Narrative Theory - Miss Georgiou

A narrative is the way in which a story is told in both fictional and non-fictional films.

Vladimir Propp is a Russian critic and a literary theorist that has analysed over one hundered fairy tale films in the 1920's in order to critic the characters defined roles and functions. He itdentified a theory about the charcters actions as a narrative function. The narrative provides a structure to the text in which he would analyse. As he believed in characters that perform a function seen in the fairytales) her came up with this:

• Hero - a charcter that seeks something
• Villian - who opposes/blocks the hero's quest
• Donor - produces magical powers
• Dispatcher - sent the hero their quest
• False Hero - disrupts hero's quest - flase claims
• Helper - who aids the hero - like a sidekick
• Princess - acts as a reward for the hero - (acts as an object, and usually in villians plot)
• Father - acts to reward the hero for their effort

As Vladimir came up with this scenario we see this used in most fairytale films or books. This has had an effect on the filming in many different ways as he has basically outlined what is needed in most fairytale films. This is why we can see simlarities in most of they films based around his theory.

Tzvetan Todorov is the next theorist. He arrives from the former soviet republic of Bulgaria. He was a literary theorist, who believed in a more simplified narrative theory, more complex interpretations and they theory of equilibrium and disequilibrium.

• Equilibrium means that everything is as it should be and everybody is happy
• Disequilibrium means suffers from some disruption and people are disturbed

This model can easily be applied to a wide range of films from horror to fairytales.

Finally the last theorist is Aristotle. His theory was that he believed that there were many different ideas about films. Headings that are used by some producers and screenwriters include:

• Inciting incident
• Dramatic question
• Character goals
• Antagonist/Protagonist
• Stakes