textual analysis theories

Narrative Theories:

Levi- Strauss and binary opposition: Narrative tension is based around polar opposition. Could be two characters fighting or something else. (Can't have a functioning narrative without disagreement).

Example: black vs white, boy vs girl, action vs inaction, strong vs weak, democracy vs dictatorship.

Vladimir Propp- Propp theory: a story will always have a: hero, villain, dispatcher (sets hero off on the quest), donor (has a magical power/ object that will help in the quest), princess (prize for the hero), her father (rewards the hero), false hero (fake hero- is a liar), the helper (helps the hero along the way).

Example: Harry Potter- Harry is the hero, Voldemort is the villain, Dumbledoor/ Hermione/ Ron could be the donors, Ginny Weasley could be considered the princess, Ginny's father is 'her father', Hagrid or Dumbledoor are the dispatchers, Dumbledoor/ Hagrid are the helpers as well as most of the other characters, Draco is the false hero possibly.

Todorov's Theory- Equilibrium Theory: Every narrative has 5 different stages- 1. a state of equilibrium-

2. disruption to equilibrium- 3. recognition of disruption- 4. attempt to repair the damage 5. return to some kind of balance.

Genre Theories:

Roland Barthes- Barthes Enigma Codes- throughout film and TV we are presented with actions and enigma codes linking to the genre. She falls over- will something bad happen when she's in a weak form (action codes- why is there a spatular in the toilet?- (enigma code (object)).

Altman- Genre and audience pleasures- different genres evoke different feeling.

1. Visceral- gut feelings- laughter, screaming, etc

2. Emotional pleasure- happy, sad, scared etc

3. Intellectual Pleasures- Does it make the audience thin- are the audience receptive/ passive/ active