Unit 22 - Assignment 1 – Task 2
Narrative
structures
A man called Tzvetan Todorov created a theory which had
stages to it. What he believed was these stages showed that most films followed
the same pattern or path. He called the theory ‘uses and gratifications‘. Here
are the 5 stages to his theory.
- Equilibrium: Setting is established, key characters are introduced and the storyline is set up.
- Disruption: Oppositional characters appear and the story takes a particular direction.
- Repair: The highest point of tension, the climax of the film.
- New Equilibrium: Matters are sorted out, problems solved and questions answered.
An existing film that shows each 5 stages of Todorov’s
theory is ‘ Shrek 2 ‘. Below I will illustrate how each stage is used.
Equilibrium: The equilibrium is conveyed in the opening
scenes of this film. Shrek in the previous film has fallen in love with Princess
Fiona and they are on their honeymoon. They’re both extremely happy, the
disruption soon comes when Fiona’s parents invite Shrek and Fiona to their
kingdom in far far away.
Disruption: The disruption during the film is conveyed when they are invited but Shrek doesn’t
want to go her parents because he is happy with the life that he’s got. He decides to go and he isn’t impressed by Fiona’s father who instantly dislikes him. An example of the disruption would be when they first meet. Below you can see the dislike on her father’s face, this denotes that there is a change of direction is the story.
Recognition: The recognition in this film is conveyed in many scenes. Tension continues to build up between Shrek and Fiona's father. An example of a scene in which recognition is shown in when they are having dinner. This scenes shows Fiona's father not being impressed with Shrek's table manners. The imagine below shows the tension judging by his facial expression he is not happy.
Repair: The repair in thus film is shown various times. Shrek is locked in a room by the fairy godmother and Prince Charming pounces at a vulnerable Princess Fiona. This is the highest point of climax because Fiona is lied too and Shrek loses her. The imagine below shows Shrek's trying to gain Fiona's attention but it isn't working. His facial expression shows that he's in disbelief and its hurting.
New Equilibrium: The new equilibrium in fairlytales are always happy endings. In this film Shrek manages to stop Fiona from kissing Prince Charming and he wins her back. The image below shows them getting back together and sharing a passionate moment. The new equilibrium is established, everything is sorted and now they embark on a new adventure.
Linear Structure
- Linear: Linear is when a film follows a story from beginning to middle to the end in chronological order, it has no flashbacks.
- Non-Linear: Non-Linear doesn't have a specific order. The story isn't straightforward there can twists and there also tend to be flashbacks.
Examples of Linear:
- Big Momma's House
- Cinderella
- White Chicks
- Karate Kid
Examples of Non-Linear:
- Scot Pilgrim Vs The World
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Titanic
- 21 Jump Street
- Fast and furious 7
Linear
An example of a linear film would be the film 'Karate Kid'. This film follows the whole linear theory. There are no flashbacks and everything in the story is in chronological order, there are no twists, the film just occurs in perfect co-ordination.
This film follows the story of a boy who lived in USA but has just recently moved to China.He struggles to settle in to his new country, He finds it difficult to make any friends at school and there is a group of boys who feel the need to constantly bully him. He struggles to cope and ends up blaming his mum for moving to China. However during one attack by the boys the maintenance man comes to his rescue by producing karate. The boy is so intrigued by this that he wants to take up karate but the maintenance man refuses to teach him. The link below shows this scene. There is where the beginning of the film is as learns about the art of karate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zETEdwV4ko
Towards the middle of the film the boy is threatened more and he begins to hide. The group of boys attend a karate training session. The maintenance man goes with the boy and he make an agreement with the trainer that his boys will leave him if he agrees to participate in this karate tournament. The maintenance man tells the boy he will train him. And the training begins. This is where the story takes a change in direction. Although it takes a change it direction it is still understandable and predictable, it's as if the audience expected it.
Every film has it's ending, The ending in linear films tend to be understandable. The audience should be able to predict what's going to happen. In this film the boy wins the karate tournament. Linear films always have a chronological order. This film shows this because everything made sense. In the link below you can see the final scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=939kXCYK98U
I believe that this films target audience was for children and adults. I also believe that the ethnicity for this film is every ethnicity because it is a film about bullying and martial arts which can apply to anyone. I also believe that there is no specific gender for this film and that everyone can watch it. I believe the linear structure was beneficial because it made sense for audience. This helped the audience because they were able to understand the story more whereas with non-linear it can leave the viewers confused.
