Disturbances-Narrative Structure
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Disturbances Narrative Structure (our film opening)
Todorov's theory states that succcessful film openings should follow what is referred to as a classical narrative structure:
1) Equilibrium
2) Disruption
3) Attempts to Repair
4) Resolution
5) New Equilibrium
Barthes/Levi Strauss
Propp
Propp's theory concerned characters and their role in the narrative function. Ideally, each character will be easily identifiable as a certain 'stock' character which will make it easier for the audience to identify with them and thus engage with the media product on show.
We created our film opening with three key narrative structure theories in mind. That is the Todorov, Barthes, Levi Strauss and Propp theories.
Todorov
Both these theories concern codes. Barthes is relevant to enigma codes and Levi Strauss is relevant to binary opposites. The theory is that by using both these narrative techniques you will effectively engage the audience.
Propp's theory is about a characters role within the narrative function. It states that an individual character should be easily identifiable as a 'stock' character e.g. an antagonist as in this way it will be easier for the audience to identify with characters and therefore engage with the media product on show.
Todorov - Narrative Structure
The Woman In Black (reference media product):
1) Equilibrium:
Arthur Kipps (a solicitor) travels to Eel Marsh House in order to retrieve any documents belonging to the deceased owner. He is also struggling to cope with his wife's death.
2) Disruption: Arthur's legal contact tries to send him away but to no avail, later that day a child dies from unnatural causes - later found out to be a witch.
3) Attempts to Repair: Continuously Arthur tries to investigate the mysterious happenings, doing most of his investigating in Eel Marsh House. However, more children keep dying and soon the blame begins to fall on Arthur.
4) Resolution: Eventually, Arthur finds the body of the witch's son, and buries him alongside the witch. Shortly after he is killed by an oncoming train as he tries to save his son.
5) New Equilibrium: Arthur Kipps and his son are reunited with his wife and are no longer troubled by the witch.
Disturbances (our film opening):
1) Equilibrium:
It is a contemporary society, however there has been a string of mysterious disappearances in the forest and the reasons for them are completely unknown.
2) Disruption: A news reporter who is reporting on the recent disappearances of two students is seemingly kidnapped on live television. This is the first time people begin to take notice of the disappearances.
3) Attempts to Repair: A group of university students, lead by a female studying psychology venture into the forest to try and investigate the disappearances and save their friends. However, one by one they are killed until only the female leader remains.
4) Resolution: Eventually, the leader escapes the forest alive, however all her friends have died and she has sustained severe trauma, but uses her experience to teach others of the dangers of the forest.
5) New Equilibrium: The forest is made closed to the public so as to ensure their safety, but the antagonist still kills those foolish enough to venture in.
Barthes/Levi Strauss - Narrative Techniques
Barthes - Enigma Codes:
-Low-key lighting when we see the antagonist raises questions of who he is as much of the detail is obscured. This builds tension as the audience don't know what to expect.
-When the antagonist calls someone and says "it's done" it immediately makes the audience question who was on the phone and what their part in the disappearances is. This creates tension and suspense as the audience keep questioning without receiving any answers.
Levi Strauss - Binary Opposites:
-Safety of the indoors vs the danger of the outdoors
Safety is shown by how the antagonist if comfortable enough to take his hood off.
-Unknown (obscurity of the antagonists face and the unknown attacker vs the vulnerable news reporter
Propp - Narrative Function
Damien was the antagonist of our movie and therefore played a very key role in the narrative function. He was easily identifiable as an antagonist through his dark clothing, the low key lighting and his isolation. This meant our audience could quickly engage in the film without any confusion around who Damien was and therefore Damien served the function of the antagonist very well.
Additionally, Damien was very important to our storyline as a large part of the film follows him. Therefore, it was important that the audience identified him and understood who he was and the role had in the narrative structure very early on in the film so as to stay engaged for the rest of the film.
