Narrative

AS Level Media Studies

**Key Term**

Narrative The way in which the story is told in both fictional and

non-fictional texts. Narrative is a very powerful force that not only helps us

make sense of the world, but also influences our behaviour.

For media producers narrative is an important tool for organising seemingly random and incoherent events into a coherent and logical form.

Narrative can be used as a potent means of influencing the responses of an audience to a particular event.

This is determined by the way in which the information is presented.

Example

When we are being told about a conflict, in a western or gangster movie, the narrative often unfolds in such a way as to make us take sides, in support of one party or the other.

In ‘Butch Cassidy…’ we are firmly positioned on the side of Butch and Sundance.

Narrative can be used to position the audience.

Theories

Denotation What can you see in

the picture/on the page?

Connotation What does the

image suggest or imply?

Media theorists try to help us understand how we find meaning in a text.

Roland Barthes

Spinster.....the colour red....a skinny girl

Roland Barthes

Enigma code What is going to happen? The narrative will establish enigmas or

mysteries as it goes along. Essentially, the narrative functions to establish

and then solve these mysteries. Within a film there is usually a central enigma

that is resolved at the end. Audiences take pleasure in anticipating what

might happen. Eg. Memento

Roland Barthes

Action Codes Events within a story that we know will be

significant in the narrative. The metallic sound of a gun being cocked

signifies that a shooting will take place. A shorthand way to signify a scene of

violence. An action signifies another action and so the

narrative progresses.

Tvzetan Todorov

A Bulgarian theoristHe reduced the concept of narrative to a

simple recurring formula.Equilibrium – disequilibrium – new

equilibrium

Todorov

A narrative starts with a state of equilibrium or harmony.

Eg. A peaceful community getting on with and enjoying life.

Into this stability comes a force of disequilibrium or disruption.

Eg. An evil outsider intent on destroying the sense of well being.

By some mechanism such as the intervention of another outside agency, the force of evil is overcome and order/harmony are restored in the form of a new equilibrium.

Todorov

Choose a fictional or non-fictional text of your choice.

Write about how it follows Todorov’s model of narrative.

Levi Strauss

Binary oppositionNarrative tension is based on opposition

or conflict.Man vs WomanWhite vs BlackYoung vs OldHerovs VillainWest vs EastGood vs Bad

Function of character

Character is an important aspect of narrative, particularly in fictional texts.

In soap operas certain character types consistently reoccur to the point where they become stereotypes.

Grumpy old people…anger ridden teenagers.

Grouping people into different categories like this is called character typology.

Vladimir Propp

Russian structuralist who studied fairy tales. He established a number of character types

and functions associated with them. He suggested the functions were limited to 31. It is possible to use Propp’s theory to fit the

character types in a range of texts, especially feature films.

Characters and Functions

The heroThe villainThe donor (offers gift with magical

properties)The dispatcher (sends hero on a

mission)The helper (aids hero)The princess (hero’s reward)

Activities

Identify these characters in a fairy tale of your choice.

Identify these characters in a Bond film (or any action film).

Apply the functions to a soap opera of your choice.

Do the functions work in more modern films, such as ‘Lord of the Rings’?

Propp

Eastenders Kat and Alfie’s wedding Villain – Andy Hunter Hero – Alfie, stops Kat from

marrying a cruel man. Kat tells Alfie she wants it to

snow on her wedding day (dispatcher)

Ian aids Alfie in the preparations (helper)

Alfie uses a snow machine to make it snow (doner)

Hero gets princess – Alfie gets Kat (princess).

The A Team Hero – A Team (Hannibal) Villain – the

government/companies/groups

Donor – Hannibal – plan comes together

Helpers – Face, BA, Murdoch Dispatchers – those who

employ them to fight their battles

Princess – Face gets the girl they are helping at the end.

Homework

Propp’s analysis may be applied to film with an amazing degree of accuracy, providing it is applied to straightforward narratives.

It is impossible to analyse films with more complicated narratives.

Discuss the above, with reference to at least three films of your choice.