SlideShare une entreprise Scribd logo
1  sur  5
Télécharger pour lire hors ligne
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
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.
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.
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).
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.

Contenu connexe

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.