Narrative blog task.

Narrative Blog task:

There are three key narrative theories we need to learn as part of AS Media. The notes as a reminder:

Narrative patterns:

Linear Pattern: progresses forward towards a resolution - Beginning, Middle and End.

Multi-strand Narrative: popular in broadcast TV (e.g. soaps) and film. Involves more than one narrative running parallel involving different characters and locations.

Documentary narrative: this may revolve round a central theme (e.g. troublesome neighbours) or group of people.

Long-running TV series such as Breaking Bad or The Wire have one major narrative and lots of mini-narratives. The major narrative runs over the series, the mini narrative may be resolved within an episode.

Narrative theories:

When studying narrative in Media, we need to be able to identify what the story is and how it is being told. There are three key theories we need to learn and apply:

Enigma and Action Codes - Roland Barthes:

Barthes suggested that stories have certain codes that audiences understand and respond to.

ENIGMA codes: control how much we know and help hold our interest. It creates mystery during the narrative.

ACTION codes: events or actions in the story that are important in developing the narrative, e.g. a gun being cocked signifies that a violent scene will follow.

Todorov: Equilibrium

Tzvetan Todorov proposed a theory of equilibrium:

Equilibrium: An existing state of harmony.

Disequilibrium: Equilibrium is disrupted by an unfortunate event or evil character which leads to a chain of events involving conflict.

New Equilibrium: The evil forces are defeated, the conflict is resolved and harmony exists once more.

Character theory: Propp

Vladimir Propp came up with a list of stock characters in narratives by examining Russian fairytales. He called them the seven spheres of action:

The Villain: Creates a complication in the narrative

The Donor: Gives the hero something that will help in the resolution

The Helper: Helps the hero in restoring the resolution

The Princess: Has to be saved by the hero

The Dispatcher: Sends the hero on a task

The Hero: Central protagonist, saves the day and restores equilibrium

The False Hero: Rare character that appears to be good but is revealed to have been bad all along

1) Choose three clips from YouTube and embed them in your blog - one from film, one from TVand one of your choice:

Classwork:

Duke Dumont - The Giver (Reprise)

Todorov's equilibrium; Propp's stock characters:

In the music video the protagonist and  can be scene dressed in all white with a long unkept beard. Some would say he has some characteristics that would be compatible with Jesus Christ. Because of this he has developed some powers and decided to go round giving people what they wished for. This gives him the right to be named the The Helper(: Helps the hero in restoring the resolution) that he is has earned as he is going a round blessing people. 

However, because people have wished for things like a ("I wish for a drink") he then gives them alcohol - he gives police officers alcohol - while on duty. They then try to detail some criminals and fail. because of this he has also earned the name of The False Hero(: Rare character that appears to be good but is revealed to have been bad all along)

Eastenders: 25th December 2013

In this scene from the channel BBC 1 is the well established soap that has been showing the show for more that 30 years which is Eastenders, a frequent villain throughout the years is arguing with his brothers. Derrick is shouting agressively at his brothers about a recent event that hasn't been shown in the clip. While this was happening Derrick - the main protagonist throughout this scene as EastEnders doesn't have a main character - was coughing and groaning. This enigma code was shurgged off by the audience as he has always had medical conditions.
 The disequilibrium resulted in Derrick having a heart attack while walking off slamming doors. The audience do not realise the last enigma code derrick will ever do. As after this he dies. The audience then fines out that Derrick and his brothers are all the villains that have caused conflict throughout.Because of this, having them all a group arguing is part of a Documentary narrative(: this may revolve round a central theme (e.g. troublesome neighbours) or group of people) but Derrick being killed is the Multi-strand Narrative:( popular in broadcast TV (e.g. soaps) and film. Involves more than one narrative running parallel involving different characters and locations.)