Fm4 section a revision - tsotsi, city of god, gomorrah and la haineNick Crafts
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Narrative structure theories
1. Todorov’s Theory
Tvzetan Todorov claimed there were five stages of development to
every film. Which are :
1. A state of equilibrium
2. A state of disequilibrium
3. Acknowledgement of disequilibrium
4. Attempt to resolve the situation
5. Return to a new state of equilibrium
2. Todorov’s Theory
Applied to Snatch
1. State of equilibrium - Is a small part of the film as the film starts with
the end but the equilibrium is when Tommy and Turkish are untroubled
and running the illegal boxing business
2. State of disequilibrium - The disequilibrium happens when Brick top
begins hassling both Turkish and Tommy and he asks them to rig a fight
and they fail to do so which angers, this disrupts the equilibrium.
3. Acknowledgement of disequilibrium - The acknowledgment of the
disequilibrium comes when Bricktop shows them round his pig farm as
an indirect friend Turkish and Tommy realise the danger are in.
4. Attempt to resolve the situation – The attempt to resolve the situation
is when they hire the gypsy to fight for Bricktop.
5. Return to new state of equilibrium - This happens when the gypsies kill
Bricktop and his gang and the new equilibrium is improved as they find
the diamond in the dog.
3. Vladimir Propp’s Theory
Vladimir Propp suggested that films consist of 7 roles, and films are made
around these 7 characters. These are:
Character type
Role within narrative
Protagonist (hero)
The protagonist leads the narrative, they are usually looking for something (a
quest) or trying to solve something (a mystery). The protagonist doesn’t
always have to be male.
Antagonist (villain)
The antagonist gets in the way or causes problems for the protagonist.
Heroine
The heroine is some kind of reward or prize for the protagonist. If the
protagonist is a female, the heroine can be a male.
Father
The father is seen as a authority figure who can offer rewards to the
protagonist for completing a quest.
Helper
The helper acts as a sidekick for the protagonist or offers some sort of help.
Donor
The donor gives the protagonist something which helps them succeed their
quest – clue, talisman, gadget.
Mentor
The mentor teaches the protagonist all of their skills and gives them guidance.
4. Lévi-Strauss’ Theory
vs
EVIL
GOOD
Claude Levi-Strauss had a theory called the ‘Binary
opposition’ which suggested all narratives had to be
driven by conflict that was caused by a series of
opposing forces (Protagonist Vs. Antagonist) (Good Vs.
Evil) (Light Vs. Dark).
5. Roland Barthes's Theory
Roland Barthes decided films could be unravelled or interpreted in many
different ways :
1. Action code - Applies to any action that implies narrative action eg. a
gunslinger draws his gun on adversary and we what resolution of this action
will be
2. Enigma code – Refers to any elements in a story that are not explained and
therefore exists as an enigma for the audience. Raising a question that needs
an explanation .
3. The cultural code- any element in a narrative that refers to a science.
4. The symbolic code - Similar to Binary opposites.
5. The semantic code – any element in a text that that suggest a theme.