Key theories Flashcards
What is Propp’s character theory
Propp argued that stories are character driven and that plots develop from the decisions and actions of characters and how they function in a story
What does the villain do
tries to stop hero in quest
what does the donor do?
prepares the hero for their quest
what does the helper do?
offers help to the hero in their quest, this is usually a sidekick
what does the princess do?
person who the hero marries and is often searched for in the quest
what does the false hero do
a character that originally appear good but turns out evil
what does the dispatcher do?
the person that sends that hero on their quest
what does the hero do
the person on the quest through which the audience follow the narrative
what is todorovs narrative theory
He discovered that narratives moved forward in a chronological order with one action following after another. In other words, they have a clear beginning, middle and end.
What are the stages of the linear narrative
1 - the narrative starts with an equilibrium
2 - an action or character disrupts the equilibrium
3 - a quest to restore the equilibrium begins
4 - the narrative continues to a climax
5 - resolution occurs and equilibrium is restored
what is binary opposition theory?
the majority of narratives in media forms such as film contain opposing main characters.These binary opposites help to thicken the plot and further the narrative; and introduce contrast. For example, good vs. evil
what is audience positioning theory?
He suggested that every media text has a preferred message which a producer wants to get across (encode) and that three ways in which the audience might be positioned to receive (decode) that reading
what is uses and gratification theory
Uses and gratifications theory is an approach to understanding why and how people actively seek out specific media to satisfy specific needs
what are examples of uses and gratification theory
escapism, person identity, surveillance, social interaction
what is gender essentialism theory?
Gender essentialism is often used to excuse gender-based biases in society. For example, it can be used to justify the idea that jobs traditionally held by women are often accorded less respect and lower pay. Gender essentialism is both informed by gender stereotypes and reinforces them
what is social constructionism theory?
Social constructionism is a theory of knowledge that holds that characteristics typically thought to be immutable and solely biological—such as gender, race, class, ability, and sexuality—are products of human definition and interpretation shaped by cultural and historical contexts
what is feminist theory?
Feminism is the doctrine advocating social, political, and economic rights for women equal to those of men. It is an alternative theory, which attempts to look at women’s oppressed positions in today’s society.
what is the male gaze theory
the act of depicting women and the world, in the visual arts and in literature, from a masculine, heterosexual perspective that presents and represents women as sexual objects for the pleasure of the heterosexual male viewer
