7/29/2019 Narrative Theory draft 1
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Narrative Theory
A Narrative is the way in which a story is told fictional or non
fictional into a sequence. Oursequence is going to be a linear
narrative with a single strand.
Vladimir Propp:Is a Soviet scholar who analysed the fundamental
plot components of Russian folk tales toidentify their simplest
narrative elements. He wrote book called the morphology
andrecommended that you can allocate the characters actions to
decide theirroles. Theyre 8character roles which the connections
between different stories.
Propps 8 Character Roles are:The Hero (who seeks something)The
Villain (who disputes against the hero)The Donor (who aids the Hero
by giving him a magic object)The Dispatcher (Sends the Hero on his
way)
The False Hero (Crookedly assumes the role of being the Hero)The
Helper (who helps the hero)The Princess (The bounty for the Hero,
however also seeks refugee from the villain) Herfather.In our short
film we dont use Propps theory because it doesnt fit into our
storyline as noneof the character roles in Propps 8 character roles
are in our short film.
Tzevetan Todorov:Is a Bulgarian literary theorist, who
recommended that rather frequently, most narrativeswould start with
a state of equilibrium where everything is normal and the
protagonist ishappy and comfortable. However, this state might then
be disrupted by an external force.This external force needs to be
fought to establish the state of equilibrium and maintain it
which is then known as the new equilibrium.
Equilibrium ------------ Disequilibrium ------------ New
Equilibrium
EquilibriumJas is at home enjoying a conversation with a random
man (Sunjay).Disequilibrium:There is no external force.
Roland Barthes:Is a French semiologist who claimed that a
narrative function by using the means of five
different codes which encourages the audience to try making
sense of the narrative.
Barthes Codes Are:
1) Action - A narrative device by which a decision is generated
through action, e.g. afight.
2) Enigma - A narrative device aggravates the audience by
showing a puzzle or riddleto be answered. Its functions to set back
the storys ending happily.
3) Symbolic - (connotation)4) Semi - (denotation)5) Cultural - A
narrative device which the audience can identify being part of a
culture.
