Narrative Theories

                                                  Narrative Theories

Narrative is the media term for story telling and is the way the different elements in a story are organised to make a meaningful story. Some of these elements can be facts as in a documentary, or charters and action as in drama. Narrative shows us the audience how the story or plot unfolds; an open ending means there is no final conclusion to the story.

Todorov’s Theory

Todorov’s theory has three main parts, first one is that the text begins with a sate of equilibrium which is everything appears to be normal or calm. The second part is there can be some kind of disruption this often a threat to the normal situation to it could be just a setback. Third and final main part is a new equilibrium. Which is produced to end the narrative, in the best narrative there is some kind of change for the better perhaps in the main characters behaviour or outlook on life.

In the todorov theory narrative is not seen as near but as circular. The narrative is driven by the characters attempts to restore the equilibrium, although the end result is not quite the same as the beginning.

Levi Strauss Theory

He introduced the notion of binary oppositions as a useful way to consider the production of meaning within narratives. He argued that all construction of meaning was dependent, to some degree, on these oppositions. For example light VS dark, good VS evil, noise VS silence, right VS wrong, poverty VS wealth, strength VS weakness, inside VS outside.