What is narrative?

Narrative is what makes the audience engage and its films mainly. Its usually things that wouldn’t make sense in the real world.

Todorov’s Theory

Tzvetan Todorov (Bulgarian) was born March 1, 1939 and is a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher. He has lived in France since 1963 and now lives there with his wife Nancy Huston and their two children, writing books and essays about literary theory, thought history and culture theory.

The idea of the 3 acts

Todorov’s has analysed a lot of stories and his 3 main acts that feature in most films are: -A hero is called to an adventure-The journey-The resolution and return

Todorov also suggested that conventional narratives are structured within five stages:1. Equilibrium 2. Disruption3. Recognition of disruption 4. Attempt to repair disruption 5. A return or restoration of new equilibrium

• Equilibrium – disequilibrium – new equilibrium - It is the name for balance. So at the beginning of a film it is calm and everything is going good but then something causes things to become unbalanced. Then finally things get balanced again.

• Classic Hollywood narrative- There is a main character that creates closure - All situations are resolved at the end- Eg; The Italian Job, James Bond

ShrekShrek is a film that follows the 3 acts very well. Shrek has been given the task by the Lord because his swamp has been taken by the lord and is given the task to find the princess. He then gets the princess back to falls in love with her and he gets his swamp back. Happily ever after.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYejzdBwvY4

1. Fiona and Shrek meet (equilibrium)2. The Lord wants to marry Fiona (disruption) 3. Shrek loves her and fights for her (recognition of

disruption) 4. Shrek turns up at Lords and Fiona’s wedding to

save her however a battle commences (attempt to repair disruption)

5. Fiona and Shrek live happily ever after together (new equilibrium)

Propps TheoryPropp researched folk tales and identified theory’s about characters and actions. The typical characters he identified were: • The hero• The villain• The dispatcher• The donor• The false hero• The helper• The princess• The FatherHe says that in a struggle scene he suggests a theory:• There is a struggle between the hero and villain • The hero is branded• The villain is overcome