NARRATIVE

Narrative - the way in which events are put together
Story - a sequence of events known as a plot

Includes:
- who is telling the story and how reliable they are
- in what form the story is told e.g. video diary, flashback, series of images, voiceover
- how events are missed out/ selected to create a particular story
- how and in what order the events are imparted to the audience
- with which character (if any) the audience is encouraged to identify
- how much knowledge the audience is allowed to have in relation the the characters

Open narrative - a text which is open to a number of possible interpretations
Closed narrative - a text which provides its audience with only one possible story

TODOROV'S THEORY OF EQUILIBRIUM

Believed there are 5 stages to narrative theory:
1) A state of equilibrium
2) A disruption to that order
3) Recognition disruption has occurred
4) An attempt to repair the damage
5) A return to restoration/ new equilibrium

e.g. Thriller subverts as the B & W flashback suggests discord rather than an equilibrium

BARTHES' ENIGMA CODE

An enigma - a mystery to draw the audience in and encourage questions.

- The narrative will establish enigmas or mysteries as it goes along.
- Essentinally, the narrative functions to establish and then solve these mysteries.

e.g. protagonist covered by a mask that resembles that of 'V' from V for Vendetta

PROPP'S THEORY ON CHARACTER AND ACTION

- Formed in early 20th century.
- Studied Russian fairytales - there were always 8 types of character evident - not always separate people
- Characters and events can be seen as constructs, which exist in order to drive the narrative -> each character has a sphere of action

e.g. goes against the interchangable character types as a hit man could be viewed as a villain, yet his ambiguous personality suggests a byronic hero

LEVI-STRAUSS & BINARY OPPOSITIONS

- Symbols and ideas exist in relation to their opposites, with which they are in conflict -> panders to a viewers needs as to whether to side with 'good' or 'bad'
- Draws attention to the fact the world of a text is a constructed fiction, where simplified moral systems can operate.

e.g. known vs. unknown
good vs. evil
young vs. old