Narrative Theory

Narrative Theory

Narrative is known as the way that the story is organised. This is how the audience will see the story in this way. Narrative can be split up into three main elements:

• Time- How much time that the film covers.
• Closure- How the story ends, is it a neat and tidy ending with all the problems being sorted out or is it the case that there is no closure at the end of the film?
• Enigma- An enigma of a film is that of a problem that needs to be solved, all films contain an enigma because otherwise the film would be absolutely pointless.

There is the basic style of narrative structure, and then there is also the idea of Classical Hollywood Narratives which are also made up of a few key elements:

• Classical Hollywood Narratives tend to be linear, meaning that the events of the film take place in a chronological order.
• There are few, if any sub plots to the film.
• The ending of the film has a tendency towards closure.

Theories of Narrative

Tzvetan Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov came up with his own idea of narrative theory, saying that there is four main stages to which a film is structured which are:
Equilibrium- where everything is in balance and the characters life is normal
Disruption- In which the equilibrium is disrupted by the enigmas of the story
Resolution- where the main character solves the enigma
New Equilibrium- Where equilibrium is restored but characters are different.

Roland Barthes

Barthes came up with the idea that texts can be:

'Open' with numerous 'threads to pull'
'Closed' with only one obvious thread to grasp
Texts that can be read in a number of ways are known as Polysemic texts.

Barthes also came up with the idea of the enigma code.
This is constructed to attract and hold the audience normally by creating a mystery or puzzle that the audience want to be solved.

Vladimir Propp

Propp identified 8 key characters roles in these stories/ films.

1. The Hero (Protagonist)
2. The Villain (Antagonist)
3. The Donor (Provider)
4. The Helper
5. The Father
6. The Dispatcher
7. The Princess 
8. The False Hero

Theories applied

These theories can be applied to the music video Stan by Eminem

Todorov's theory can be applied to the music video "Stan". The Equilibrium starts at the beginning of the music video where everything 'seems' normal. The Disruption in this video happens at the point where we find out Stan is actually a stalker and is mad about Eminem. Which causes enigmas to turn up such as what is Stan going to do. The Resolution happens when Stan kills himself with his girlfriend. Finally the New Equilibrium happens once Eminem answers Stan's letters and realises that he's already dead.

Barthes' theory can also be applied to this music video due to it being 'Closed' text where Stan and his girlfriend are dead and nothing can change this. The enigma code is also present in this music video because there is a strolling which causes the characters problems so the audience wants to carry on watching.

Finally, Propp's theory can be applied to the music video as:

1. The Hero= Eminem
2. The Villain= Stan
3. The Donor=Eminem
4. The Helper=Eminem
5. The Father=Eminem
6. The Dispatcher=Eminem
7. The Princess=Dido
8. The False Hero=Stan