Narrative Theory
Vladmir Prop
Vladmir's theory is that whenever you watch a film you will see certain characters within the film who will undergo certain tasks throughout the film.
- The Hero (Protagonist) - The main character who has a task to do
- The villain (Antagonist) - The person who obstructs the hero from his goal
- The helper (Side kick) - The hero's assistant
- False Hero (Double agent) - A person who pretends to be on the hero's side who is actually working for the villain, tries to disrupt the hero's progress
- The princess (Love interest) - Portrayed as the reward for the hero and tends to be the object needed for the villain's plot.
- Princess' father - This tends to be the person who rewards the hero for his acts
- Donor - This is the person who will aid the hero by providing him with an object with magical properties
Certain characters will undergo a certain functions throughout the film.
First function - Complication
This is during a current state of disorder or chaos normally caused by the villain in order to go onto the next stage. The villain then harms a member of either the community, kingdom of the family. One of the members of the three desires something, normally to get back what was taken or something along those lines and the hero's sent to get what is desired. The hero then complies to the request of the group of people and heads off plan action against the villain.
Second function - Transference
The hero departs from home to head of to face off against the villain and on his long, tiring and trying journey the hero is tested and attacked. The hero of course overcomes the challenge and is given and is given a magic gift or helper then the hero arrives at his place so he can fulfill his quest.
Third function - Struggle
This is the final stage of the film is the struggle between the hero and the villain, which tends to turn out to be a long epic fight. In the end the hero is branded and the villain has been overcome and the chaos has been returned back to normal.
Fourth function - Return
The hero return triumphant from his battle with the villain, but then he's pursued. The hero escapes or gets rescued and heads back home. During that time the hero returns home as is not recognised because the false hero has claimed all the rewards. Another task is set for the hero and he accomplishes the task.
Fifth function - Recognition
Finally, in the end the hero is recognised and the valse hero or villain is unmasked and punished in some way. In the end the hero attains the reward what ever that may be.
Todorov
Todorov simplified the idea of narrative theory whilst also allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts with his theory with Equilibrium and Disequilibrium.
Todorov's theory is pretty simple, it has been separated into three stages.
Stage 1
The first stage of Todorov's theory is that the fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium. Everything is calm and as it should be with no disruptions at all.
Stage 2
Then the environment suffers a disruption usually caused by the villain which changes the environment from a state of equilibrium to a disrupted state.
Stage 3
A new equilibrium is produced at the end of the narrative, returning everything back to normal.
Todorov's theory's says that a narrative is not seen as a linear structure, but as a circular one. The main narrative is driven by attempts to get rid of the state of disequilibrium and restore the equilibrium. However the equilibrium at the end of the story is not identical to the initial equilibrium at the start of the film. Hence why it's said to be a circular narrative.
Todorov argues that a narrative involves a transformation. the characters and/or the situations are transformed through the progress of the disequilibrium.
Linear Structure
A linear structure is where the film goes from the state of equilibrium to a state of disequilibrium back to a state of equilibrium, but... The new state of equilibrium isn't the same as the initial state of equilibrium.
For example:
1st equilibrium - The village is peaceful, very care free with no security or army at all.
Disequilibrium - The village is attacked and ruined long story short the enemy is defeated
2nd equilibrium - The village has ceased being under attack and all the danger is gone, but...
Circular Structure
A circular structure goes through the same process of equilibrium to disequilibrium then back to equilibrium. In contrast to the linear structure the new equilibrium at the end is the same as the equilibrium at the start.
For example:
1st equilibrium - The city 's national treasure is held up high in it's rightful place
disequilibrium - The treasure is stolen
2nd equilibrium - The city's national treasure has been recovered and help up high in it's rightful place
Aristotle
Aristotle's main theory is that all films are based on common themes.
Some headings that are used are:
- Inciting Incident
- Dramatic Question
- Character Goal
- Antagonist/Protagonist
- Stakes
- Resolution
- Sympathy/Empathy
Films based on common themes
How this relate to my narrative
My group narrative relates with Todorov's theory. This is like the linear structure because at the beginning of the everything is normal and peaceful as the victim is just doing everyday things, but then that peace is disrupted by the villain. Then at the end the villain is defeated. However it turns out he's still alive.