Claude Levi-Strauss- Binary opposition
He believes that there has to be conflict between two opposing ideologies (beliefs)for there to be a true narrative.
For example, good vs. bad is a form of a binary opposition.
Tzvetan Todorav devised a way of analysing narratives by the way they move through five different stages. The first is the 'equilibrium' which is about the setting being established to the audience. the second is when the story takes a particular direction, which is called the 'disruption'. The 'recognition of disruption' is the next stage where characters and events are interwoven. The fourth stage called the 'attempt to repair disruption' is where the characters try to solve the issue. the final stage is where is where matters are sorted out, problems are solved and questions are answered. This is called the 'reinstatement of equilibrium'.Short animated Pixar film: "Partly Cloudy"
1) Equilibrium: Stalks are happily delivering babies made by happy clouds.
2) Disruption: The cloud is sad because he can only create babies which are harmful to the stalk.
3) Recognition of disruption: The stalk leaves the cloud and he sees other clouds who are happier and can create fluffy animals. The main cloud gets angry and upset by this which means he creates a storm of lightning and rain.
4) Attempt to repair: The stalk gets protective gear from another cloud (a helmet and body armour).
5) Reinstatement of equilibrium: The problem has been solved so the stalk and cloud are both happy again.
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Vladimir Propp
Valdimir Propp suggested that there are only ever a limited number of character types, each of whom have their own purpose in the narrative.
- The Hero is who the narrative is centred around and the audience follows him on a mission or quest.
- The heroine/princess acts as a reward for the hero for succeeding in the mission or quest.
- The princesses father
- Villain
- Donor or mentor
- Helper