Research: Narative theories

Vladimir Propp  


Vladamir Propp said  that all the characters could be resolved into 7 broad character functions in the 100 tales he analysed:

1. The villain — struggles against the hero.
2. The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in their quest.
4. The princess or prize and her father — 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. The donor— prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
6. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
7. The false hero  — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess

Lzetan Todorov

Todorov suggested that stories begin with an equilibrium or status quo where any potentially opposing forces are in balance, this is then disturbed by some event, setting a chain reaction of a series of events. Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured into five stages.

• A distribution of the equilibrium by some action
• A recognition that there has been a disruption
• An attempt to repair the disruption
• A reinstatement of equilibrium
• A state of equilibrium at the onset.

Roland Barthes  

Barthes said that texts are either open or closed, with the action of texts being influenced by five codes-

• The hermenuetic code
• The symbolic code 
• The cultural code 
• The semantic code 
• The enigma/ Proairetic code.  

Todorovs Narrtive Theory within Production

Many trailers and film follow Todorovs theory; we have also done the dame within our own production, through the theory of distribution and dis equilibrium within the narrative. Our distribution sources from the protagonist unknowingly undergoing facial surgery to have the face of the wanted criminal. The character then attempts to repair the equilibrium by seeking revenge and justice to have it reinstatement of equilibrium.

Barthes Narrative theory within Production.

This theory suggests the use of codes such as hermeneutic and proairetic questions, for example within our own production Hermeneutic codes such as who is the protagonist running from? And what danger is around the corner?  Proairetic codes included in are productions are, will he find justice? And will his struggle be in vein?  

Propps theory within Production

Using this theory within our own production we have chosen characters that are from Propps character functions, we have a villain (the criminal) who steals the identity of an Innocent man. The helper who guides the victim to find his true identity and find out who done this to him and we also have victim the Innocent person to which these horrible things have been done and the main actor in which the story is based around.