Narrative Theory - Analysis

Live Forever - Oasis

Propp        

Propp looked at folk tales and saw some structures they shared in common. He found 8 character roles and 31 functions that move the story along.
The 8 character roles can also be types of action because they are not the sort of roles which appear in the cast list. One character in the film or play can occupy several of his character roles or types of action. They are: 

1.The villain
2.The hero (not always good but always carries the story along, the central character and not always male)
3.The donor (who provides an object with some special property)
4.The helper (who helps the hero)
5.The princess (the reward for the hero and object of the villain’s schemes)
6.Her father (who rewards the hero)
7.The dispatcher (who sends the hero on his way)
8.The false hero

From looking at Propp's structure, we've decided not to include his structure in our music video. This is because you wouldn't see his structure in any successful Britpop bands music videos. For example, in the music video for 'live forever' by Oasis, they haven't used any actors that have roles of being 'the hero' or 'the villian'. Therefore, we need to replicate that and not include Propp's structure, because it doesn't link to the Britpop genre. 

Todorov

He argued that stories begin in 'equilibrium' when all forces are in balance.

This is disrupted by a problem to cause 'disequilibrium'. Then more events take place before a 'new equilibrium' is established.

Many film makers today don’t bother setting up the normal world in order to disrupt it with a problem (a killer shark, etc.) and go straight for the problem and disequilibrium. However, there will always be a sense in the film of what life was like before the problem came along and therefore what the characters can return to if they can only sort the problem out.

From looking at Todorov's theory we've realised that a variety of Britpop bands use his theory to create storyline. For example, the music video for 'Live Forever' by Oasis it has a disequilibrium in the video, which digging a hole for one of the band members. But at the end of the music video, it shows that a new equilibrium had been established by the band member finding a way to get out of the hole. Therefore, we're going to use Todorov's theory in our music video because it links to our music genre, which is Britpop. 

Lévi-Strauss

He argued that all meaning-making, not just narratives, depend on binary oppositions– a conflict between two sides/qualities which are opposites.

By looking at Levi-Strauss' theory, Its made us realise that we replicate this narrative theory in our Britpop music video. We could use the binary opposition of upper class vs lower class. This is because this is a common use of binary opposition in a successful Britpop music video. For example, Oasis and The Stone Roses use this in a variety of their music videos. Therefore, we should replicate this in order to create a professional music video. 

This post has benefited me because it has informed me to include a variety of Narrative theories within my media product. For example, I'm going to use a variety of props in my music video because it will help engage a wide range of audiences.