Narrative

Narrative -
Narrative is the organisation given to a series of facts. The human mind needs narrative to make sense of things. We connect events and make interpretations based on those connections. 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. Each text becomes part of the previous and the next through its relationship with the audience. http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/alevkeyconcepts/alevelkeycon.php?pageID=narrative

Levi- Strauss
Levi Strauss built upon philosophers Aristotle's statement that 'all drama is conflict' with his theory of binary oppositions. Strauss said that all stories are 'Accelerated forward by conflict which is caused by opposing characters or events.

Roland Barthes
Roland Barthes proposes that there is codes within film which engage audiences. The enigma code controls what information an audience is aware of within a narrative and holds their interest throughout the film. Puzzles and problems are introduced which must be solved a long with mysteries which must be uncovered.

Tvestan Todorov
Presented with his theory which is basted on his study of folk tales, which implies mainstream film follows a similar narrative. Its consist of 5 stages:

• Equilibrium
• Disruption
• Recognition
• Repair
• New equilibrium

ProppNarrative Devices

Valadimir Propp also proposes narrative structure which is similar to Todorovs. Although Propp is more detailed.

• Complication - Keys or clues to the direction of the story
• Transference - The donor events
• Struggle - Dealing with the complications
• Return - Back to "home" however there are still issues remaining
• Recognition - Lose ends are tied up

Propps character theory which identifies more character roles than the previous clear identify protagonist and antagonist.

• The villain
• The Donor - Prepares the hero or gives them a magical object
• The magical helper - Helps the hero throughout the quest
• The princess's father - Object of the heroes desire, sought for during the narrative
• The princess's father - Rewards the hero
• The dispatcher - Character to send hero off
• The hero/villain/seeker - Reacts to the donor, weds the princess, completes the quest
• The false hero, usurper or anti- Hero