Sunday 1 January 2017

Narrative: narrative theory YouTube clip analysis




Propp- Character Theory:
This film trailer is from the movie Ant-Man, this contains multiple narrative theories. I believe that we should analyse the clip in detail so we will start off with Propp's Character theory. We see the employment of this theory with the Medium shot of the villain who has the typical stereotypes of being a villain (a person who was not fulfilling the ambition of the person was meant to mentor). We know that they are villains as in typical American blockbusters, this movie had a villain who had the attributes of a protagonist but is mentally exploited with depression of not succeeding in winning over his mentor's approval so had a unhealthy goal of trying to prove his worth. This sort of obsession is normal for an antagonist which is the main reason why they are always portrayed in a negative light. It is interesting as we see the false villain being the assistant before we see the frailties of the antagonist. The hero is portrayed as an anti hero, a has-been who has wasted his life in jail due to a robbery. We then see the princess who is the the little girl who will, inevitably, be reunited with her father who is the hero.

Barthes Narrative Theory:
We then see Barthes enigma and action codes in the very first opening sequence. The suit reinforces the enigma code which makes the viewers wonder what is so powerful about the suit and how it can affect reality. We then see another enigma code when the man is running by himself in a miniature form. This foreshadows something heroic is going to happen in the movie. The movie will have action codes especially when Ant-Man is fighting as the codes are evident in terms of why he is using his suit to have a greater purpose.

Todorov Narrative Theory:
The movie actually starts off with an disequilibrium, we see that there is a man inside a prison that is about to leave his cell. This is a disequilibrium as there is something emotional that is about to happen as the character makes it evident that he wants to make a life for his daughter. This is a way directors entice people into watching the movie.


Barthes Narrative Theory:

Enigma Code - Why did the man in yellow kill Barry Allen's mother.
                           Who's going to win?
Action Code - No action code present during this clip

Todorov Narrative Theory:

The scene beings at an equilibrium as the beginning of the clip seemed to be a normal day in the eyes of the protagonist (Barry/Flash) and the storyline seems normal. A few seconds into the clip Barry seeing the man in yellow triggers the disequilibrium as the villain has appeared and has altered the story line and has created a problem. There is no new equilibrium as the hero hasn't defeated the villain and the therefore the disequilibrium has not finished.

Propp- Character Theory:

The Villain - The Man in Yellow/Reverse Flash
The Dispatcher - Barry Allen
The Hero - The Flash




Barthes Narrative Theory:

Enigma Code - Why is Megatron trying to destroy Earth?
                           Will Megatron be defeated?

Action Code- When Megatron releases his lasher, it signifies that he is about to attack Sam in attempt to get the Allspark. The action of Megatron jumping down the building suggests to the audience that he wants to fight Optimus Prime and want's to create a problem. Moreover, when the army soldier places a laser at Blackout (helicopter Transformer)  it suggests that they are going to fire a weapon at it and when Blackout sees the laser is signifies that he is about fire his weapon and attack. Finally, when Sam stands up and ignored Optimus's request it suggests he is trying to kill Megatron using the Allspark (Cube).

Todorov Narrative Theory:

The scene begins with no equilibrium and and begins with a disequilibrium as we witness/see the villain trying to kill the protagonist. Further on, in the scene there is the new equilibrium set in place when the protagonist kills/deals with the villain which restores harmony and the storyline is settled again.

 Propp- Character Theory:

The Villain - Megatron
The Doner - Optimus Prime
The Helper - Optimus Prime
The Princess - The Earth and Sam
The Dispatcher - The Autobots
The Hero - Optimus Prime and Sam

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