Narrative theories

Roland Barthes

When analysing texts, Barthes makes a distinction between a traditional work and what he calls “the Text.” He says that traditional texts works as the author has control of the narrative, the Text enables the reader to actively engage in its production because it is not restricted by genre. Whereas written text is the primary communication system, his theories can be applied to various cultural forms such as photography, music, painting, and cultural events.

Barthes also distinguishes between readerly and writerly texts. Readerly texts, he says, have pre-determined meaning, whereas , writerly texts have a large number of meaning.

Elements of both readerly and writerly texts can be interpreted through what Barthes calls the Five Codes.

The five codes represent five different ways of seeing meaning in a text. They highlight different aspects of the narrative.

According to Barthes a text can be open or closed, The five codes are:

·        Enigma code-This code refers to mystery within a text. Enigmas within the narrative make the audience want to know more, this would be a good theory to link in with the genre of horror because it would create a sense of mystery and suspense. 

·        Action code -This code contains sequential elements of action in the text, linking in with horror films this could be a good way to show off the action that is happening. 

·        Semantic code -This code refers to additional meanings. Elements of the semantic code.

·        symbolic code-This code is about symbolism in text.

·        Referential code - This code refers to anything in the text which refers to an external body of knowledge, within a horror film it allows the audience to already have a feel of what is going to happen at the end.

Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp developed a character theory for studying media texts and productions, which indicates that there were 7 broad character types in the 100 tales he analysed, which could be applied to other media:

·        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)

Levi Strauss

Binary oppositions – basically levi strauss theory is that the conflict is based around the binary opposites and that the binary opposites are the central climax of  narrative structure.

Examples of binary opposites:

·        Good v evil

·        Boy v girl

·        Peace v war

                                                        Todrov