Narrative Application Examples

Tzvetan Todorov

Todorovs Theory is as follows:

1. A point of stable equilibrium, where everything is satisfied, calm and normal.
2. This stability is disrupted by some kind of force, which creates a state of disequilibrium.
3. Recognition that there has been a disruption.
4. It is only possible to re-create equilibrium though an action directed against the disruption.
5. Restoration of an equilibrium, usually better than the original equilibrium.

Black Hole - A sleep-derived office worker accidentally discovers a black hole - and then greed gets the better of him.

Stage 1: The man is working in the office, he looks very tired as well as bored. This the equilibrium.

Stage 2: The disruption of the equilibrium is when the printer stops working, the office worker appears to be frustrated by this. He then kicks the printer and it prints out a black circle on a sheet of paper.

Stage 3: The man realises that this black circle he has accidentally printed has some sort of magical power after putting his coffee cup into it. He then decides to test it out a couple of times by grabbing a snack from the vending machine. This is when they recognise that a disruption has taken place.

Stage 4: The man then lets himself into the safe room using the black hole. He then goes top the safe and sticks the black hole on to the door. The man then reaches inside and starts pulling out the money stored there. There comes a point when he can't steal anymore so he climbs inside the safe to grab as much as he can.

Stage 5: The man becomes stuck in the safe because the paper falls off the door. In this case greed got the better of him. This shows how there is the ending of the current equilibrium and the beginning of a new equilibrium.

Roland Barthes

Barthes Theory Is As Follows:

1. Plot Or Theme is established.
2. Followed by the development of the problem, an enigma, an increase in tension.
3. Resolution of the plot.

Stage 1: The film starts with a short of a girl and a boy outside of a party talking, this establishes that the film will be focused on them they seem affectionate towards each other.

Stage 2: As the narration begins the boys voice sounds sad, this leaves the audience wandering why this might be. This creates and enigma for the audience. As the narration carries on it begins to build tension.

Stage 3: As the short film draws to a climax we learn that the boy is talking about a previous lover of his and how he misses her. This is where we find our resolution.

Vladimir Propp

Propps Theory Is As Follows:

• There Are Seven Character Types In A Story:
• The Villain - Struggles against the hero.
• The Donor - Prepares the hero gives the hero some magical object.
• The Helper - Helps the hero on their quest.
• The Princess And Her Father - Gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative.
• The Dispatcher - Character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
• The Hero - Reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
• False Hero - Takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess
• Due to nature of short films and also the small amount of characters included in these films it is hard to find a character for each of the ones suggested above however i have applied as many as i can.

The Hero - This is the older man featured in the short film, he is trying to get into heaven but there appears to be some mix-up.

The Villain - This is the organisation who grant/deny people access to heaven, the people who the man is fighting to get up there.

The Dispatcher - This is man who is originally working at the counter when they first get into the building, although he works for the organisation, he is portrayed as being quite nice and helpful.

The Helper - This is the mans wife, she provides support to the man throughout his ordeal.

The False Hero - Vlad The Impaler, he takes credit for the man who had lead a reasonably good life without doing anything wrong.