Monday, 23 September 2013

Todorov's Theory

Narratives must have events or happenings that are structured by causality (the relationship between cause and effect)

Todorov suggested a slightly more complex description of narrative structure than the simple situation - problem - resolution scenario. Instead he suggested these five stages:
  1. Equilibrim: A state of balance at the outset, although doesn't have to be perfect - it just has to work
  2. Disruption: Disruption of the equilibrim, usually by the action of a villian
  3. Recognition: The characters and/or audience recognise the disruption
  4. Repair: An attempt to fix things (i.e defeat the villian)
  5. Reinstatement: Equilibrim is regained, although it is usually a new equilibrim to the original one.
Todorov's recurring stories
~ The Quest: Where the hero is sent to sent to challenge evil and save the kingdom etc
~ Redemption Story: Where the central character sins, but redeems himself by self sacrafice
~ Journey to another world: When a character goes somewhere different and in turn changes
~ The Beast transformed by love: as title really e.g. Beauty & The Beast
~ The solving of riddles: Where there is a mystery to be solved e.g. Sherlock Holmes
~ The 'biter bit': Where the oppressed rise up and throw off the tryants
~ The Stranger Saviour: The stranger comes to town and acts as a catalyst for the residents to overcome their fear
~ The rise and fall: a family's or empire's rise to power and subsequent decline in their or it's fortune

We could use this in our music video when considering the narrative that will accompany the visuals.

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