Narrative Theories

Aims

• To have an understanding of the different narrative structure

• Be able to identify these narrative structures in media texts

• Narrative is a key concept employed to analyze a range of media texts

• Some narratives are controlled by the audience – X-Factor– Computer games

NarrativeAll media texts have narratives

Fictional texts are concerned with story and a series of plot events

Non-fictional texts can be analysed in terms of order, construction and genre conventions

Narrative

Task

In pairs

Describe what you did last weekend

5 mins

Narrative Structures

Tzvetan Todorov

Todorov stated that narratives are led by events in a cause and effect format

Vladmir Propp

Propp was concerned with the relationship between narrative and characters

Levi-Strauss

Strauss suggested that all narratives are driven by conflict

Todorov

Resolution/EQUILIBRIUM is restored

The narrative moves to a confrontation/climax

A quest to restore the EQUILIBRIUM ensues

An action/character disrupts the EQUILIBRIUM

The narrative starts with EQUILIBRIUM

Task

Watch the following clip from CSI• Apply Todorov’s theory

• What experiences do linear narratives offer audiences?

• Think of a plot outline for a new film using the stages of Todorov’s theory.

Propp

Look at the handout on Vladmir Propp

Think of a narrative where Propp’s character functions can be applied and give examples of character types

Strauss

Binary opposition• light/dark• good/evil• noise/silence• youth/age• right/wrong• poverty/wealth• strength/weakness

Task

Think of some example of modern films where you could apply Strauss’s theory

Enigma Codes

• These are used by a range of media, both fiction and non-fiction.

• These codes control the amount of information that is released to the audience in order to make them curious and want to consume more of the text

• Enigmas are given early in the narrative

Action codes

These codes are a shortcut to advance the narrative

They signal a narrative event will take place

Buckling of a gun belt

Packing of a suitcase