Theory

Nick Webber

Tzvetan Todorov• Todorov’s theory suggests that all stories convey a beginning, middle and end.

Equilibrium Beginning Everything is fairly okay

Disequilibrium Middle Acknowledgement of disruption

Equilibrium End Attempt to repair disruption

E.g. Lock, stock and two smoking barrels follows this theory because it has a traditional beginning, middle and end, this also applies to the whole gangster genre.

Vladimir Propp• This theory suggests that all storylines has about 7 or so main characters to follow

the structure of the movie and genre.• This can be suggested with all Disney movies and Lock,stock & two smoking

barrels.

Character Role ExampleThe Villain Struggles against hero Cinderella’s step-mum

The Donor Prepares the hero with object of special power or knowledge

King’s foot soldier

The Helper Side kick to Doner Fairy godmother’s side kicks

The False Hero Perceived as a good character in beginning but emerges evil

The Cat

The Dispatcher The character gives the lack of knowledge and sends hero off

Fairy godmother to the prince

The Hero Reacts to the donor The prince or even Cinderella herself

This can also been seen in the Gangster squad movie which is part of the gangster genre, the amount of characters may vary but it has always have the same structure of character roles.

Claude Levi-Strauss• Strauss was a researcher in media theory’s to reveal underlying themes and symbolic

opposites in media text.• One of the theory’s was Binary Opposites, they were characters that acted as symbols for the

audience to understand, a simply example can be a classic good vs evil or bravery vs cowardice. So polar opposites occur when two or more completely different characters meet and have a difficult with each other.

• E.g. Lock, stock and two smoking barrels

Binary Opposites Example

Man vs Woman /n/ or the lack of a women role

Good vs Evil Protagonists against the other gangster’s

Young vs Old The gambler vs Harry Hatchet

Hero vs Villain Big Chris vs The dog

Nice vs Evil The drug dealers vs the producers

Roland Barthes• Barthes theory says "that there are 5 codes within a story, from these 5 codes you can

discover 5 ways to make meaning from the narrative"• Action Code : Applies to any action that will be a suggestion of further action in the story of

action, the action code also implies to the audience that a sequence of action will begin soon.• Enigma Code: Any element in the story, concerning characters or objects, that is not

explained and this curiosity raises questions from the audience that need to be answered. The answers may later be shown in a other scene or final scene.

• Examples

In Pulp Fiction opening scene we were introduce to two characters that are

about to rob a cafe, the film then directly cuts to a introduction of the movie and we the audience are left with questions, the movie doesn't return to this scene in

till the end of the movie.

Enigma Code

In the movie "Get Carter a famous scene shows a shot gun with a close-up and then slowly pans out to show

the character played by Michael Crane. While holding the weapon he

then starts to walk towards the camera.

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How will I consider this with my production

• For my own production I will consider taking theory’s from Todorov’s, Propp’s, Levi-Strauss and Barthes.

• Todorov’s theory because it is the most easiest, most basic way to show my storyline and setting, because my production is only 2 minutes long I can’t make a very complex introduction because this will leave the audience in a state of confusion.

• Propp’s & Levi- Strauss theories could also be a consideration because the character type makes it easier for the audience to relate to the audience because they will know which characters they should cheer for and the one’s they should boo for. This give a greater experience to the audience because they can now relate to the roles. I could however use a plot twist later in the movie but because I only can produce a introduction this will be near to impossible to create. Also because it is a introduction I can show and perhaps narrate some or all 7 or so characters in the introduction.

• Barthes theory is interesting in actually movies but I can't show enimga code in a opening scene, I can however use the Action code to show that there will be a action sequence later in the movie, the shot type and sequence looks very cool aswell.