Lesson objectives

By the end of todays lesson you will be able to:

Understand both Todorov and Levi Strausss ideas on narrative theory and be able to use them in the analysis of media texts Build upon your analysis of About Time by adding to your coursework research and planning. To be successful; Complete your Learning Circles sheet using key information A grade

A- will show thorough understanding, a detailed display of

excellence and be well presented

C-

will be reasonably skilled but lack real depth and detail

Tzvetan Todorov
A Bulgarian philosopher and theorist born in 1939 who has lived in France since 1963. Famous for his narratology = the structure of narrative. His approach is founded in the belief that all human experience is at the centre of narrative structure. His theory is based upon a sequence of five propositions which outline a basic state of narration. 1.EQUILBRIUM- a state of equilibrium where everything is calm and ordered 2. DISEQUILIBRIUM- a disruption of the calm by an event 3. RECOGNITION- a recognition that a disruption has taken place and upset the calm 4. REPAIR- an attempt to repair the damage of disruption 5. NEW EQUILBRIUM- a return to a new state of equilibrium The narrative of modern media texts often conform to all

A STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY

A NEW STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

REPAIR OF DAMAGE OF DISRUPTION

RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION

A STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY

Good and evil are balanced in the universe. Luke Skywalker is a farm boy.

A NEW STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

REPAIR OF DAMAGE OF DISRUPTION

RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION

A STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM Princess Leia is captured. Luke finds out about his father The Deathstar destroys a world.

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY

Good and evil are balanced in the universe. Luke Skywalker is a farm boy.

A NEW STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

REPAIR OF DAMAGE OF DISRUPTION

RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION

A STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM Princess Leia is captured. Luke finds out about his father The Deathstar destroys a world.

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY

Good and evil are balanced in the universe. Luke Skywalker is a farm boy.

Luke gets a message from Princess Leia. They witness a world destroyed. A NEW STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM REPAIR OF DAMAGE OF DISRUPTION RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION

A STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM Princess Leia is captured. Luke finds out about his father The Deathstar destroys a world.

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY

Good and evil are balanced in the universe. Luke Skywalker is a farm boy.

Luke and his friends board the Deathstar, rescue Princess Leia and then attempt to destroy the Deathstar. A NEW STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM REPAIR OF DAMAGE OF DISRUPTION

Luke gets a message from Princess Leia. They witness a world destroyed. RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION

A STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM Princess Leia is captured. Luke finds out about his father The Deathstar destroys a world.

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY

Good and evil are balanced in the universe. Luke Skywalker is a farm boy.

The Deathstar is destroyed, Luke is rewarded. Balance is returned to the universe. A NEW STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

Luke and his friends board the Deathstar, rescue Princess Leia and then attempt to destroy the Deathstar. REPAIR OF DAMAGE OF DISRUPTION

Luke gets a message from Princess Leia. They witness a world destroyed. RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION

EQUILIBRIUM

DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY

A NEW STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

REPAIR OF DAMAGE OF DISRUPTION

RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION

EQUILIBRIUM

DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM All of the fairy creatures are sent to live at SHREKs swamp

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY

SHREK lives happily on his own in his swamp

SHREK falls in love with Princess Fiona and they live happily ever after.

Lord Farquad tells SHREK he must rescue a Princess if he wants his land back. He rescues Princess Fiona. REPAIR OF DAMAGE OF DISRUPTION

SHREK meets donkey and together they go to see Lord Farquad to demand his swamp back. RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION

A NEW STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM

Claude Levi-Strauss was a French anthropologist , his theory is founded on the way we understand certain words. It doesnt depend on the meaning it creates but more on our understanding of the difference between a word and its 'opposite' which he termed 'binary oppositions'. He argued that words act as symbols for society's ideas and he believed the meaning of words was a relationship between opposing ideas. The constant creation of conflict/opposition propels narrative. Narrative can only end on a resolution of conflict. Opposition can be visual (light/darkness, movement/stillness) or conceptual (love/hate, control/panic) and to do with soundtrack. Binary oppositions can be found in a range of media texts including film trailers. They help an audience to make sense of the narrative.

Levi-Strauss 1908-1990

You need to explore the use of binary opposites In your analyses. Name some other examples. What films use these?
Harry is constantly represented as the good guy in the Harry Potter films and he has always been wanted dead by Voldemort who is represented as the evil guy throughout the film. The image to the right is very effective as it expresses the binary opposite clearly to the audience. It could also be innocence VS corrupted

Claude Levi-Strauss was a French anthropologist , his theory is founded on the way we understand certain words. It doesnt depend on the meaning it creates but more on our understanding of the difference between a word and its 'opposite' which he termed 'binary oppositions'. He argued that words act as symbols for society's ideas and he believed the meaning of words was a relationship between opposing ideas. The constant creation of conflict/opposition propels narrative. Narrative can only end on a resolution of conflict. Opposition can be visual (light/darkness, movement/stillness) or conceptual (love/hate, control/panic) and to do with soundtrack. Binary oppositions can be found in a range of media texts including film trailers. They help an audience to make sense of the narrative. Examples include.. Hero vs. Villain Old vs. young Right vs. wrong Love vs. hate Life vs. death Past vs. future Masculine vs. feminine Sane vs. insane Heaven vs. hell

Levi-Strauss 1908-1990

You need to explore the use of binary opposites In your analyses. Name some other examples. What films use these?

Harry is constantly represented as the good guy in the Harry Potter films and he has always been wanted dead by Voldemort who is represented as the evil guy throughout the film. The image to the right is very effective as it expresses the binary opposite clearly to the audience. It could also be innocence VS corrupted

Activity
Apply the theories to your analysis of About Time

Learning Circles sheet. Who is Levi- Strauss?

START
How much do you know?
NOTHING AT ALL

END
How much do you know?
NOTHING AT ALL

Who is Todorov?

What is Levi-Strausss theory? What is Todorovs theory?

NOT A LOT

NOT A LOT

A LITTLE QUIITE A LOT EVERYTHING

Examples of binary opposition

A LITTLE QUIITE A LOT EVERYTHING

earning objectives

By the end of todays lesson you will be able to: Understand both Todorov and Levi Strausss ideas on narrative theory and be able to use them in the analysis of media texts Build upon your analysis of About Time by adding to your coursework research and planning. To be successful; A grade A- will show thorough understanding, a detailed display of excellence and be well presented C- will be reasonably skilled but lack real depth and detail

APPLICATION OF TODOROVS NARRATIVE THEORY to SHREK

Film Trailer Analysis note sheet. What do I need to show evidence of in my analysis?
Genre Codes, conventions, signs, denotations & connotations, sub-genres, hybrid genres, type of narrative, settings, events, props, Audience Who is the iconography, audience, titles, etc. how can they be classified? Demographic and psychographic variables and media audience theories Narrative Use of camera Media Language Outline of the story angle, shot types, told, how much of movements and the story is composition miserevealed? Propps en-scene, editing character types, transitions, cuts, form of structure pace and effects, and equilibrium, is diegetic and nonthere more than diegetic sound, one trailer? mood, ambience Representation Of groups or and atmosphere individuals, You willetc. produce 3 different detailed movie trailer character analyses on a types, powerpoint including; stereotypes, Screenshots subverted A hyperlink to the stereotypes, original trailer who?, how? 7 Sub-headings types where appropriate and a chronological