Overview of exam

Useful blogs to look at

http://shannonmcphersonadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://amykingadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://danharrisadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://kieranhilladvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://matthewbostockadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://veronikapluharovaadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

http://lauracuthbertsonadvancedproduction.blogspot.co.uk/

Roland Barthes

Argued that a narrative is told through a series of codes that are used to control the way in which information is given to the audience. Two most important being: Enigma codes (Puzzles) and Action codes.

Enigma codes – A narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved

E.g.: Detective story in which the audience is invited to solve the puzzle of ‘whodunnit’ by interpreting the clues

Action codes – A narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action e.g.: a shoot-out, violence, often by the hero

Claude Levi Strauss

He suggested that the production of meaning depended in the concept of binary oppositions (Evil vs. Good). This involves looking at the conflict between two qualities and understanding how the text produces meaning by the setting up of these oppositions.

Binary oppositions of Western:

Settles vs. Native Americans

Christian vs. Pagan

Domestic vs. Savage

Weak vs. Strong

Good vs. Evil

 

Binary oppositions of ‘Lord of the Rings’:

Peace vs. War

Good vs. Evil

Hope vs. Fear

Compassion vs. Indifference

Bravery vs. Cowardice

Nature vs. Machinery

Propp's theory

Narrative structure can be determined by role. Character roles help us understand the constructed nature of the narrative. There are eight character roles:
Princess, villain, father, hero, false hero, dispatcher, donor, helper

Todorov’s theory

He reduced narrative to a simple formula: all stories start with an equilibrium then it is disrupted that sets a chain of events of and then in the end it goes back to normal e.g: titanic – Rose is engaged, leaves fiancé for Jack, Jack dies and Rose continues her life as an independent women

The name of the film	How it applies to the theory
Finding Nemo	-       Mum dies but Nemo is only left -       Lives in the sea with dad -       Gets taken -       Dad finds him
Frozen	-       Kids in castle playing -       Sister gets hurt -       Sister is fixed -       Other sister runs away after freezing things -       Sister goes after her and gets hurt -       Sister saves the other in the end and happily ever after
Captain America	-       CA, running with friend -       Fury gets hurt and dies -       Finds out about hydra -       Fights -       Finds out Fury isn’t dead -       Fight and wins

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