Narrative blog task

 1) Give an example from film or television that uses Todorov's narrative structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium. 

• Equilibrium – the balanced normality of the world of the story

• Disequilibrium – the unbalanced world between the problem and the climax 

• New Equilibrium – a return to normality at the end – returning the world to balanced state

2) Complete the activity on page 1 of the Factsheet: find a clip on YouTube of the opening of a new TV drama series (season 1, episode 1). Embed the clip in your blog and write an analysis of the narrative markers that help establish setting, character and plot.

At the start there are multiple cuts to show him at different moments. They all randomly wake up in a room full of people unexpectedly. They then start their first game which results in death meaning there is an action code. They carry on playing games and whoever loses dies but whoever wins at the very end wins all the money. 

3) Provide three different examples from film or television of characters that fit Propp's hero character role.

• The Hero – a character that seeks something

• The Villain – who opposes or actively blocks the hero’s quest

• The Donor – who provides something to help the hero

4) Give an example of a binary opposition.

A light switch is either on or off; in a sports match, a team either wins or loses; water is either hot or cold; something in relation to something else can be left or right, up or down, in or out. These are opposites - concepts that can't exist together. Binary oppositions can be very useful to help identify the ideology of a text. The conflict between opposites in a conventional text will usually culminate in one force winning.

5) What example is provided in the Factsheet for the way narratives can emphasise dominant ideologies and values?

The winner often represents the dominant ideas and values of our culture. When the policeman captures the criminal in a crime drama– the ideology of the value of law and order is emphasised. When the girl wins the heart of the guy in a romantic comedy the values of heterosexual relationships and monogamy are reinforced. In conventional texts crime doesn’t usually pay and the guy most often gets the girl.

6) Why do enigma and action codes (Barthes) offer gratifications for audiences?

Conventional narrative offers gratifications for audiences. Problems and their complications create enigma (Barthes) for the audience. The viewers are curious as to what actions (Barthes) will be undertaken and how the problems will be solved.

7) Write a one-sentence summary of the four different types of TV narrative:

• Episodic narrative (the series)
• Overarching narrative (the serial)
• Mixed narrative
• Multi-strand overlapping narrative (soap narrative)

Episodic narrative: These are fictions which have many parts but where the narrative arc is usually resolved at the end of each episode.

Overarching narrative: The serial uses the conventional narrative arc over a number of episodes. Individual episodes do not tend to have a resolution; this comes at the end of the serial.

Mixed narrative: Some texts use both structures. Friends is an example of this. Each episode of Friends can be watched on its own as the episodes usually deal with a number of small conflicts which resolve at the end of the episode.

Multi-strand overlapping narrative:  These have a continuous narrative and they tell a number of different stories at the same time. This is sometimes called an open narrative as there is no final resolution for the text. Each narrative strand involves different characters.

8) How does the Factsheet suggest adverts use narrative?

In advertising the idea of the problem and resolution is crucial. Often adverts set up a problem (bad breath) and then immediately offer the solution (buy their toothpaste) to create a swift resolution (fresh breath).