NARRATIVE THEORY

TODOROV'S NARRATIVE THEORY is divided into five different elements:

1)EQUILIBRIUM (happy balance)

2)DISRUPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM (when something goes wrong)

3)RECOGNITION OF THIS DISRUPTION

4)AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE EQUILIBRIUM IS MADE

5)EQUILIBRIUM IS RESTORED OR A NEW EQUILIBRIUM IS ESTABLISHED (when the balance is obtained again after something goes wrong)

This music video titled Hozier 'From Eden' suits very well with the Todorov's theory as it follows the sequence. The video starts of with the happy balance of a family. Then the disruption takes place once they try to brake into a private property. The disruption is recognised and attempted to repair. Although the man character is the disruption the equilibrium is restored through the rest of the family. We can also say that a new one is obtained as the woman and the child are forming a new, balanced and happy relationship.

PROPP'S NARRATIVE THEORY is based around a list of different characters including:

1)HERO: Individual(s) who's guest is to restore the equilibrium.

2)VILLAIN: Individual(s) who's task is to disrupt the equilibrium. 

3)DONOR: Individual(s) who gives the hero(s) something, advise,    information or an object.

4)PRINCESS: Individual(s) which needs help, protecting and saving.

This music video of Enrique Inglesias 'Hero' can be classified under few different categories including; hero, villain, donor and a princess. I believe it is an interesting example for this theory as it overlaps many categories within. For example; the woman can be considered as a princess as she is the one who needs love and protection from the singer, however her role changes towards the end of the music video when she is the one rescuing her lover. Besides, from that it looked as if she has involved the police portraying her character as brave and powerful, comparing to the victim who is almost dying on the floor with a donor object, in this case a neck-less.  

5)HELPER:Individual(s) who aids the hero(s) with their set task.

6)THE KING: Who rewards the hero.

7)DISPATCHER: Individual(s) who send the hero(s) on their quest.

8)FALSE HERO : Individual(s) who set out to undermine the hero's  quest by pretending to aid them. Often unmasked at the end of the film.

Levi-Strauss: argued that meaning in narrative is based upon binary oppositions. He observed that all narratives are organised around the conflict between such binary opposites.

- GOOD VS EVIL (Example: the movie Terminator 2 suits very well within the good vs bad theory but also humanity vs technology. This is portrayed already in the opening scenes. The movie theme is strongly based around these principles as there is strong conflict portrayed. This movie can be also linked to the enigma code theory as the opening scene makes the viewers think of how and why the characters died. All these elements can be applied to music videos in small elements. However, the techniques and themes are often not portrayed  as strong as in the movies).

- HUMAN VS NATURE (Example; the music video 'Wildest Dream' by Taylor Swift significantly reflects the idea of human vs nature but more in a collaborative way. The artist has used nature in order to reflect her own relationship with her lover. I think this is quite interesting example as it doesn't show a conflict between the nature and humans, it contrasts them both using different situations and natural landscapes such as lightening. It shows the dominant characters in nature such as lions and their environment. This is overlapped with scenes of human nature.



- BLACK VS WHITE (Example; the music video titled 'Mike-will-made-it' by Miley Cyrus, Juicy J and Wiz Khalifa demonstrates the idea of black vs white. This is portrayed in an interesting way as we can also link this idea to man vs woman. The music video is almost demonstrating two contrasting groups- woman's power is portrayed using sexualised positions and clothing, exposing their female characteristics. Although their figures where still delicate and weak, comparing to the representation of black man who demonstrated stereotypical associations including aggressive and muscular poses, baggy hoodies and leather jacket, sun glasses and so on. This contrast was very strong, however Miley as the minority attempted to be seen as one of them. She tried to apply some characteristics such as confident poses in order to show her dominance. This is why we can combine two elements together, the idea of black vs white but also competition between man and woman.

-PROTAGONIST VS ANTAGONIST (Example: the music video titled 'Confidence' by The Dodos demonstrates clear conflict between two characters. First we are introduced to the protagonist - the main main central character which sets the purpose of the scene. Then we are introduced to the antagonist who is the main characters biggest opponent. This video is a good example as the idea of protagonist and antagonist is very clear. )

- HUMANITY VS TECHNOLOGY (Example: Terminator 2 - read above under good vs evil).

- MAN VS WOMAN (Example: 'Mike-will-made-it by Miley Cyrus, Juicy J, Wiz Khalida- read above under black vs white.)

- HUMAN VS ALIEN (Example: The music video titled 'E.T' by Katy Perry and Kanye West is directly demonstrating the characteristics of both humans and aliens. Within the video the aliens are seen as more dominant creatures which influence the humanity to become one of them. This is the role of Katy Perry who is following the behaviors and features of an E.T. This idea is reinforced through the mise-en-scene and the location of the background - looking as an unknown planet.) 

ROLAND BARTHES: ENIGMA CODE
Refers to any element of the story that is not fully explained and hence becomes a mystery to the reader. The purpose of the author in this is typically to keep the audience guessing, arresting the enigma, until the final scenes when all is revealed and all loose ends are tied off and closure is achieved. The example of enigma code can be seen under good vs evil.