Research: Narrative Theory - Ms Begum

Narrative
Narrative is when it tells/shows the storyline, it's the way the elements in the story are made (according to the story) to make a meaningful story.
It's important to the audience because without narrative - we wouldn't know what the story is about/what it's telling us.

Creating meaning in text: what four elements allows the audience to find meaning?


The four elements that can help an audience construct meaning in a text is:

• Connotation and Denotation - Connotation is the meaning of a text (a symbolic) and Denotation is the how the connotation is described. An example for this is: The connotation is a white shirt and the denotation for it is the white shirt symbolise as purity and peace. 
• Genre - such as lighting, colour, sound, characteristics, narrative etc.
• Characters - such as facial expression, body language, relationship, age, gender etc.
• Structure

So the four elements are connotation and denotation, genre, characters and structure.

Propp
Vladimir Propp is the one who has created and developed a character theory. The theory of Propp mostly focused/interested in narrative folk tales.
Propp believed that all folk tales were about the same struggles so therefore they had the same characters. He also believed that characters have a narrative function; they support a structure for the text.
Propp's classic characters:
- Hero/Protagonist
- Villain/Antagonist
-  The Princess
- Villagers
- The Doner
- Father
- The Helper
- The Dispatcher
- The False Hero


The stages for it is:
(1)Complication - (2)Transference - (3)Struggle - (4)Return - (5) Recognition


Torodov 
Tzvetan Torodov is the one who has created this theory. He believed the story should start first with equilibrium then disequilibrium and ending with new equilibrium.
Torodov narrates the story - narrating the stages throughout the story:
(1) A stage of equilibrium
(2) A disruption
(3) A recognition that the disorder has occurred
(4)An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption
(5)A return of restoration of a new equilibrium.


So the stages is:
(1) Equilibrium - (2)Disequilibrium - (3)New Equilibrium


Aristotle
This theory believed that it is important to arouse emotion from the audience.
This mostly within tragedy (fear and emotion), evoking emotion through themes.

The Aristotle's narrative structure is:
(1) Falling action  - The turning point of the story, where the main character makes the decision that defines the outcome of the story.
(2) Denouement - The resolution: all mystery is solved.
(3) Rising action - Protagonist understands his or her goal and begins to work toward it.
(4) Exposition - The audience gets to know the main character
(5) Climax - Greatest overall tension; the phase in which everything goes mostly wrong.


Barthes
Barthes theory believed that objects has its meaning.
Barthes is about semiology - connotation and denotation. The narrative for this can be defined by using the following things:
- Symbolic - (Connotation)
- Semic - (Denotation)
- Cultural understanding - events which can be recognised.

After researching I know now all these three narrative:
Aristotle - that focuses on themes
Barthes - that focuses on semiology
Torodov - that focuses on narrative

Here's an example of Propp.

For this video I will be focusing on the narrative of Propp. After watching this four minute and fourteen second opening of Shrek, I've found all the Propp's (list of characters) I've seen from this opening. The characters (that was first introduced) I've saw was:
- Princess
- Dragon
- Knights
- Shrek
- Villagers

Here's an example of Aristotle and Barthes

In this video I will be focusing on the narrative of Aristotle and Barthes on this trailer of Romeo and Juliet (1996).
Aristotle: There is many emotions in this trailer, there's:
                                                                                         - Sadness
                                                                                         - Love
                                                                                         - Anger
                                                                                         - Revenge and Betrayal

Barthes: One of the scenes from that trailer shown Juliet wearing a white dress - this symbolize good and purity..