Theories

Ive been doing some research on horror films and trailers and i came across Todorov's Narrative Theory. Izeta Todorov was a Bulgarian structuralist linguist publishing influential work on narrative from the 1960s onwards. He suggested that stories begin with an equilibrium or status quo where any potentially opposing forces are in balance. This is then disrupted by some event, setting in chain a series of events. Problems are solved so that order can be restored. 

Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages:

- A state of equilibrium at the outset.

- A disruption of the equilibrium by some action.

- A recognition that there has been a disruption.

- An attempt to repair the disruption.

- A reinstatement of the equilibrium.

This type of narrative structure is very familiar to us and can be applied to many 'mainstream' film narractives.

I also came across Propps theory. Propp was a Russian critic, he was interested in the narrative of folk tales. He noiced that often many Folk tales were similar in a variety of areas, he identified a theory about characters and actions as narrative functions. According to Vladimir Propp, characters have a narrative function; they provide a structure for the text.

The typical characters he found were:

-The Hero- a character that seeks something.

-The Villain- who opposes or actively blocks the heros quest.

-The Donor- who provides an object with magical properties.

-The Dispatcher- who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message.

-The False Hero- who disrupts the hero's success by making false claims.

-The Helper- who aids the hero.

-Her Father- who acts to reward the hero for his effort.

In a struggle scene Propp suggested this theory:

- There is a struggle between the hero and the villain.

- The hero is branded.

- The villain is overcome.

- The state of disorder is settled.

And the recognition scene:

- At this stage in the film the hero is recognised.

- or the false hero or villain is unmasked.

-As well as the false hero could be punished in this scene.

- Or the hero attains the reward and they live happily ever after.