Research: Narrative Ideas- Ms Hawkins

Narrative theory's:

Vladimir Propp:

 Vladimir Propp came up with the theory that characters have a narrative function and they also provide the structure for the narrative. This theory relates to the influence of typical characters. e.g.  the hero, helper, donor, villain and the princess. These 5 typical characters influence the narrative as the characters are able to act as a base for the narrative due to them providing known situations such as the villain fighting the hero over something or someone. 

Propp's theory relates to the thriller genre as it includes conventional and expected characters. For example in a thriller film the audience would expect the film to contain a villain/evil character, this character would be the main cause of pain/ suffering caused in the film or they would be the main cause of surprise, suspense/ tension built within the audience. The audience would also expect a thriller film to have a hero; this character would be the counter-action of the villains bad deeds, they will be a main character within the film and they will be the cause of the downfall of the villain.

Tzvetan Todorov:

Tzvetan Todorov had a complex interpretation of film texts, this was his theory of equilibrium and disequilibrium. Equilibrium means that the fictional environment begins normally so that the audience can relate to that calm situation. Disequilibrium means that the environment then suffers some disruption which may excite or shock the audience.

Todorov's theory of equilibrium's and disequilibrium's are still witnessed within thriller films in modern times; for example in the film 'Scream' we see a young girl enjoying a quiet night in alone (the equilibrium), and then the mysterious killer enters and disrupts the environment causing a disequilibrium. 

Aristotle:

Aristotle bases his theory on the themes of films for example: 

• Inciting incident
• Character goal
• Stakes
• Dramatic question
• Sympathy/empathy 
• Resolution

All of these themes are conventional within a thriller film; for example the theme 'character goal' can be used with a hero or a villain in a film, the villain may set out to gain world domination whereas the hero's goal is to stop the villain. In turn this relates to the thriller genre as the audience expect a villain to want to achieve something and then there is a hero that emerges to stop the villain from achieving their goal. 

Conclusion and my narrative:

The narrative that my group has decided to use is based around Tzvetan Todorov's theory of equilibrium and disequilibrium's. Our narrative is a psychological thriller this is because my group wish to use the calm setting of a house to create suspense among the audience. A scene where we see an intruder invade the families private space creating a sense of danger that the protagonists (the family) will be facing. We have decided to relate our thriller to the psychological thriller genre as we want the audience to relate to our thriller and be affected by what they see in the film. for example our narrative relates to the film Sinister, this is because this film has a narrative filled with tension and suspense.