Narrative research task
- 1. { Narrative Research Task Chosen Film: Divergent
- 2. In this task, I am researching the narrative of my chosen thriller film ‘Divergent’. I will focus on three particular theorists and how their theories could apply to my chosen film. The theorists I will be looking at are: Toderov Propp Levi-Strauss Introduction
- 3. In the 1960’s Todorov developed his theory on narrative. In this theory, Todorov stated that there were five stages to a narrative. These stages are: 1. The Equilibrium – A happy start to the media text. 2. A disruption by an event – A problem occurs. 3. The realisation that a disruption has occurred. 4. Repairing the disruption – fixing the problem. 5. A new Equilibrium occurs – A happy ending. Todorov’s Theory
- 4. Todorov’s theory only slightly fits the film Divergent. In divergent there is no equilibrium, the film starts off quite sad as Tris has to chose between her family and where she wants to be, as well as finding out something dangerous about her self. However, starting her new life in Dauntless could class as the equilibrium. Finding out that Dauntless was not as good as she thought it would be and her having to hide that she is Divergent could class as the problem. Partly though the film when she is talking to Tori, it occurs to her there is actually a problem, fitting with the third stage in Todorov’s theory. However, the film seems to stray away from a happy ending as Tris is forced to kill her friend and watch her parents die, as well as almost being killed by her own boyfriend. You could say that her on the train, heading for a new life could class as the new equilibrium but the actual problem is never really solved. Todorov’s Theory in Divergent
- 5. Propp’s theory is that in all stories there are 7 main character types typically used. These are: The villain (struggles against the hero) The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object) The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest) The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative) The false hero (perceived as good character in beginning but emerges as evil) The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off) The hero (AKA victim/seeker/paladin/winner, reacts to the donor, weds the princess. Usually fixes the main problem of the film.) Propp’s Theory
- 6. The villain – Jeanine, the head of Erudite The donor – There is no donor present in this film. The (magical) helper – Tris’ friend Christina could count as the helper as she often aids Tris throughout the film. The princess – In this film the ‘princess’ is a male, Four/Tobias as he is the person Tris strives to be with at the end of her ‘quest’. The false hero – There is no false hero present in this film. The dispatcher – This could be Tori, the tattoo artist who reveals who Tris really is. The hero – This is Tris, while this is typically a male role, in this film it is a female. Propp’s Theory in Divergent
- 7. Claude Levi-Strauss' theory is named binary opposition. It says that each main theme or force in a narrative has an equal and an opposite. For example; Good/Evil, Light/Dark, Wrong/Right. Levi-Strauss
- 8. Binary Oppositions in Divergent: Strength/Weakness - The film focuses on Tris ability to be strong and not weak, like they think she is. Right/Wrong - Tris must battle with whether what she is doing is wrong or right. Levi-Strauss in Divergent