Narrative Theory

In media terms, narrative is the coherence/organisation given to a series of facts. In everything we seek a beginning, a middle and an end. We understand and construct meaning using our experience of reality and of previous texts (link back to genre theory).

In media we need to be able to engage with texts without too much effort. From what we know about genre, we have expectations of a text’s repertoire of elements in order to provide us with familiar pleasures. In the same way we have expectations about the way in which a text is structured.

Basic elements of a narrative, according to Aristotle:"...the most important is the plot, the ordering of the incidents; for tragedy is a representation, not of men, but of action and life, of happiness and unhappiness - and happiness and unhappiness are bound up with action. ...it is their characters indeed, that make men what they are, but it is by reason of their actions that they are happy or the reverse." (Poetics - Aristotle(Penguin Edition) p39-40 4th century BC )

Successful stories require actions which change the lives of the characters in the story. They also contain some sort of resolution, where that change is registered. Narratives are not just those we encounter in fiction. Even news stories, advertisements and documentaries also have a constructed narrative which must be interpreted

Roland Barthes;Narrative Codes

Barthes was a semiotics professor in the 1950s and 1960s who got paid to spend all day unravelling little bits of texts and then writing about the process of doing so.

He stated that texts can be open (Variety of different meanings) or closed (Dominant meaning)

Barthes decided that the processes we use to unravel meaning are called narrative codes and that they could be categorised in the following five ways:

•Action or proiaretic code and enigma code (ie. Answers & questions) to integrate the viewer

•Symbols & Signs (semiotics)

•Points of Cultural Reference (your culture’s value and belief system – your interpretation of the text is dependent on this)

•Simple description/reproduction (Ideas or reproductions of things we’re already familiar)

Conventions of Narrative

Focus: Time

Comprehending TimeVery few screen stories take place in real time. Whole lives can be dealt with in the 90 minutes of a feature film, an 8 month siege be encompassed within a 60 minute TV documentary. There are many conventions to denote time passing, from the time/date information typed up on each new scene of The X-Files to the aeroplane passing over a map of a continent in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Other devices to manipulate time include;:Flashbacksdream sequencesRepetitiondifferent characters' POVflash forwardsreal time interludspre-figuring of events that have not yet taken place

Todorov ‘s Theory – The structure of a narrativeTzvetan Todorov, suggests that all narratives follow a three part structure. They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when equilibrium is restored.

Equilibrium – Disequilibrium – New Equilibrium

We can usually apply this to all linear narratives and draws Aristotle’s theory that all narratives have some for of conflict or disruption to them.

Application of Todorov’s TheoryLet’s think about the Carlsberg advert we used during the genre lessons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_M7zOew2Pc

We could argue that this advert is a ‘part of a whole’ – it’s a segment of a narrative. In this case it’s the resolution of a problem constituting the new equilibrium.

Imagine:Man has an apartment (equilibrium) – something happens and he no longer has an apartment meaning he is looking for somewhere to live (disequilibrium) – he finds the perfect home and order is restored (new-equilibrium).

Vladimir Propp came up with the theory that there are only a certain number of characters, who crop up in most narratives. It is easy to spot the hero and villain in most cases, but here are some others:

Hero : Leads the narrative, is usually looking for something (a quest) or trying to solve something (a mystery). Does not have to be male :)

Villain : Conflicts with the hero

Heroine: Is usually some sort of prize or reward for the hero. NB if your hero is female, your heroine can be male :)

Father :An authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing their quest. That reward might be a prince or a princess or a cool new job

Helper: Helps the hero - often acts as a sidekick

Donor: Gives the hero something - a clue, a talisman, a special power - which helps them complete their quest

Mentor: Teaches and guides the hero

Application of Propp’s TheoryJust like genre – character’s need to be broken down by the micro element presents. This leads us to make an assumption about them (stereotyping).

View the following – deconstruct the character and then state whether they fit Propp’s theory. Remember not all character types will be present in all narratives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3YaybNJ2s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MXSNwewFUU&feature=related

Levi Strauss’s Theory of Binary OppositionsLevi Strauss concluded that all narratives were based around or contained a binary or series of binary oppositions.

E.g. Good Vs Evil

What binary opposition is evident form this trailer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baC5IPP9f5g&feature=related

Such binary oppositions may not be as apparent on first glance of a media text. However, all texts are based upon a level of presupposition on the part of the viewer/consumer. For example, they rely on us using our knowledge of narrative and genre and filling in the gaps of the prior events that have lead us to this point.

TaskSelect one of your productions and discuss how narrative theory applies to it.

Remember that for some productions this may be tricky and take a lot of critical reflection. However, it is acceptable to show that you understand narrative theory by discussing how your production does not fully fit it – think about the non-linear structure of Tarrantino films.

Similar to genre you can present your findings in any format.