Assignment 8: Narrative TheoryBy: Abigail Menzies

Level: Green

Part A: Todorov

Todorov Task 1These are different conflicts and disruptions and resolutions for different genres

Level : Yellow

Todorov Task 2 Todorov suggests there are five stages of narrative

Stages of narrative

Film Example: Colombiana

Evidence

Equilibrium The normality of this film is when Cataleya’s father is talking to Don Luis

Disequilibrium The conflict of the equilibrium is when Don Luis sends hitmen to kill Cataleya’s family

This is the first scene of the film where everything is normal and balanced

Don Luis sends gunmen to kill Cataleya’s family

This traumatizes Cataleya as she hears the whole thing

Recognition of disequilibrium

Years later Cataleya grows up and gets revenge for the death of her parents

Attempt to repair the damage

•Cataleya realises she has no other choice but to ask the police officer for information that can help her to stop her parent’s killers

New equilibrium Cataleya leaves Chicago and gets on the bus to start a new life

r

Cataleya kills numerous people that are related to her parent’s death

Cataleya intrudes in Officer Ross’ house threatening him to give her information

Cataleya walking away

Part B: Levi - Strauss

Genre: DramaFilm African American

citizenAmerican citizen Explanation

‘The Help’

•These two characters are opposites as they belong to tow different social class and this differentiation reinforces the idea of status and hierarchy.

•This character is a black working class female•She works for the middle class white people in this film•She is the outsider to this white dominant society

•This character is a white middle classed female•She hires the working class to do her house work•She treats the black working class as if they are not humans

Elegant clothing connote wealth

Sophisticatedenvironment

Genre: HorrorFilm Good (Christian) Evil

(Supernatural)Explanation

‘The devil inside’

•These two characters are opposites as they emphasize the difference between good and evil.•The possessed woman is seen as evil so as an audience we will automatically assume the daughter is good and she tries to get her mother exorcised.

•This character is trying to find out what’s wrong with her mother•This character is the daughter of the a possessed woman and wants her mother

•This character is possessed by a demon

Film Hero Villain Explanation

‘Spiderman 2’

•This opposition of hero and villain reinforces the idea that the young, handsome character is usually loved by the society and is the hero whereas the old, ugly character is usually an outsider and is the villain.•This opposition between good and evil is recognisable in action films•This opposition also creates the dominant ideology that the hero is suppose to be a handsome, muscular male character.

Genre: Action

• This character Peter Parker/‘Spiderman’ is the superhero within the film

• This character tries to give up the role of spider man but returns after a villain tries to annihilate the city

Superhero costume

•After being the victim of an science experiment gone wrong, ‘Octavius’ rampages the city as revenge

Good looking

The villain is usually unattractive

Film Hero Villain Explanation

‘Avatar’

•These two characters are opposites as the first character ‘ Jake’ is the hero of the film who fights for the good and defeats other. Whereas Quaritch is the villain as he kill innocent lives and only looks out for himself. •This opposition between the hero and villain cause conflict as their goals and perspective of life is different to one another

Genre: Sci-fi

•This character ‘Jake Sully’ plays the role of the hero/ the good guy of the film•Jake sympathizes with the natives of the Pandora planet and helps to save there home planet

•This character ‘Quaritch’ plays the role of the villain/ bad guy in the film•Quaritch’s mission is to obtain a mineral from the Pandora planet which is valuable to earth however instead of evacuating the natives, he destroys their homeland

Same

char

acte

r

Genre: ThrillerFilm Good (Innocence) Evil (Violation) Explanation

‘Memento’

These characters are opposites as Lenny’s purpose within the film is to get justice from his wife’s murder. Whereas, Natalie violates Lenny and his short term memory to get what she wants.

•This character ‘Lenny’ is seen as the good character of the film because of his innocence•Lenny has short term and relies on pictures and tattoos to solve his wives’ death.

•This character ‘Natalie’ is seen as the evil character of the film because of his violation towards Lenny and his condition•Natalie uses Lenny’s short term memory to his advantage