narrative theory

Barthes 5 narrative codes

Enigma Code:

Barthes enigma code is a theory in which refers to the mysteries within text. He looks into how clues are dropped, but the audience will never receive answers. This means new questions would constantly be getting asked making the audience want to know more by frustrating the audience.

Proairetic/action code:

This focus on how sequences in text and how proairetic elements hep add suspense to keep the audience engaged.

Semantic code:

This part focuses on the hidden meanings in a text that are either a literal meaning or suggested meaning.

Symbolic code:

This focuses on the opposites to help show the difference as to what people think to give a bigger meaning, create tension and help with character development

Referential code:

This part relies on the audiences knowledge to help with the text, whether it be scientific, historical, cultural etc.

Todorov narrative theory

Todorov's theory follows the narrative in which every story follows, whether it be a film or another kind of media text i.e. music video. there are key stages he noted:

1. Equilibrium
   The story shall start in a place in which everything is content and is how it should be. In other words, the characters will be continuing to live a normal everyday life where everything is in place.
2. Distrubtion
   A distribution will appear that causes a problem within the story.
3. Realisation
   The characters begin to recognise the problem and everything becomes chaos
4. Restored Order
   The characters will begin to repair the damage that has been caused in order to restore the happiness at the beginning.
5. New Equilibrium
   This is when the damage has been repaired and the characters will end on a happy note and normality can continue

The narrative shown in "Sum 41 in too deep" are as follows:

1. Everything is normal and the group turns up at swimming pool to go diving
2. Another gorup turns up as competition and ends up being better at the sport
3. the group realise they need to do something to stop the competition
4. The group tried to solve the disruption through distracting the competition and throwing them off and entertaining the crowd in their own way.
5. The competition fails and the group win the competition.

Propp narrative theory

Propp suggests that in all story lines, it has to follow the same character set up. These consist of:

1. The villain - fights against the hero
2. The dispatcher - character who send the hero on his way
3. The helper - aids the hero in some way
4. The princess/prize - the rewards for the hero at the end
5. The father - gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, and marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father cannot be clearly distinguished
6. The donor - prepares the hero
7. The Hero - completes a task for the prize. mainly the main character
8. False hero - takes credit for the hero’s actions

The character types seen in "MAGIC! Rude" are:

• The princess - the leads singers gilfriend
• The hero - the lead singer
• Her father/Villian - the one who stops the couple seeing each other
• The dispatcher - the rest of the band
• The false hero - the man in which the family tries to set up with the princess
• The helper - the princesses mother
• The donor - the rest of the band

Strauss narrative theory

Strauss states that in all story lines there will always be two binary opposites such as:

• rich vs poor
• human vs inhumane 
• hero vs villain
• beauty vs ugly
• male vs female 
• good vs bad
• young vs old
• innocence vs corrupted

The binary codes we see in "all time low's something's gotta give" are:

• male vs female
• good vs bad
• humane vs inhame 
• sane vs insane