Narrative Research 2

Vladimir Propp

- Russian critic and literary theorist.
- Analysed over 100 Russian fairytales in the 1920's.
- He proposed that it was possible to classify the characters and their actions into clearly defined roles and functions.
- Films such as "Star Wars" fit Propp's model precisely, but a significant number of more recent films such as Pulp fiction do not.
- The model is useful, however as it highlights the similarities between seemingly quite different stories.

Propp's Character Roles

. The Hero (seeks something or someone)

. The Villain (Opposes the Hero)

. The Donor (helps the Hero by providing a magic object)

. The Dispatcher (sends the hero on his way)

. The false Hero (falsely assuming the role of "Hero")

. The Helper (gives support to the Hero)

. The princess (the reward for the Hero, but also needs protection from the Villain)

. Her farther

As you can see, there is a massive contrast between Vladimir Propp's views and Tzvetan Todorov's theory of Narrative. Todorov's theory is also easier to apply to many films we watch today, the relevance to the Narrative theory is  easier to match and identify. 

Todorov's theory - "Narrative Research 1" - Equilibrium (Start), Disequilibrium (Middle) and New equilibrium (End).

Roland Barthes

. French semiologist

. Suggested that narrative works with five different codes which activate the reader to make scense of it.

Barths' Codes

. Action - a narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action e.g a shoot-out

. Enigma - a narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved. Works to delay the story's ending pleasurably.

. Symbolic - (connotation)

. Semic - (denotation)

. Cultural - A narrative device which the audience can recognise as being part of culture e.g a "made man" in a gangster film is part of the mafia culture.

As you can see the contrast between these theories can really be seen and notified. During our research and planning, construction and our evaluation all these theories will be taken into account and will be referred to through out our project.