Download - Narative Theories
SECTION A: THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF COURSEWORKNarrative Theory
Section A: Theoretical Evaluation You will be asked 2 questions about your
coursework. Question 1(a) will ask you to describe and
evaluate the development of your coursework from your AS Production to your A2 Production.
You will be asked to do this in relation to one or two of the following areas: Digital technology Creativity Research and Planning Post-production Use of media conventions
Question 1(b) Question 1(b) will ask you to choose one
coursework product (either AS or A2) and evaluate it in relation to a theoretical concept.
The exam will specify one concept from the following: Genre Narrative Representation Audience Media Language
Narrative Theory Narrative theory analyses the way in which
media texts communicate meaning about events.
Narrative theory can be applied to range of different media including film, TV. Photographs, and magazines.
Narrative analysis of internet based media is more problematic, though may still be relevant. For example, you could consider how someone’s Facebook profile creates a narrative about their life.
Key Narrative Theorists
Branigan Propp Barthes Todorov Levi-Strauss
Edward Branigan Branigan argues that narrative is ‘ a way of
organising spatial and temporal data into a cause-effect chain of events with a beginning, a middle and end that embodies a judgement about the nature of events.’
What is Branigan saying? Can you think of an example?
Branigan’s key point is that the narrative will embody a judgement – ideology and narrative.
Vladimir Propp Propp suggests that there are a limited
number of character types that share a function.
When an audience reads a media text it deploys its knowledge of these character types in order to decode the meaning of the text.
Can you relate any of the character types to the characters in your coursework products?
Tzvetan Todorov Equilibrium – disequilibrium – resolution. How might this be used to analyse the
ideology of a media text?
Roland Barthes Barthes identifies 5 narrative codes which
readers use to decode texts. He emphasises the active role of readers in
creating meaning, and their ‘culturally formed expectations’.
The narrative codes are: Action Enigma Semic Symbolic Cultural
Claude Levi-Strauss Narratives are structured by pairs of
binary oppositions. How can this be used to analyse media
texts?
Review TheoristsTheorist Why does this
theory apply to my film?
TodorovProppLevi-StraussBarthes
Narrative Analysis Apply one of the narrative theories to the
analysis of the music video. Narrative analysis involves considering how
a range of elements (including mise-en-scene, editing, camerawork, sound, as well as events) create meaning for the audience.
Narrative analysis focuses on how the meanings made by the audience are constructed?
How useful is this approach?
Todorov Equilibrium – the geeky girl is in love with the
boy next door who only sees her as a friend. Disequilibrium – the boy’s girlfriend cheats
on him? Resolution – the geeky girl is transformed
into a beautiful girl and gets together with the boy.
What sort of values are reinforced by this narrative structure?
Propp – character types Hero – character who seeks something –
Taylor Swift Villain – character who the hero must
overcome – the girlfriend Princess – the boy – he is the reward for the
hero.
What effect does the use of these character types have?
Why might the hero and villain be female? What values are reinforced by this?
Levi-strauss – binary oppositions The video involves a number of pairs of
opposites reflecting (and resolving) the narrative conflicts.
There are different sets of oppositions between the jock/the geek, and the cheerleader/the geek.
These oppositions identify the central ideological messages of the video.
Binary Opposites
Male Sociable Popular Sport Object
Female Studious Unpopular Reading Subject
Jock Nerd
Levi-Strauss What are the key conflicts? Which values are dominant in the pairs? How are the conflicts resolved? What messages are conveyed through
this narrative?
Barthes – Narrative Codes Action – Viewers are expected to connect
different pieces of narrative (e.g. The boy is shown arguing on his phone – viewer assumes it is with his girlfriend).
Enigma – Will the jock and the geek get together?
Semic – glasses, book, notepads, red car, uniforms, white dress/red dress
Symbolic – conflicts between male/female, popular/unpopular, different types of femininity
Cultural – the video draws on stereotypes/cliches of teen movies – jock, cheerleader, geek, girl next door, prom, etc.
Narrative Revision Remember to go into the exam with key
points on theories relevant to your film: Propp Barthes Todorov Levi-Strauss Postmodern Theory