Narrative Investigation Research Investigations

What is narrative? Narrative is the means used to tell a story. Narrative can be written or spoken. In film, narration is a set of representational and discursive hints that deliver the story to the audience. The narrative can be told through characters, a narrator/voiceover or through the mise-en-scene. A narrative style is determined through the genre the film is placed in, for example, during the 1940s it was conventional for an American crime drama to portray the story often with a voiceover narrative recounting certain events.

Narrative Structures Linear Structure: Circular Structure: Open structure: Beginning Audience introduced to characters, setting, etc. End Closure Middle Plot builds Beginning/End The narrative begins at the end. The audience are shown an event and then taken on a journey, eventually arriving back at the same event. Beginning Audience introduced to characters, setting, etc. End The audience is left to wonder what happens next Middle Plot builds

Narrative Theorists Tzvetan Todorov: His theory is that the majority of narratives begin with a state of equilibrium where there is a sense of ‘normality’ and the protagonists are happy. This state is then disrupted by an antagonist who has to be fought against in order to regain a state of equilibrium. Claude Levi-Strauss: He presented a theory of Binary Opposites. E.G: Girl | Boy Civilised | Uncivilised Weak | Strong Good | Bad Rich | Poor Educated | Uneducated

Vladimir Propp: He believes that the narrative is portrayed through the different roles of characters. Although this theory fits into a range of films, such as fairytales, there are a number of films it doesn’t reflect, such as more modern films. E.G: Hero: seeks something Villain: Opposes the hero False Hero: Falsely assumes the role of the hero Helper: Supports the hero Princess: A female character who acts as a ‘reward’ for the hero and usually needs protecting from the villain. Her Father The Donor: Prepares or helps the hero. The Dispatcher: Sends the hero on his way.

Horror Narrative Theories Todorov’s theory of equilibrium fits into the horror film genre as many films follow this structure, for example, in The Shining the family move house and appear to have a state of normality. However a disruption of the equilibrium occurs, in which one of the characters’ mental health deteriorates. The enigma is resolved at the end of the film and the remaining characters retain their state of equilibrium. Levi-Strauss’ theory of ‘Binary Opposites’ fits into a range of horror films. The most common opposites used within horror films are: Good | Evil Sane | Insane Human | Supernatural