Key Concepts- Narrative- Imogen Salmon

Narrative

This is the order of which a story is told, it may be chronological or non-chronological, it may be through a combination of audio and visual techniques.

Narration of a story may be restricted or unrestricted, working alongside Roland and Barthes narrative theory to create enigma and action codes:

- Restricted is from  one individual characters point of view, so the audience only know as much as him/her. This is often used in films to create enigma codes, creating puzzles for the spectator to figure out throughout a period of time, this then may be revealed at the end of a film/episode often used in crime dramas.

- Unrestricted is where the audience is omniscient (all-knowing) they know more information then the characters do. These can create action codes as the audience knows by hints shown on screen that there is about to be action.

Narrative is also known as diegesis, this is the fictional world experienced by characters.

There are many structures in which a narrative may follow:
- Linear

where the plot is presented chronologically either with or without closure

- Non- Linear
where the story is presented in a non chronological order

- Multi-strand
where the story is told from multiple points of view, there may also be many narratives running at the same time alongside each other (common in TV soaps)

- Circular
this is a version of a non-linear structure with the story beginning with the end, working in a loop, taking the audience on a journey to the same point, e.g. Pulp Fiction

Plot Vs. Story- Bordwell and Thompson

Story: This is a series of events recorded in a chronological order, involving every detail of the events. 


Plot: This is the way in which a story is told, it is a representation of the events and may not include all the details of the story, it can be represented in different orders and points of view to create high tension and unpredictability.

Todorov

He is a theorist who created a basic structure in which he believes all narratives follow in one way or another. This can work in a cycle throughout a narrative, repeating stages and ending at different points of the cycle.

This occurs in 5 stages:

The 5 stages of Todorov's theory. 

- Equilibrium (where everything is normal and calm)
- Disruption (the equilibrium is disturbed by an act)
- Confrontation (there is recognition of the disruption and it is attempted to be dealt with)
- Resolution (the disruption is resolved)
- New equilibrium (a new 'normality' is made from the previous events)



Propp

He studied folktales and noticed there was repetition in the characters and their roles, there were 8 types:

Hero- who seeks something

E.g. Shrek 

Villain- who blocks the hero's quest

E.g. Lord Faquaad

Donor- provides the hero with a magical property

E.g. Dragon

Dispatcher- who sends the hero on their way

E.g. Lord Faquaad

False hero- the pretends to be the hero, disrupting the real hero

E.g. Prince Charming

Helper- Who helps the hero

E.g. Donkey

Princess- Who is the reward

E.g. Princess Fiona

Her father- Who rewards the hero for his efforts

E,g, King Harold

Claude Levi-Strauss

He created the Binary opposites theory, believing all narratives orientated around conflicts between these. 

These conflicts create the central climax structure in the narrative. 

Good (Harry Potter) Vs. Evil (Voldemort)

E.g. 
Good vs. Evil    
Black vs. White
Boy vs. Girl
Strong vs. Weak 
Rich vs. Poor
Young vs. Old