Theories of Narrative

The aim of this session is to introduce you to some key theorists and ideas in the study of narrative. It is hoped that these will inspire further independent research for the seminar and perhaps inform your essay and future practical work.

Definitions of Narrative…

Narrative: The story - what happens or what is depicted, this refers to actions, events and characters.

Narration: How the story is told, how the information is presented to viewers, for example visual style and point of view the story is told from.

Narrative structure

Linear/ChronologicalNon Linear – Pulp FictionCyclical – Groundhog day/Run Lola RunCause and effect – often motivated by

the needs and wishes of the characters.Single/Multiple viewpoints

Omniscient/Restricted Narration

Restricted narration – when we see an event through the viewpoint of only one person. This can add surprise as we only discover events alongside them

Omniscient narration – when we see events from multiple viewpoints. This can add suspense as we are privy to information other characters are not. See Magnolia clip.

Little Red Riding Hood…

TASK: (5-10 mins)In pairs/groups compose a film idea for Little Red Riding Hood. Think of different ways you can tell the tale, e.g. from multiple viewpoints, from a different perspective, what conventions/generic styles would you use to portray the action?

Red Riding Hood

Tvzetan Todorov

Franco-Bulgarian philosopher who coined the term narratology meaning to look at units of meaning in a text

Claimed all stories had a basic structure based on equilibrium

Traditional/Hollywood Narrative

Equilibrium (sense of order/calm)A disruption of this equilibrium by an eventA realisation that a disruption has

happenedAn attempt to repair the damage of the

disruptionA restoration of the equilibrium which may

be a new or changed one

Roland Barthes

French critic Identifies 5 ‘codes’ of

narrative in S/Z Proairetic code Hermeneutic code Cultural code Semic code Symbolic code

The Hermeneutic Code

This code poses questions or enigmas which provide narrative suspense.

As audiences the unravelling of these codes and thinking about the questions posed by events provide viewing pleasure

Vladimir Propp

Russian Formalist The Morphology of

the Folk Tale (1928) Stated that all

fairytales have common narrative structures and character functions

31 Functions of Fairytales

Propp identified 31 key functions in his analysis of Russian folktales

Not all 31 had to be present, however, they did always follow the same sequential order

These functions were performed by one of 8 main character types that advanced the action

Clip

TASK: Watch the opening of Run Lola Run (Tykver: 1998) How does it illustrate some of the theories we have been discussing? Think about narrative devices, structure, enigma, equilibrium etc…

Claude Levi-Strauss

Argued that meaning in narratives is based on binary oppositions. He was less interested in the arrangement (syntagmatic) of the narrative than in the deeper meaning (paradigmatic)of themes

Binary Oppositions

Levi-Strauss looked at narrative structure and themes in texts in terms of Binary Oppositions.

Binary oppositions are opposite values that reveal the structure of media texts.

It is important to look at the detonations (literal meaning) and connotations (cultural significance) of the sign.

For example, if you read the word “coward” you decode it by referring to values that our culture relates both to cowardice and its binary opposite term, heroism.

Binary Oppositions

Hero Coward

Natural Artificial

Good Evil

Male Female

Rational Emotional

Strong Weak

Day Night

True Blood

Watch clip of True Blood. How do characters play with binary oppositions of good and evil, youth and age, innocence and experience? Is this common of vampire narratives? Which binaries are privileged?

Summary

TODOROV’S equilibrium, disequilibrium, new equilibrium

PROPP’S THEORY –8 character types, 31 Functions in Folktales

BARTHES’ ENIGMA CODE –Essentially, the narrative functions to establish and then solve these mysteries.

LEVI-STRAUSS’ BINARY OPPOSITION – Narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict. but more often functions at an ideological level – e.g., in Westerns, what do the cowboys and Indians each represent?

Ideas for further debate…

Find a text where tradition binary oppositions are reversed, e.g. evil is privileged over good…What are the underlying ideologies behind binary oppositions?

Apply Propp’s theory to a text. Does it apply to less plot driven narratives? See if you can find a text that does NOT adhere to his theory.

Research Barthes 5 codes, e.g. symbolic code and analyse what meaning these bring to texts. (Google Scholar search for S/Z should help!)

References

Barry, P (1995) Beginning Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Fell, J.L. (1977) ‘Vladimir Propp in Hollywood’ in Film Quarterly. Vol. 30, No.3pp19-28

Propp, Vladimir. (1928) Morphology of the Folk Tale. Excerpts available from: http://homepage.mac.com/allanmcnyc/textpdfs/propp.pdf

Todorov, Tzvetan & Weinstein, Arnold. (1969) ‘Structural Analysis of Narrative’ in NOVEL: A Forum on Fiction. Vol. 3, No 1, pp70-76

Todorov, Tzvetan. (1971) ‘The 2 Principles of Narrative’ in Diacritics. Vol. 1, no 1, pp37-44.

Whalen, Tom. (2000) ‘Run Lola Run’ in Film Quarterly. Vol. 53, No.3, pp33-40.