Level 2 Media Unit 1C: Narrative

Level 2 Media Unit 1C: Narrative

Linear narratives: Todorov’s Narrative Structure

Narratives in the media can be either linear or non linear.  A linear narrative quite literally follows a line, with a clear beginning, middle and end.  Increasingly though narratives are non linear, where the story moves around in time and space, using techniques such as flashback, flashforward, a range of concurrent narratives and narrators (characters who tell the story).

Many Hollywood films and TV dramas still follow a basic linear structure.  The theory we use to analyse these was originated by a media writer called Todorov.

Todorov (1973)’s model of narrative structure may be used across a variety of forms (fictional / non-fictional) and a range of media (print, TV, film, games etc..)

Todorov’s model, which is also known as the equilibrium / disequilibrium model, is as follows:

All stories are similar in structure, in that they share a movement across a series of three phases which relate to a “problem” or a disruption:

 

 

 

 

OR:

Equilibrium                          Dis-equilibrium                                                                                      New equilibrium

The type of narrative problem and its resolution will depend on the genre of the film. So in a crime story, the narrative problem is the solving of a crime.  There are twists or elaborations of characters as suspects. Eventually the problem will be resolved with the arrest or death of the lawbreaker.

Looking at the opening or climax of a film can establish what narrative problems are being established and resolved. Applying Todorov’s model to a whole film can often reveal a basic structure behind what appears to be a complicated story.

Genre example	Establishing problem	Elaboration / development	Complication	Action climax	Resolution
Romance	Will is doing his job by tricking people and ends up meeting a beautiful woman who catches his eye. The girl is an old friend and she brings up old memories, she gets with him and decides to leave at an important part of his life.	He leaves him and takes his money, however her plans wasn’t to leave her but she was forced to by one of wills enemies.	She tries to tell him but doesn’t succeed as they both far from each other plus the enemy has surveillance on them both but only the girl knows this		As tricksters they both get themselves out of surveillance sight and has a trick up their sleeve to get back together.
Horror	Police come asking questions about the mass murder. Maddison and her friend killed a boy and feels bad so they decide that they need to bring him back to life with their witch powers	Girl reacts wrong when police question her about the murders. Have to bring into a place where dead bodies are kept and loof for parts to add	Police and Fiona argues, then Fiona makes them drink spit and forget about the case they had going.
Action	Luc cage past catches up with him, he decides to protect an old friend (police officer) by doing this he brings unwanted attention to himself.	They escape from the people trying to kill the woman, luc cage and the police officer however the police officer has been shot and un able to walk making things harder for everyone helping him out	The officer has lies and secrets hidden from everyone apart from the main guy (villain) selling guns.		The police officer bleeds out from the shot wound and dies just before the other police officers get to him.
Sci Fi	Oliver comes back from an island after 5 five years of everyone thinking he is dead and he comes home to so many problems, he’s mum hiding he’s dad death from him and who he’s dad really was.	Oliver decides to be a vigilante and saves his city from evil and bad however he also faces his mum in a battle as he trys to save the city but his mum is evil	He faces varies problems over the city and him and his team take them down but the ost important thing is to hide their little secret from the public, family and the word.		His mum dies from one of oliver, the green arrow enemy slade Wilson. He kills his mum therefore adding anger to his mission and ends up killing slade furiously and finally saves his city

 

Level 2 Media Unit 1C: Narrative

Linear narratives: Todorov’s Narrative Structure

Narratives in the media can be either linear or non linear.  A linear narrative quite literally follows a line, with a clear beginning, middle and end.  Increasingly though narratives are non linear, where the story moves around in time and space, using techniques such as flashback, flashforward, a range of concurrent narratives and narrators (characters who tell the story).

Many Hollywood films and TV dramas still follow a basic linear structure.  The theory we use to analyse these was originated by a media writer called Todorov.

Todorov (1973)’s model of narrative structure may be used across a variety of forms (fictional / non-fictional) and a range of media (print, TV, film, games etc..)

Todorov’s model, which is also known as the equilibrium / disequilibrium model, is as follows:

All stories are similar in structure, in that they share a movement across a series of three phases which relate to a “problem” or a disruption:

 

 

 

 

OR:

Equilibrium                          Dis-equilibrium                                                                                      New equilibrium

The type of narrative problem and its resolution will depend on the genre of the film. So in a crime story, the narrative problem is the solving of a crime.  There are twists or elaborations of characters as suspects. Eventually the problem will be resolved with the arrest or death of the lawbreaker.

Looking at the opening or climax of a film can establish what narrative problems are being established and resolved. Applying Todorov’s model to a whole film can often reveal a basic structure behind what appears to be a complicated story.

Genre example	Establishing problem	Elaboration / development	Complication	Action climax	Resolution
Romance	Will is doing his job by tricking people and ends up meeting a beautiful woman who catches his eye. The girl is an old friend and she brings up old memories, she gets with him and decides to leave at an important part of his life.	He leaves him and takes his money, however her plans wasn’t to leave her but she was forced to by one of wills enemies.	She tries to tell him but doesn’t succeed as they both far from each other plus the enemy has surveillance on them both but only the girl knows this		As tricksters they both get themselves out of surveillance sight and has a trick up their sleeve to get back together.
Horror	Police come asking questions about the mass murder. Maddison and her friend killed a boy and feels bad so they decide that they need to bring him back to life with their witch powers	Girl reacts wrong when police question her about the murders. Have to bring into a place where dead bodies are kept and loof for parts to add	Police and Fiona argues, then Fiona makes them drink spit and forget about the case they had going.
Action	Luc cage past catches up with him, he decides to protect an old friend (police officer) by doing this he brings unwanted attention to himself.	They escape from the people trying to kill the woman, luc cage and the police officer however the police officer has been shot and un able to walk making things harder for everyone helping him out	The officer has lies and secrets hidden from everyone apart from the main guy (villain) selling guns.		The police officer bleeds out from the shot wound and dies just before the other police officers get to him.
Sci Fi	Oliver comes back from an island after 5 five years of everyone thinking he is dead and he comes home to so many problems, he’s mum hiding he’s dad death from him and who he’s dad really was.	Oliver decides to be a vigilante and saves his city from evil and bad however he also faces his mum in a battle as he trys to save the city but his mum is evil	He faces varies problems over the city and him and his team take them down but the ost important thing is to hide their little secret from the public, family and the word.		His mum dies from one of oliver, the green arrow enemy slade Wilson. He kills his mum therefore adding anger to his mission and ends up killing slade furiously and finally saves his city