Reasearch: Narrative Theory

Reasearch on Narrative theory:

What is Narrative and why is it important?
Narrative is the way a story is put together and presented to the audience it is important because the narravtive i what makes the audience it understand how the film is set out and what part of the film they are at because the narrative makes them understand this.

Vladimir Propp’s Theory of Narrative:

Vladimir Propp suggested that characters took on the role of narrative 'spheres of action' or functions. From a comprehensive study of folktales Propp came up with seven different character types:

The hero, usually male, is the agent who restores the narrative equilibrium often by embarking upon a quest (or search). Propp distinguishes between

The victim hero, who is the centre of the villain's attentions, and the seeker hero who aids others who are the villain’s victims. The hero is invariably the texts central character.

The villain who usually creates the narrative disruption.

The donor gives the hero something; it may be an object, information or advice, which helps in resolution of the narrative.

The helper aids the hero in the task of restoring equilibrium.

The princess (the victim) is usually the character most threatened by the villain and has to be saved, at the climax, by the hero. The father's (who in fairy tales was often the king) role is usually to give the princess away to the hero at the narrative's conclusion. He may also dispatch the hero.

The dispatcher sends the hero on her or his task (who can typically be the princess father)

The false hero appears to be good but is revealed, at the narrative's end, to have been bad

Characters can fulfill more than one sphere character type, for example; a princess may also be a helper.

Todorovs Narrative theory:

Izetan Todorov was a Bulgarian structuralist linguist who pulished influential work on narrative from thw 1960's onwards he suggested that all stories begin with a equlibrium or status quo where opposing forces are in balance . This is interrupted by a series of events problems are solved so that order can be restored to the world of the fiction. He clamed narratives are structured in five different stages.

1. A state of equilibrium at the outset.

2. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action.

3. A  recognition that there has been a disruption.

4. An attempt to repair the disruption.

5. A reinstatement of the equilibrium.

Aristotles narrative theory:

Aristotles came up with his theory 2000 years ago he was a scholar his narrative theory is that all stories have a begining, middle and a end this is the most simple theory that there is as this is the theory that every will know without studying it as because his theory was made 2000 years ago it has been passed down through many generations and now everyone knows the theory and simply think every story should have a begining, middle and a end.

What narrative do thrillers use the most: 

Thrillers use Propp's narrative theory the most as in thrillers all the actors/actresses have their roles of what kind of character they are going to be for example in scream you have a hero victim this is the person the antagonist the villain what to kill the most but can not this is how thrillers use Propp's theory.

In my thriller i think i will also be using the most common thriller narrative Propp's theory as it has shown it is very sucsessful theory to use in thriller films.