Non-Linear
An example of a non-linear film would be 'Fast and Furious 7'. This story follows an on going franchise which has been going on for about 15 years, This film follows the main character and his crew who attempt to take down a villain that killed one of their friends in Tokyo. The story leaves the viewers quite puzzled. There tends to be quite a few flashbacks.
The Franchise had left viewers extremely puzzled when one of the crew members died in film number 3 but he still starred in film 4,5,6. In 7 they bring back a scene from number 3 which is a flashback. This already confuses the viewers because the story doesn't make sense. You can see below in the link this scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zml7qQpL8Yo
After this the film progresses and everything seems to make sense. The whole story was coming together and it began to make sense. However just as things began to make sense there is another flashback which teaches the audience something. This is where non-linear narrative comes into use because the story isn't in order and there has been a change. At this stage the audience find out that one of the main couples and married. After that the flashback begins. After that flashback the film comes to an end.
In terms of appeal to audience I believe that non-linear can be beneficial for the audience because there are some questions left unanswered from previous films and with these flashbacks it allows the audience to fill in these blanks that they've been thinking about for years. I think that the ethnicity for this film is every ethnicity because the film doesn't have any racial message to it so it's for everyone to view. I also believe that there is no specific gender for this film.. Anyone from the age of 12+ should be able to view it.
This film follows the story of a boy who lived in USA but has just recently moved to China.He struggles to settle in to his new country, He finds it difficult to make any friends at school and there is a group of boys who feel the need to constantly bully him. He struggles to cope and ends up blaming his mum for moving to China. However during one attack by the boys the maintenance man comes to his rescue by producing karate. The boy is so intrigued by this that he wants to take up karate but the maintenance man refuses to teach him. The link below shows this scene. There is where the beginning of the film is as learns about the art of karate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zETEdwV4ko
Towards the middle of the film the boy is threatened more and he begins to hide. The group of boys attend a karate training session. The maintenance man goes with the boy and he make an agreement with the trainer that his boys will leave him if he agrees to participate in this karate tournament. The maintenance man tells the boy he will train him. And the training begins. This is where the story takes a change in direction. Although it takes a change it direction it is still understandable and predictable, it's as if the audience expected it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=939kXCYK98U
I believe that this films target audience was for children and adults. I also believe that the ethnicity for this film is every ethnicity because it is a film about bullying and martial arts which can apply to anyone. I also believe that there is no specific gender for this film and that everyone can watch it. I believe the linear structure was beneficial because it made sense for audience. This helped the audience because they were able to understand the story more whereas with non-linear it can leave the viewers confused.
Non-Linear
An example of a non-linear film would be 'Fast and Furious 7'. This story follows an on going franchise which has been going on for about 15 years, This film follows the main character and his crew who attempt to take down a villain that killed one of their friends in Tokyo. The story leaves the viewers quite puzzled. There tends to be quite a few flashbacks.
The Franchise had left viewers extremely puzzled when one of the crew members died in film number 3 but he still starred in film 4,5,6. In 7 they bring back a scene from number 3 which is a flashback. This already confuses the viewers because the story doesn't make sense. You can see below in the link this scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zml7qQpL8Yo
After this the film progresses and everything seems to make sense. The whole story was coming together and it began to make sense. However just as things began to make sense there is another flashback which teaches the audience something. This is where non-linear narrative comes into use because the story isn't in order and there has been a change. At this stage the audience find out that one of the main couples and married. After that the flashback begins. After that flashback the film comes to an end.
In terms of appeal to audience I believe that non-linear can be beneficial for the audience because there are some questions left unanswered from previous films and with these flashbacks it allows the audience to fill in these blanks that they've been thinking about for years. I think that the ethnicity for this film is every ethnicity because the film doesn't have any racial message to it so it's for everyone to view. I also believe that there is no specific gender for this film.. Anyone from the age of 12+ should be able to view it.
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