Textual analysis question

Levi- Strauss theorized that since all cultures are products of the human brain, there must be, narrative tension. This can be as simple as two characters fighting, but more often functions at an ideological level.

The binary opposition allows the narrative to move on.

Binary opposites examples: 

  • old vs young
  • boy vs girl
  • good vs evil
  • east vs west
  • peace vs war
Propp's theory: suggests that there are dedicated characters which are the key elements for any plot.
He analyzed the plot components of Russian folk tales to identify their basic narrative elements. He also found that despite the large number of characters that appeared in the folk tales, there were only 8 character types. These types don't have to be people, they can also be themes.
Character types:
  • Hero
  • Villain
  • Helper
  • Princess or prize
  • Father
  • Donor
  • False hero
  • Dispatcher

Hero: the one who goes on the quest and usually ends up with the princess
Villain: against the hero
Dispatcher: sets the hero off on their quest
Donor: helps the hero and sometimes has a magical power/object to help
Princess: usually the prize for the hero. The hero deserves her throughout the story and must overcome a task/defeat the villain to get her.
Her father: rewards the hero. Usually identifies the false hero
The false hero: takes credit for the hero's actions and tries to marry/end up with the princess
The helper: someone who helps the hero on their mission

Applied, example: Aladdin
Hero: Aladdin
Princess: Jasmine
Helper: Aboo
Villain: Jafar 
Donor: the genie 
Her father: Sultan

Todorov's theory: Narrative theory. 5 stages to every narrative, start at a stage of equilibrium where everything is perfect and peaceful. Next, something happens to disrupt this, next someone realises this disruption, after there is an attempt to repair this disruption, finally you return to the same or a new equilibrium.



Barthes theory: Action and enigma codes.
Action codes: what will happen next... she falls over will he catch her? she has been caught- what will he do with her?
Enigma codes: the audience questions why... Why is there a shoe on the floor?

Denotation: what you can see, the literal meaning
Connotation: the associations of the denotations
Example: a red chair could represent anger, danger, love, passion etc.

Altman, Genre and audience pleasure theory: he suggests that genres offer audiences 3 sets of different pleasures:

Emotional pleasures: how it makes you feel; happy, sad, nostalgic
Visceral pleasures: excitement, fear, laughter
Intellectual pleasures: makes you think




Comments

  1. JCoSS Media Dept27 April 2022 at 06:41

    Another great blog post!

    Good inclusion of the theories - be sure to revise over these so that you are confident with them when writing your textual analysis responses.

    Miss C

    ReplyDelete

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