Thursday, 5 July 2012

Narrative Theorists

  • Vladimir Propp
  • Roland Barthes
  • Tzvetan Todorov
  • Claude Levi-Strauss
Propp

8 Main Character types:
Hero (has a mission to complete)
Villain (tries to stop hero)
Princess (love interest)
Father (person with knowledge)
Dispatcher (sends hero off)
Donor (gives the hero something to help him)
Sidekick (the helper, not as handsome as the hero, usually there for comedy purposes too)
False hero (pretends to be good in order to trick the hero)

Todorov

Equilibrium (sets the scene)
Everyday life

Disruption (complication)
Something happens to alter the equilibrium

Conflict (climax)
Trying to solve the problem (seek resolution)

Resolution
Problem is sorted

New equilibrium (satisfactory end)
Back to normal (but never the same) a new normal

Barthes

(codes)

Action code - something the audience knows - doesn't need explaining
Enigma code - something hidden from the audience
Semantic code - something the audience recognise through connotations
Symbolic code - something that symbolises a more abstract concept
Cultural code - something that is read with understanding due to cultural awareness

Levi-Strauss 

Narrative as created by constant conflict

Binary opposites

e.g. Love/hate, good/bad

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