NARRATIVE THEORISTSMedia Studies A2

NARRATIVE:

Narrative: the way in which a story is told in both fictional and non-fictional media texts.

VLADIMIR PROPP Russian critic and literary theorist. Analysed over 100 Russian fairytales in the

1920s. He proposed that it was possible to classify the

characters and their actions into clearly defined roles and functions.

Films such as Star Wars fit Propp’s model precisely, but a a significant number of more recent films such as Pulp Fiction do not.

The model is useful, however as it highlights the similarities between seemingly quite different stories.

PROPP’S CHARACTER ROLES

The hero (seeks something). The villain (opposes the hero). The donor (helps the hero by providing a magic object). The dispatcher (sends the hero on his way). The false hero (falsely assuming the role of hero). The helper (gives support to the hero). The princess (the reward for the hero, but also needs

protection from the villain). Her father (highly grateful to the hero, often rewards

him).

TZVETAN TODOROV

Bulgarian literary theorist. Suggests most narratives start with a state of

equilibrium in which life is ‘normal’ and protagonists happy.

This state of normality is disrupted by an outside force, which has to be fought against in order to return to a state of equilibrium.

This model can easily be applied to a wide range of films.

TODOROV’S EQUILIBRIUM

Equilibrium Disequilibrium

New Equilibrium

Everyone is happy and

normalThere is an

attemptto fix the issue

The problem is recognized

An occurrence causes disruption

It is solved and goes back to a normal state

ROLAND BARTHES

French semiologist. Suggested that narrative works with five

different codes which activate the reader to make sense of it.

He said that media texts may be either open or closed.

Used the terms ‘denotation’ and ‘connotation’ to analyse images.

BARTHES’ CODES Action – a narrative device by which a resolution

is produced through action, e.g. a shoot-out. Enigma – a narrative device that teases the

audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved. Works to delay the story’s ending pleasurably.

Symbolic – (connotation). Semic – (denotation). Cultural – a narrative device which the audience

can recognise as being part of a culture e.g. a “made man” in a gangster film is part of the mafia culture.

CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS Social Anthropologist. Studied myths of tribal cultures. Examined how stories unconsciously reflect

the values, beliefs and myths of a culture. These are usually expressed in the form of

binary oppositions. His research has been adapted by media

theorists to reveal underlying themes and symbolic oppositions in media texts.

LEVI-STRAUSS’ BINARY OPPOSITIONS

A conflict between two qualities or terms. For example 1970’s Western films:

Homesteaders Native Americans

christian pagan

domestic savage

weak strong

garden wilderness

inside society outside society