MIGRAIN Introduction to Media: Narrative

 1) Give an example from film or television that uses Todorov's narrative structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium. 

Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Parks and Box: 2005)

Equilibrium: There is an annual large vegetable competition but rabbits are eating the vegetables. Wallace and Gromit start to try and catch them.

Disequilibrium: They fill up the house with captive rabbits, Gromit tries to make a machine to solve the problem, but a giant animal attacks the vegetables, Wallace turned into a man dog.

New equilibrium: Gromit battles to save Wallace, and everything is restored. 

2) Complete the activity on page 1 of the Factsheet: find a clip on YouTube of the opening of a new TV drama series. Write an analysis of the narrative markers that help establish setting, character and plot.

 

• The setting and characters are both established through the clothing, and the badges that the characters wear. This not only reveals their roles as detectives in the show but also makes use of the iconic NYPD badge, which helps the audience understand this is based in New York as their work is based there.

• The plot is revealed through the props, for example, the notepad which reinforces her detective role, hinting to the audience that perhaps they will follow these detectives whilst they solve crimes in New York. 

  

3) Provide three different examples from film or television of characters that fit Propp's hero character role.

Spiderman:  Far from home 

Peter Parker - Hero

Iron Man

4)  Give an example of a binary opposition.

Spiderman (Hero) vs Green Goblin (Villain)

5) What example is provided in the Fact-sheet for the way narratives can emphasise dominant ideologies and values?

The winner often represents dominant ideas and values of our society. E.g. when a policeman captures a criminal, the ideology of law and order is established.

6) Why do enigma and action codes (Barthes) offer gratifications for audiences?

This offers gratification as for enigma codes raises a question to the reader, which initially gives the audience a sense of suspense, where they experience anticipation and when their question is answered they are full of satisfaction, and even if it is not answered it leaves the audience with uncertainty which can be equally as satisfactory depending on the genre/plot.

As for action codes, they hint to a scene of movement and action in later scenes giving the audience a sense of thrill.

7) Write a one-sentence summary of the four different types of TV narrative:

• Episodic narrative (the series) - Each episode has a self-contained story.
• Overarching narrative (the serial) - The story unfolds across episodes and seasons.
• Mixed narrative - Combines episodic and overarching elements.
• Multi-strand overlapping narrative (soap narrative) - Multiple story lines running simultaneously, often unresolved for long periods.

8) How does the Fact-sheet suggest adverts use narrative?  

Adverts set up the problem and then show you the solution immediately to create a swift resolution to the short narrative.