Narrative Theory

Narrative theory is a set of constructions and conventions that help us to experiance a story as we 'read' it.

 

 

Everybody has a different idea of what narrative theory is. Tim O'Sullivan argues that all media tells some kind of story. He says that media texts "offer a way of telling stories about ourselves" not necessarily our own stories but stories set in cultures familiar to us.   

Pam Cook believes that standard Hollywood narrative structure should have linearity, narrative closure and a fictional world that contains verisimilitude. Todorov agrees with her to a point saying that there are 5 stages to narrative theory. These are:

1. A point of stable equilibrium
2. A force that creates some kind of disequilibrium
3. Recognition that the disruption has taken place
4. An action fixed against the disruption
5. And the restoration of a new state of equillibrium

Ronald Barthes agrees with Todorov but puts it in a slightly simplier way. He says theres establishment of the plot, followed by a development, an enigma, an increase in tension and finally the resolution. This can be seen in the film 'Creep', to begin with there is the establishment of the plot where she goes out partying, goes to get the underground train service home but falls asleep whilst waiting. The development then is that she wakes up, no ones there and is locked in. The enigma comes in when she realises that shes all alone, until she sees the creep which increases the tension. This tension continues to increase as he attempts to kill her. And finally the resolution is when she kills the creep.

 

According to Kate Domaille every story can be fitted into one of the eight narrative types. These are:

1. The Fatal Flaw
2. The Indomitable Flaw
3. Dream Comes True
4. The Chase
5. Selling Your Soul
6. The Gift Is Taken Away
7. The Love Story
8. The Love Triangle

This can be applied to quite a lot of films for example, any Disney film ends with the 'Dream' coming true, or Romeo and Juliet the beautiful love story. However this does get harder spot with some more modern films like, Paranormal activity. It could potentially be put under the heading of 'The Chase' but not securly.

Vladmir Propp studied the narrative structure of Russian Folk Tales. Propp concluded that regardless of the individual differences in terms of plot, characters and settings, such narratives would share common structural differences.

Laura Mulvey argues that within films the male point of view is dominent. She says that females within the film are used for vouyerism within the male gaze. Women are therefore objectified by the camera and the audience are expected to view it from the male point of view regardless of gender. This can be seen in films like The Ring, where there is a pretty blond girl as the lead character, or Legally blond where you can't deny that she is 'hot' from the males point of view.