, death,
rich and poor divide, Aids

13.  Passive audience in COG
 Why does Little Ze enjoy killing others, how
are the characters influenced in crime?
 Active audience
 Police, crime, poverty, power, death, conflict