Film Analysis - Narrative
Film Analysis - Narrative ♡
Levi-Strauss: Bianary Opposition
Narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict. This can be as simple as two characters fighting, but more functions at an ideological level - deeper message
eg: boy vs girl, good vs evil, young vs old, black vs white
Propp theory
basic narrative elements - functions
8 character types within folktales, despite however many characters:
- the hero: who goes on a quest and usually ends up with the princess
- the villain: who is against the hero
- the helper: helps the hero on their mission
- the princess or prize: is usually the prize for the hero. The hero deserves her throughout the story and must overcome a task/defeat the villain to get her
- her father: rewards the hero. Usually identifies the false hero
- the donor: helps the hero and sometimes has a magical power/object to help
- the false hero: takes credit for the hero's actions and tries to marry/end up with the princess
- the dispatcher: who sets the hero off on their quest
Hero
Villain
Helper
Princess
Her father
the donor
the false hero
the dispatcher
Todorov's Theory
- all films being with equilibrium - a calm period
- agents of disruption cause disequilibrium - period of unsettlement
- the character realise the disruption and repair the situation
- then harmony arises for the protagonists and equilibrium is reached again
Barthes theory
- action codes are significant events which move the narrative in a particular direction, causing viewers to continue watching and question what will happen next
- eg: she falls over, will he catch her?
- enigma codes pose questions to the audience which are later answered in the film. The audience continue watching to find out
- eg: who is she?
Altman theory
argues that genre offers audience a set of pleasures
- emotional pleasures: how does the text make you feel - happy, sad, nostalgic
- visceral pleasures: gut responses - excitement, fear
- intellectual pleasures: does it make the audience think?
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