Narrative Theories

Prop's narrative:

Prop's theory says that a narrative is directed by the characters. the characters make the narrative and a typical narrative structure, with particular structures.

The villain — struggles against the hero.

The dispatcher —character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.

The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.

The princess or prize — the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. the hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain.

Her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.

The donor —prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.

The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.

• False hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess

This theory could relate to all film really, even if not all characters are for filled, and it could even relate to most music video's because they hold one character that is dominant to the rest, this being the band, or the actor in the story.

Todorov's Theory:

Todorov stated that everything started with an equilibrium or a status quo were all opposing forces were in balance. He stated that narrative stores are structured in five states:

• A state of equilibrium.
• A disruption of said equilibrium by some action.
• Recognition of the disruption.
• An attempt to repair the disruption.
• Reinstatement of the equilibrium, or the formation of a new one.

this theory is highly recognized because it can relate to most if all film, and some music videos, however it is very simplistic, is it maybe putting narrative to its simple form, and not giving it the detail it deserves?

Barthes Theory:

Barthes is a french semiologist. He suggested that narrative with with five different codes which activate the reader to make sense of it. Basically in the terms of denotation and connotation.

>Action – a narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action, e.g. a shoot-out.

>Enigma - Devise that teases the audience with a riddle/puzzle. Delays ending pleasurability

>Symbolic – (connotation): the pragmatics of the piece, what meaning is being implied.

>Semic – (denotation): the Semantics of the piece, what is actually meant.

>Cultural - a narrative device which the audience can recognize as being part of a culture e.g. a “made man” in a gangster film is part of the mafia culture

However we originally dismissed using these theories for our video as we feel these narratives are irrelivant for our video as we dont really have the characters or demands to fulfill Propp's or Todorov's theory.