Assignment 1 Todorov Narrative Structure

Assignment 1 

Narrative Structure 

Todorov theory:

Todorov said that stories begin with an equilibrium. This is then disrupted by an event, setting a change of events. Then the problems are then solved so that order can be restored to the world of fiction. 

Fast & Furious 7 

Equilibrium

Todorov's narrative theory is shown in the film Fast and Furious 7. In beginning of the film we see the equilibrium of a happy family who has put everything in there past behind them and want to start a new life. As the characters and audience is concerned everything is perfectly normal. In the picture you can see that there happy on starting there new lives, they also look as if they haven't a care in the world. They are trying to live a happy life without any drama. The appeal for this stage is so that the audience can see what their lives are like before anything happens to them which would then follow on to the disruption. 

Disruption 

In this video clip below they are then disrupted by the huge explosion that then causes their house to burn down this shows that this will not be left to rest, that there will be a violent conflict at the end to show this makes the audience aware there has to a final battle between the main character and the person (Jason Statham) they can't get away with ruining the new life they built, and tried to leave behind. The disruption will give the audience the chance to see how their lives can be turned from very positive to very negative really quickly. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StC7SYInQ3M

Recognition 
In this image below it shows that the character recognises what needs to be done after seeing the aftermath of the explosion and that he can't let this lie. The anger on the characters face tells the audience that something will be done, which would lead to a violent confrontation towards the main character and the person who did this to him and his family. When the character recognises what has happened we see what he has to do to try and make things right.

Rebuild 

In this image below the main characters try to rebuild the life that they had by taking down the person that ruin their new and happy life this is done because they are trying to get back to what there life was like when it was stress free. The main characters try to raise their children in a safe environment so this would give thee characters a motive to try and take down the villain in the film. When the characters get a chance to rebuild everything they take into their own hands and we the audience get to see how in fact they will get to do that.

New Equilibrium 
In this video clip below it shows that there is a new equilibrium, everything that they tried to rebuild has succeeded so they are able to live the lives they always wanted to were they are all still together and are one big happy family this shows that this is happy ending were everyone has closure at the end of the film and people can be happy for the characters. The new equilibrium is how the story ends and how things have changed since when the film first started. 

Linear
Is when a film or TV show is chronological order with no flash backs or flash forwards which shows realism in the production.

Bride Wars

The film RomCom Bride Wars is an example of a linear film. Were to best friends have their weddings on the same day and want to go to each others weddings and are at war to change their dates. This causes arguments, and they also try to ruin each others special day. The reason that this film may be a linear film is because it makes more sense to be in chronological order and it also makes the film seem more real as they are your typical best friends that you would see walking on the street. In the image below we see the two best friends who finally come to their senses and forgive each other, which makes for a very happy ending. When going to the cinema to watch this film people were able to get social interaction and escapism since they are watching somewhere else and with other people who are watching the film who they can then talk to once the film is over even if they said that the film was good or bad it would still be social interaction. Also people who are also going to get married could get some personal identification since they are also brides to be.

Taken: 

Taken is an example of a Linear Film as everything goes in chronological order this may be to not confuse any of the audience. The film is about a former spy who's daughter gets kidnapped and he finds it as his job to try and get her back. That seems to the aim of what the Main character wants which is to just find his daughter and with any flashback this may cause some confusion for the audience.

In this clip below the main character Lima Neeson is talking to the people that kidnapped his daughter and tells them that he will find them and he will kill them. This is a great scene as it tells us what is going to happen and he will do to get his daughter back from her kidnappers. Audiences can get escapism from this film since they can escape into another world where it is more exciting. Also there can also be social interaction for example watching this movie with people and talking and using social media to talk about is social interaction.

Non Linear
Is when a film or TV shows is not in chronological order and shows flash backs and flash forwards so the characters background and future looks more clearer to the audience.

Teen wolf 

Teen Wolf is another example of a Non Linear Tv show during some of the episodes there are many flashbacks which shows what happened the whole of season 5 starts of as the present which is the first 5 minutes of the show which is shown below. 

Then the show turns into a flashback which happens throughout the season. The reason they may have put the beginning as the present and then the rest of the show as a flashback is so you stayed tuned in to see what the story is and how they got to where they are now. Non Linear helps the audience understand the character better which shows there backstory or with the flash forward it intrigues the audience to want to know more and to keep watching. This tv show can cause escapism where the audience can escape into different lives which maybe more exciting or deadly. This also causes social interaction because people can talk about the show using twitter, Facebook, etc.

Lost 

Lost is an example of a Non Linear Tv show, they show many flash backs and many flash forwards reason they may use this is because they want to show the audience what the future is going to be like for them, and they show the past to show the audience how they got to where they are now in the present day. 

In the show Lost it starts off with a group of people that have crashed into a deserted island that no one knows where its is there is absolutely no way of the island. In the Tv show it shows many flashbacks of each individual and shows what they have been through and why they were on the plane in the first place to have crashed on to the island. The Tv show also shows flash forwards and tells us what life is like when they got off the island. During the show it does get very confusing but then it all starts to make sense and the show really does start to come together. In the clip below it shows a flashback of one of the main characters and what there life use to be like. This tv show can cause the audience to receive personal identification for people who have ever felt lost or were lost and also people are able to receive escapism if they have never been lost and feel like they are on that journey with them.