Narrative“ the way in which a story is told in

both fictional and non fictional media texts”

Narrative/storyStory = the story is the actual sequence of events, it is the plot

Narrative = the way the events are put together and presented to the

audience

Narrative structure

• Linear – look at media knowall, difference between story and narrative, different codes

Beginning (introduction to

characters and story)

Middle(events happen – story builds)

End(closure)

Open structure – the audience are left to wonder what happens next – use their own initiative. Barthes would say these

texts could be interpreted in a multitude of ways

Closed structure – has a clear ending and conclusion. This kind of narrative is

much more straightforward, and would only be interpreted in a limited number

of ways.

• Circular structure – the narrative begins at the end events, and takes the audience on a journey back through the narrative, back to where they started again, at the end. For example The Sixth Sense, Pulp fiction.

Vladimir Propp• Was a russian literary theorist working in the

1920’s• He suggests that the characters from texts

can be classified into clearly defined roles.• This was based on russian fairytales, and so

can be seen as outdated or irrelevant to some media texts. Modern narratives are often more sophisticated and aim to unconventional

• However, it is often seen in hollywood or Disney films.

Propp’s character roles• The hero (seeks something) • The villain (opposes the hero) • The donor (helps the hero by providing a

magic object)• The dispatcher (sends the hero on his way) • The false hero (falsely assuming the role of

hero) • The helper (gives support to the hero)• The princess (the reward for the hero, but

also needs protection from the villain)

Todorov• Was a bulgarian literary theorist• He suggested that most narratives start with a

state of “equilibrium”, in which the protagonist is happy

• This is then disrupted• Then equilibrium is restored

equilibrium disequilibrium New equilibrium

Equilibrium: (sets the scene) Everyday Life

Disruption: (complication) Something happens to alter the equilibrium

Conflict: (climax) Trying to solve the problem (seek resolution)

Resolution :Problem is sorted

New Equilibrium: (satisfactory end)Back to normal (but never the same)- a

new normal

Levi Strauss• Strauss described narrative as created by a

conflict of binary oppositions. These could be:

• Love/hate• Peace/war - avatar• Rich/poverty - titanic• Man/alien – all alien films• Strong/weak• Light/dark• Good/evil

Roland Barthes• Barthes argued that narrative works through a

series of codes that are used to control the way in which information is given to the audience.

• Enigma Code: A narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved. For example is the hero going to survive.

• Action Code: A narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action, for example a shoot out. The action code is often considered to be present within the male genre.