Media Theory - Barthes and Strauss

Barthes and Strauss 

Roland Barthes came up with Enigma meaning a mystery that takes place in each film. Barthes named it 'Enigma Codes' 

Levi Strauss came up with the idea that their is always some sort of heroes and villains in a film. Levi Strauss named it 'Binary Opposites' 

Todorov's Narrative Theory 

In 1969 Todorov produced a theory which he believed could be applied to any film. Todorov believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern though various stages. 

Todorov's 5 stages (5 stages narrative can progress through)

1. A state of equilibrium (Where everything is all as it should be)

2. A disruption of that order by an event. 

3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred. 

4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.

5. A return or restoration of a New equilibrium that has been put into place.

An Example of some thriller films that follow these 5 stages of narrative are Taken and Die Hard. 

* insert a trailer of taken and die hard* 

*insert a picture of taken and die hard*

Die Hard's Narrative Progress

1.
Die hards narrative stages starts at the equilibrium where John is coming home for Christmas and the environment is normal and as it should be.

2.
The disruption is that a team of terrorists want to take over the nakatomi building where he is hosting and where is Wife is also at tenting.

3.
 He then recognises that their is a disorder. As he isn't in the room when he terrorist come in so he chooses to move up the building. 

4.
John then takes an attempt to repair the damage of the disruption by calling in the police which fails and then has to result in one death. 

5.
The new equilibruim is restored when police collect John. his family and other members of the hostages out of the building and leave in a police car. 

Traditional Hollywood Narrative Structure - 3 Acts (linear) 

The Traditional Hollywood Narrative Structure consist of The Three Act Structure 

The Three Act Structure is the typical Hollywood Narrative (25% time )/confrontation (50%)/climax (Final 25% of the rest of the film time). 

Linear -(chronological), few, if any, sub plots, tendency towards closure at the end of the film.

Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp came up with character types. He analysed traditional folk stories. 

He said that Hero/Villain/Helper/Donor/Father/Dispatcher/Princess  can all be one. and one character can perform like more than one role.