narrative structures + theories

Question 1

classic hollywood narrative structure

Answer 1

side A attempts to end narrative problem solved
reward for hero

        problem/conflict

                                                                                      return to normality side B               problem becomes              conflict solved
                          more complicated

Question 2

TODOROV

Answer 2

EQUILBIRUM DISEQUILBRIUM RECOGNITION QUEST EQUILBRIUM
normal way something breaks character trying to new
of life normality recognises fix equilibrium
what’s wrong

Question 3

binary oppositions (Levi Strauss)

Answer 3

two words that are opposite e.g police vs criminals

Question 4

PROPP (always leave last in exam)

Answer 4

princess (person or thing of value)
villian (kidnaps princess disrupting equilibrium)
hero (sent on quest to rescue princess)
dispatcher (gives hero his mission)
donor (gives hero essential magic item)
helper (offers hero assistance at crucial moment)
princess’s father (offers hero a reward)
false hero (attempts and fails to complete the quest)

Question 5

enigma and action codes (BARTHES)

Answer 5

enigma: question that is given that we have to keep watching to find out the answer

action: something the audience sees/hears that they know is important for later on

Question 6

uses and gratifications (blumer and katz)

Answer 6

1) entertainment
2) personal relationship
3) personal identify
4) surveillance

Question 7

steve neales genre theory

Answer 7

-products must have similarities and differences in order to be in a genre

-similarities: codes + conventions + stereotypes

Question 8

stuart hall theory of representation

Answer 8

•hall believes stereotypes:

-reduce people down to oversimplified cliches (Mrs wheeler)

-are often negative

-result from inequality of power (lucas)

•hall described 3 main approaches to representation:

-reflective, created from what exists in reality by producers

-intentional, loaded with intend of producers

-constructionist, mixture of reflective and intentional often because other two are seen as too simplistic

Question 9

STUART HALL RECEPTION THEORY
model of relationship between audience and producer

Answer 9

encoding: producer encoded meaning in a certain way (lazy chief, typical house wife)

decoding: the audience decodes the meaning (he is a lazy chief)

3 ways to read a media text:

-preferred (understand but accepts)
-oppositional (understand but rejects)
-negotiated (understands but rejects some and accepts others)

Question 10

audience theory: jenkins fandom theory

Answer 10

the idea that fans are active participants in the creation, distribution, and consumption of media.