Narrative

Todays lesson consisted of us learning about the variation of narrative theories, these theories were 'Barthes', 'Aristotle', 'Todorov' and 'Props' theory. Using these theories we was given the task of analysing 'the prestige' opening scene and suggesting how certain characters/events relate to the theories.
 

Barthes' codes theory: Bathers theory consists of him using signs to show us something has multiple meanings, His theory of how text 'is like a galaxy of signifiers, not a structure of signified', is reflecting how text is like a ball of threads that needs to broken down to be understood. Furthermore he says that text can be open or closed, this means text can either be unravelled in many ways (open) or can only have one obvious meanings (closed).
 

Aristotle theory: Aristotles theory involved that every narrative has a beginnings, middle and end. This is the simplest but one of the most key theories.
 

Todorov theory: Todorovs theory was that every narrative has 5 stages, these were an equilibrium (state of normality), disruption of equilibrium (character or event that effects the equilibrium), the main protagonist (recognises the disturbance of equilibrium), restoration of equilibrium (protagonist attempts to restore equilibrium) and new equilibrium (equilibrium is restored but changed).
 

Propps theory: Propps theory suggests that all narratives have a common structure, his theory also suggests how each narrative has 8 types of characters (hero, villain, donor, dispatcher, false hero, helper, princess and her father) and 31 situations that revolve around these 8 characters.

Levi-Strauss: Levi-Strauss came up with the theory that we as people come to make sense of the world by using binary opposites (e.g. good and evil), with this his theory suggests that all narratives are organised around the conflict of those binary opposites. examples of these binary opposites are good/evil, old/young, black/white, masculine/feminine, wealthy/poor and heterosexual/homosexual.
 



Barthes codes theory: during the opening scene of prestige we can apply Barthes theory in many ways. Firstly the use of the 'ordinary' bird and man seems to appear normal but hold many meanings that need complete focus to unravel the hidden insights/meanings. We can also apply the Barthes codes theory with the use of the cage cover and the lightning, using Barthes theory these aspects of the acts can seem extraordinary but yet are to divert your attention from the real meaning, therefore acting as a 'open' text.
Aristotle: Aristotles theory can be clearly applied to the opening of prestige with there being a clear beginning, middle and end. The theory is clearly shown in the stages of picking the bird/helper or the ordinary, before it is shown to develop to an extraordinary or distracting event that progresses into the final result of the narrative (disappearance).
Todorov: Todorovs theory is the theory that most effectively relates to the opening scene of 'the prestige'. The 5 stages of his theory are represented clearly with the equilibrium being shown with the ordinary bird/man, before being disturbed by the factors of a cage, lightning and cover to remove the equilibrium, the restoration is then performed by the two men with them attempting to remove the ordinary from the disturbance (bird from the cage and man from the lightning), finally the result of the restoration is the bird reappearing and the man disappearing causing a new equilibrium that is different from the original.
Propps theory:  Propps theory is vaguely reflecting with the variation of characters in each act (bird, two men and girl). Propps theory if shown with the acts of magic both revolving and being created by each man, as well as this the girl and the volunteer are acting as a part of theory.