Learning Outcome:
To apply the narrative theory of Vladimir Propp and Tzvetan Todorov to the feature films Shrek, The Matrix and Se7en.
Propp:
1) Hero - who seeks something (love, to solve a crime, to get his parents back together and return to the future)
2) Villain - who opposes the hero
3) Princess - who needs protecting and saving by the hero, and is their reward on successful completion of the mission
4) Helper - who helps the Hero
5) Donor - provides the hero with a magical object so that they can complete their quest
6) False Hero - assumes the role of the hero but is unable to complete the mission
7) Father of the Princess - Rewards the Hero on successful completion of the mission
1. Equilibrium
2. Disruption of equilibrium
3. Recognition of disruption
4. Attempt to repair disruption
5. New equilibrium. Often with a lesson learned.
Many film makers today don’t bother setting up the normal world in order to disrupt it with a problem (a killer shark, etc.) they go straight for the problem and disequilibrium.
However, there will always be a sense in the film of what life was like before the problem came along and therefore what the characters can return to if they can only sort the problem out.
Task 1: Apply Proppo and Todorov's theory to the feature films Shrek, The Matrix and Seven. Links to (IMDB) information are below, underlined. Trailers are linked to the images.
Much of the humour in Shrek comes from the way the film subverts fairytale conventions.
Yet it still adheres to the conventions of narrative in order to satisfy us, the audience, who still love a classic structure to our films.
To apply the narrative theory of Vladimir Propp and Tzvetan Todorov to the feature films Shrek, The Matrix and Se7en.
Propp:
1) Hero - who seeks something (love, to solve a crime, to get his parents back together and return to the future)
2) Villain - who opposes the hero
3) Princess - who needs protecting and saving by the hero, and is their reward on successful completion of the mission
4) Helper - who helps the Hero
5) Donor - provides the hero with a magical object so that they can complete their quest
6) False Hero - assumes the role of the hero but is unable to complete the mission
7) Father of the Princess - Rewards the Hero on successful completion of the mission
8) The dispatcher (who sends the hero on his way)
Todorov
Todorov saw underlying structures to narratives.
He argued that stories all begin in “equilibrium” when all forces are in balance.
This is disrupted by a problem to cause “disequilibrium”.
Then more events take place before a“new equilibrium” is established.
He argued that stories all begin in “equilibrium” when all forces are in balance.
This is disrupted by a problem to cause “disequilibrium”.
Then more events take place before a“new equilibrium” is established.
2. Disruption of equilibrium
3. Recognition of disruption
4. Attempt to repair disruption
5. New equilibrium. Often with a lesson learned.
Many film makers today don’t bother setting up the normal world in order to disrupt it with a problem (a killer shark, etc.) they go straight for the problem and disequilibrium.
However, there will always be a sense in the film of what life was like before the problem came along and therefore what the characters can return to if they can only sort the problem out.
Task 1: Apply Proppo and Todorov's theory to the feature films Shrek, The Matrix and Seven. Links to (IMDB) information are below, underlined. Trailers are linked to the images.
Much of the humour in Shrek comes from the way the film subverts fairytale conventions.
Yet it still adheres to the conventions of narrative in order to satisfy us, the audience, who still love a classic structure to our films.
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A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers. Great use of Proppian characters here see if you can apply.
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Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi.
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