Narrative

Claude Levi-Strauss

Claude was the founder of the theory of binary oppositions. After studying hundreds of myths and legends he decided that we all see the world in binary opposites.

Definition: a binary opposition is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning.

For example:

• Man vs. Woman
• Man vs. Machine
• Good vs. Evil
• Wealthy vs. Poor

Enigmas Codes

The theory of enigma codes was created by Roland Barthes. He devised the idea that by giving the viewer questions from the offset and throughout they are more likely to continue and watch it all the way through. This theory has now been picked up and used effectively in movie trailers because you are more likely to watch a movie that is going to excite you with questions rather than one which gives you the answer to the storyline in the first ten minutes.

Application of Barthes Theory: Goodfellas Opening Scene



Enigma Codes created by this opening:

Where is the noise coming from?
Why are they travelling at night?
Why is there so much emphasis on the car as it drives?
Are these three men gangsters?
Why is there a half-dead man in their boot?
What did this man do to deserve his brutal murder?
Did they do this out of revenge?
Why do they clearly show no remorse?
Are they driving to dispose of his body? If so, where are they going?
"As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster." Why? Has he been brought up around gangsters or has the media influenced him etc?

Action Codes:

Opening of the boot-what's in there?
Pulling something out of his jacket-what is it?

Symbolic/Semiotic Codes:

Suits- wealthy, extravagant
Accents- New York/Brooklyn- gangsters
Gun and Knife- carry weapons shows power and ruthlessness

Tzvetan Todorov

Todorov devised the theory of Narrative being in five stages:

Stage 1: Equilibrium - the setting is established.
Stage 2: Disruption -  the story takes a particular direction with the character or setting being disrupted.
Stage 3: Recognition of disruption -  the main protagonist recognises the disruption and characters and events are interwoven.
Stage 4: Attempt to repair disruption- characters try to solve the issue.
Stage 5: Reinstatement of equilibrium - matters are sorted out, problems are solved and questions are answered. The equilibrium is re-established or a new one devised in replacement of the previous.

Narrative Example



From the point of view of the shop.

Stage 1: Open on a snowy day in a small town, the shop sees the young girl on the street.
Stage 2: They see the young girl writing her name on the wall.
Stage 3: Using an identical doll to the young girl they attempt to lure her in.
Stage 4: Successfully luring the girl into the shop by opening the door and cleverly moving around the doll, the girl is now trapped in the shop.
Stage 5: The young girl becomes trapped in her lookalike doll and order is once again restored for the shop. Until another child comes along, writes their name on the wall to which they reply by creating another lookalike doll. At this stage the story repeats itself.