Narrative AS Level Media Studies

**Key Term** Narrative The way in which the story is told in both fictional and non-fictional texts. Narrative is a very powerful force that not only helps us make sense of the world, but also influences our behaviour. For media producers narrative is an important tool for organising seemingly random and incoherent events into a coherent and logical form. Narrative can be used as a potent means of influencing the responses of an audience to a particular event. This is determined by the way in which the information is presented.

Example When we are being told about a conflict, in a western or gangster movie, the narrative often unfolds in such a way as to make us take sides, in support of one party or the other. In ‘Butch Cassidy…’ we are firmly positioned on the side of Butch and Sundance. Narrative can be used to position the audience.

Theories Denotation What can you see in the picture/on the page? Connotation What does the image suggest or imply? Media theorists try to help us understand how we find meaning in a text. Roland Barthes Spinster.....the colour red....a skinny girl

Roland Barthes Enigma code What is going to happen? The narrative will establish enigmas or mysteries as it goes along. Essentially, the narrative functions to establish and then solve these mysteries. Within a film there is usually a central enigma that is resolved at the end. Audiences take pleasure in anticipating what might happen. Eg. Memento

Roland Barthes Action Codes Events within a story that we know will be significant in the narrative. The metallic sound of a gun being cocked signifies that a shooting will take place. A shorthand way to signify a scene of violence. An action signifies another action and so the narrative progresses.

Tvzetan Todorov A Bulgarian theorist He reduced the concept of narrative to a simple recurring formula. Equilibrium – disequilibrium – new equilibrium

Todorov A narrative starts with a state of equilibrium or harmony. Eg. A peaceful community getting on with and enjoying life. Into this stability comes a force of disequilibrium or disruption. Eg. An evil outsider intent on destroying the sense of well being. By some mechanism such as the intervention of another outside agency, the force of evil is overcome and order/harmony are restored in the form of a new equilibrium.

Todorov Choose a fictional or non-fictional text of your choice. Write about how it follows Todorov’s model of narrative.

Levi Strauss Binary opposition Narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict. Man vsWoman WhitevsBlack YoungvsOld HerovsVillain WestvsEast GoodvsBad

Function of character Character is an important aspect of narrative, particularly in fictional texts. In soap operas certain character types consistently reoccur to the point where they become stereotypes. Grumpy old people…anger ridden teenagers. Grouping people into different categories like this is called character typology.

Vladimir Propp Russian structuralist who studied fairy tales. He established a number of character types and functions associated with them. He suggested the functions were limited to 31. It is possible to use Propp’s theory to fit the character types in a range of texts, especially feature films.

Characters and Functions The hero The villain The donor (offers gift with magical properties) The dispatcher (sends hero on a mission) The helper (aids hero) The princess (hero’s reward)

Activities Identify these characters in a fairy tale of your choice. Identify these characters in a Bond film (or any action film). Apply the functions to a soap opera of your choice. Do the functions work in more modern films, such as ‘Lord of the Rings’?

Propp Eastenders Kat and Alfie’s wedding Villain – Andy Hunter Hero – Alfie, stops Kat from marrying a cruel man. Kat tells Alfie she wants it to snow on her wedding day (dispatcher) Ian aids Alfie in the preparations (helper) Alfie uses a snow machine to make it snow (doner) Hero gets princess – Alfie gets Kat (princess). The A Team Hero – A Team (Hannibal) Villain – the government/companies/group s Donor – Hannibal – plan comes together Helpers – Face, BA, Murdoch Dispatchers – those who employ them to fight their battles Princess – Face gets the girl they are helping at the end.

Homework Propp’s analysis may be applied to film with an amazing degree of accuracy, providing it is applied to straightforward narratives. It is impossible to analyse films with more complicated narratives. Discuss the above, with reference to at least three films of your choice.

Key questions to ask... How is the narrative organised and structured? How is the audience positioned in relation to the narrative? How are characters delineated? What is their narrative function how are heroes and villains created? What techniques of identification and alienation are employed? What is the role of features like sound, music, iconography, genre, mise-en-scene, editing etc within the narrative? What are the major themes of the narrative? What values/ideologies does it embody?