Narrative Theories

In media terms, narrative is the coherance/organisation given to a series of facts.

Narrative explores the conventions of:
- genre
- character
- form
- time

Narrative Structures:
- Linear structure - beginning, middle, end
- Open structure - audience left to wonder what happens next
- Closed structure - definate ending - clear conclusion for audience
- Circular structure - narrative begins at the end (often with the climax) - Audience are taken on a journey arriving back where they started.

Tzvetan Todorov's Theory:

Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages:
- a state of equilibrium at the outset
- a disruption of the equilibrium by some action
- a recognition that there has been a disruption
- an attempt to repair the disruption
- a reinstatement of the equilibrium



Roland Barthes' Theory of narrative:

- Suggested that narrative works in 5 different codes which activate the reader to make sense of it
- Also used the terms denotation and connotation to make sense of it


5 Narrative Codes:
-Action - Something the audience knows and doesnt need explaining
- Enigma - Mystery within the text. Clues are dropped.
- Semic - Something the audience recognises through connotations
- Symbolic - Something that symbolises a more abstract concept
- Referential - Makes more sense due to cultural awareness


According to Barthes' theory, in my coursework I have:
Action:
- Close ups of his actions - putting on sweatband, tieing up shoes, grabbing drink, dressed in sportswear  ( going for excersize, no explanation needed)

Cultural:
- It's made around the time of the build up to 2012 olympics so it's relevant historically and culturally - caught up in the hype.



Vladimir Propp's Theory of narrative:

Vladimir Propp suggested characters took on the role of narrative 'spheres of action' or functions. He studied folk tales and came up with 7 different character types:

- The hero - normally male, restores narrative equilibrium, on a quest, centre of villains attention.

- The villain - creates the narrative disruption

- The donor - gives the hero something which helps in resolution of the narrative

- The helper - helps the hero

- The princess - the victim, most threatened by the villain,

- The dispatcher - sends the hero on their task, typically the princess's father

- The false hero - appears to be good but is revealed to be bad

Characters can be more than one type.

According to Propp's theory, in my coursework I have:
- The helper - The coach - restores the equilibrium
- The dispatcher - the coach - sends the hero on his task
- The hero - Zak (the athlete) - achieves his goals
- The villain - Zak (the athlete) - his brain making him close to giving up.