Narrative

G325 THEORETICAL EVALUATION OF PRODUCTION

G325 THEORETICAL EVALUATION OF PRODUCTION• Concepts to be worked through. ONE of these concepts will be the focus of Q1b• Genre • Narrative• Representation • Audience• Media language

NARRATIVE THEORY: PROPP - CHARACTER TYPES• He concluded that all the characters could be resolved into 8 broad character types in the 100 tales he analyzed:

1. The villain — struggles against the hero.

2. The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.

3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.

4. The princess or prize — the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. the hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain.

5. her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.

6. The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.

7. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.

8. False hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

• These roles could sometimes be distributed among various characters, as the hero kills the villain dragon, and the dragon's sisters take on the villainous role of chasing him. Conversely, one character could engage in acts as more than one role, as a father could send his son on the quest and give him a sword, acting as both dispatcher and donor.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Propp

NARRATIVE THEORY:TODOROV – 3 ACT STRUCTURE• Theorist: Todorov

• Theory: 3 act narrative structure

• What it means: Narrative are composed of 3 acts – equilibrium / disruption / new equilbrium

• Equilibrium – all is well, there is no conflict

• Disruption – An event happens to introduce conflict and problems into the narrative

• New equilbrium – all of the conflicts have been resolved and new state of order and balance come to exist

NARRATIVE THEORY:CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS BINARY OPPOSITIONS

• What it means: A conflict between two opposing forces, e.g. good versus evil, on versus off, land versus sea

• Any narrative has binary oppositions – these exist to – produce drama and sustain interest

• Conflict is the engine of any successful narrative – no conflict, no story

• The western – basic binary oppositions

Inside society Outside societyCivilization WildernessGood BadStrong Weak

NARRATIVE THEORY:CHRISTOPHER VOGLER – THE HERO’S JOURNEY1. Ordinary World The hero's normal world before the story begins2. Call to Adventure - The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure to undertake3. Refusal of the Call - The hero refuses the challenge or journey, usually out of fear4. Meeting with the Mentor - The hero meets a mentor to gain confidence, advice or training to face the

adventure5. Crossing the First Threshold - The hero crosses the gateway that separates the ordinary world from

the special world6. Tests, Allies, Enemies - The hero faces tests, meets allies, confronts enemies & learn the rules of the

Special World.7. Approach - The hero has hit setbacks during tests & may need to reorganize his helpers or rekindle morale

with mentor's rally cry. Stakes heightened.8. Ordeal - The biggest life or death crisis – the hero faces his greatest fear & only through “death” can the

hero be “reborn” experiencing even greater powers to see the journey to the end.9. Reward - The hero has survived death, overcome his greatest fear and now earns the reward he sought.10. The Road Back - The hero must recommit to completing the journey & travel the road back to the

Ordinary World. The dramatic question is asked again.11. Resurrection - Hero faces most dangerous meeting with death – this shows the hero can apply all the

wisdom he's brought back to the Ordinary World12. Return with Elixir - The hero returns from the journey with the “elixir”, so everyone in the world can use

to heal physical or emotional wounds.

YOUTUBE LINKS• The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ6exK876G0

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fYn8-NTQSg&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Srppbhxv8&feature=related

• Compare the market – Meerkat v Mongoose

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpQYiwfGGaI