Narrative Theory

Narrative explores the conventions of:

• Genre
• Character
• Form
• Time

Story - includes information not told

Plot - the key events

Narratemes - help drive the story forward: narrative function.

Linear Structure:

Linear Structure is when the story has a beginning, middle and end. The beginning where were introduced to the characters, the middle where the story builds and the end where there is closure or the final editing.

Open Structure:

These contain cliffhangers where we're left wondering what is next; as well as this it allows the audience to think up their own interpret endings and views on the film. This is a very controversial structure as some love it and some hate it due to some liking the guided endings of a traditional linear structure.

Closed Structure:

This is when the story has a definite ending and clear conclusion. For example for stuff happens towards the ends and the ending is recognised more by the audience.

Circular Structure:

Otherwise known as a non-linear structure, the circular structure is very simple; when it starts and ends in the same place. For example either scene, scenery, clip or way of the beginning/end.

Vladamir Propp

Propp had a theory that was focused on the characters based on old fairy tales and Russian folk tales. This included protagonists and antagonists (heroes and villains). He believed that "narrative is driven by the characters using  a set of narrative functions"

Roland Barthes

Roland Barthes believed narrative was created by a series of codes which are recognised by the audience and interpreted by them in different ways. These codes are: action, semic, enigma, symbolic and cultural. He believed certain codes had different meanings for the way narrative i connoted.

Tzvetan Todarov

Todarov thinks of narrative as beginning with a equilibrium where the story begins and is set.The narrative it then thought to be affected when something unexpected occurs, then followed by conflict (a disequilibrium). This then goes back to a equilibrium, however everything unexpected is resolved and then this loops again.

Claude Levi-Strauss

Strauss describes narrative as a creation of constant conflict of binary opposites. Narrative can only end on a resolution of conflict. There are also binary oppositions such as opposition can be visual: light and darkness, movement and stillness. The same with conceptual: love and hate, control and panic. These are know as Binary oppositions. These binary opposites are a category of semiotics, which is the study of signs.