In todays lesson we studied four different narrative theorists. We then watched some film openings and analysed them using the theories.
Levi Straws - Levi straws believed that all narratives could be reduced down to binary opposites. Binary opposites include things such as black and white, male and female, rich and poor and good and evil. These binary opposites make the film interesting.
Barthes - Barthes believed in the 'codes theory' which are in films including action, symbolic and enigma. Enigma is used in films to keep the audience hooked to the storyline. Enigma makes the rhetorical questions in our heads whilst the film is going on. For example in class we analysed the film 'Prestige' which made us ask lots of questions about what was happening and why it was happening.
Todorov - Todorov concentrates on the structure of the film and overcoming obstacles. These parts of the film create excitement and interest in the film. In class we analysed a small clip from the film 'Jack Jack'. In the clip we saw a young girl babysitting a child. The babysitter has to overcome many different obstacles as the child is very challenging to look after. The narrative theory of structure is proven by watching this clip as the equilibrium would be a normal baby being taken cared of by his babysitter, yet because the baby creates many different obstacles for the babysitter to overcome the film becomes more interesting.
Propp - Propp concentrates on the characters in the films. Propp found that there were 8 different types of characters which are regularly found in most films. The 8 different characters are the hero, the villain, the donor, the dispatcher, the false hero, the helper, the princess and her father.
I have chosen to analyse the opening scene from the film 'Jaws' and apply Barthes narrative theory. I will be analysing the key actions, enigma codes, key characters and key themes.
Key actions - There is a girl and boy running towards the ocean. The boy is very drunk and collapses on the sand whilst the girl goes into the sea. After swimming for a while, suddenly something pulls her under the water. The girl struggles for a long time whilst screaming until her whole body is dragged under the water and she does not come back up.
Enigma codes - Why does the girl really want to go swimming?
Why is the boy so drunk?
Why does the girl not look injured when she hangs onto the bouy?
Why has the boy not woken up?
Why has the boy not heard her screaming or tried to save her?
Key characters - The girl- The main character from the opening scene is the girl. In this clip the girl represents vulnerability as she is in the ocean at night alone.
The boy- The only other character which is in the opening scene is the boy. He is not a very important character as all of the action which happens in this clip does not involve him. However his character is still important because the audience know if he was not asleep he could have possibly saved the girl.
Key themes - A key theme which is shown in this clip is fear. This is because an innocent, young girl is being attacked and the only thing the audience can hear is her screams. Fear is clearly shown in this clip form the girl. Another key theme which is shown in this film opening was action. Right from the very beginning of the opening we see a boy and a girl running which shows action and leaves enigma as to what are they running towards or from? Action is also shown in this film opening as when it is clear there is a shark attacking the young girl, there is a lot of action being shown.
