5. 1B THEORIES NARRATIVE
THEORISTS THEORY SUMMARISED R A G
Todorov Narrative structure = equilibrium,disequilibrium, newequilibrium
(old theory = could explain why it’s NOT applicable!)
Strauss Binaryopposites=binaryoppositionformsafundamentalwaytounderstanding
narrative (oppositionoffersstructure ora premise toa text)
Barthes Codes– narrative isall about anticipationandexpectation. Hiscodesencourage
explanationsof how audiencesseekcluesandanswerstopredictpossible
outcomes
Enigma code*
Action code*
Semanticcode*
Symboliccode
Cultural code *know theseat minimum
Propp Character types – narrativesalwayshave certaincharactertypeswhoperform
certainroles/actions (7charactertypesare:hero, villain, dispatcher,donor,
helper,heroine,false hero)
(old theory = could explain why it’s NOT applicable!)
Contemporarytheoriesbelow:
Kuleshov
effect
(Lev
Kuleshov)
The powerof editingtocreate meaningonaudience
(editingisawayto tell a storyor the wayto create an intendedperceptionof a
story)
(Examplesfrompresentationinclass:
Oldexperimentclip (man’sface….soup……then…….man’sface…..girl)
Propogandaclip (firsttouse editingtocreate meaning)
AlfredHitchcock
Charlie Brooker (newswipe=recreatingbigbrother)
Montage = Team America
Changinggenre throughediting: ScaryMary, Up (Michael Bay) , Frozen(horror)
Image (assembly/connection between images)
Rhythm (pace)
Space (wherethingsare)
Time (overwhatperiod of time? Example – transitions)
Cameron Modular narratives –contemporarycinemahasmodular(segmental) narrative
structureswhere sense of time ismanipulated (it’snotpresentedstraight-
forwardly)
Forking path
Episodic
Anachronic
Split Screen
Cook Hollywoodnarrative –these filmsincludestructuresthatare ‘linear’
“Linearnarrative withcause and effectwithinoverallnarrative of enigma
resolutionandahighdegree of narrative closure”
SimilartoTodorov!
6. NARRATIVE Applying theoryto your c/w I will apply to my AS or A2 only (circle one)
THEORISTS HOW WILL YOUAPPLY TO YOUR C/W
7. 1B THEORIES AUDIENCE
THEORISTS THEORY SUMMARISED R A G
Hall Decodingandencoding,3 typesof reading:
Preferred
Negotiated
Oppositional
Altman
(genre too)
genre offersaudiencesasetof pleasures
McQuail
(genre too)
usesand gratificationstheory
Effectstheory All aboutpassive audiences! Thistheorywasestablishedafterindustrial
revolutionwhichtriedtounderstandthe effectsof massmediaonaudiences
(thatwere manipulatedandindoctrinatedi.e. nazi propaganda)
Sub-strand 1: Hypodermicneedle model (passive audiencesbeinginjected
withideologies)
Sub-strand 2: Cultivationtheory (desensitisationfromrepeatedexposure)
Sub-strand 3: Two step flow (mightbe active/questionthenpassive when
youhear itfrom an expertetc)
Some mightargue thisis outdated assome couldargue as a society,we have
become active (withweb2.0and audiencesbeingmore aware/active)
Receptiontheory All aboutactive audiences! Audienceswhoactivelyquestionandchallenge
texts. The theoryalsoattemptsto explainwhyaudiencesinterprettexts
differently(becausethey’repolysemic) butthisishardto measure.(everyone
has differentexperience/exposure/knowledge/lifestyle/attitudesetc)
Types of
audiencesare…
Target
Secondary
Mass/mainstream
Niche
Passive
Active
Homogenous
Polysemic
Demographics Audience facts
Age,gender,ethnicity,sexuality,socialclass, location/region,socialgroup etc
Psychographics Audience profiles
Typesof personalities,attitudes,personalities,values,moral,lifestyles etc
7-8 types
Strugglers,Resigned,Mainstreamers,Aspirers,Succeeders,Explorers,
Reformers
8. AUDIENCE Applying theoryto your c/w I will apply to my AS or A2 only (circle one)
THEORISTS HOW WILL YOUAPPLY TO YOUR C/W
9. 1B THEORIES MEDIA LANGUAGE
THEORISTS THEORY SUMMARISED R A G
Technical
codes
How dothe technical codesconstructrepresentation?
(therefore,howdotheycreate meaning?)
Camera shots,angles,movement, composition (CAMSAMC)
Mise-en-scene
Editing
Sound
Barthes Denotation/connotation –all aboutmeaningof signs!
Saussure Semiotics –the science of signs,how meaningisconstructedthroughlanguage
and codes(signifierandsignified)
Part of semiotics:(similartoHall’sreadings)
Syntactical level
Representational level
Symboliclevel
+
Active institutionalview
Negotiatedview
Active audience view
Derrida Audience deconstructatextwithincontextsof it’slogos*
(*logos= symbols/signs)
-therefore textsdon’thave asingle meaningbutmanymeanings,many
interpretations(polysemic) basedonthese contextsandhow audience receives
them
Peirce There are differenttypesof signswhichshouldbe treateddifferently
Indexical
Iconic
Symbolic
Arbitrary
Marshall
McLuhen
“The mediumis themessage”
-the medium(form) itselfconveysmore meaningsthanthe content
Kuleshov How editingcreatesmeaning
Could be applied as well (asit’s how editing createsmeaning)
10. MEDIA LANGUAGE Applying theoryto your c/w I will apply to my AS or A2 only (circle one)
THEORISTS HOW WILL YOUAPPLY TO YOUR C/W
