narrative

Narrative theory.

 

Narrative theorist such a Todorov, Propp, Levi-Strauss and Barthes try and explain the ways in which narratives are organised. Audience's can identify mea

 

 

Preferred/Dominant readings:

This is mainstream ideology which the audience prefer. An example would be in Shawshank redemption the end scene would be that Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins were happy to see each other, this is the preferred reading which is the mainstream ideology.

The dominant/preferred reading of our film is that Jake is simply getting revenge on the people who drove his brother to suicide, this wouls make the audience sympathise with him so they would support him throughout the film.

Oppositional reading:
This is an alternative reading which depend on how the person views things. For example, in Shawshank redemption, the oppositional reading would be that may be Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins were gay.

The oppositional reading of our film is that Jake is just as bad as all of the other people who bullied his brother and he deserves the same as what he is doing to people.

Classical Hollywood Narrative:
Hollywood scriptwriters constructed their narratives according to a three-act structure -

ACT 1: Exposition and development towards the first major problem or distribution to the natural order.
ACT 2: Intervening complications, working towards a solution to the problem.
ACT 3: Climax and resolution.

PROPP:
1. Preperation
2. Complication
3. Transference
4. Struggle
5. Return
6. Recognition

TODOROV:
1. Equilibrium
2. Disruption
3. Recognition of disruption
4. Attempt to repair disruption
5. A return or restoration of a new equilibrium

BARTHES:
Barthes created the semiotics theory, which consists of denotation, connotation and context/culture.
Denotation is what something actually is, for example, a red rose, the connotations of a red rose could symbolise love. Context could depend on how the red rose is given, for example, if a man gives a woman a rose, then it would be seen as love.