Theories of Narrative

The three main narrative theorists Todorov, Barthes and Propp,  all have different ideas on how narratives work.

Todorov's theory:

He believed films are split into 3 sections,
first the Equilibrium, the start of the film where you are introduced to characters, setting etc. Nothing exciting really happens.
Disequilibrium comes second, this is when a big event happens usually a negative thing, where the story becomes interesting.
Then the Equilibrium which is when the story is resolved and all the problems go away or the ending isn't so happy but it comes to a stable end.
Films that follow Todorovs theory are:
The Mummy, Spiderman, Titanic, Shrek.

Propp Theory:  

This theory consisted of character style occurring in most films: these are the Hero, Villain, Doner, Dispatcher, False Hero, Helper, Princess, Her Father.

Barthes Theory:

5 codes in film:
Action code - applies to any action that implies a further narrative action. For example, a gunslinger draws his gun on an adversary and we wonder what the resolution of this action will be.
Enigma code - refers to any element in a story that is not explained and, therefore, exists as an enigma for the audience, raising questions that demand explication.
The semantic code - any element in a text that suggests a particular, often additional meaning by way of connotation .
The cultural code - any element in a narrative that refers to a science or a body of knowledge. In other words, the cultural codes tend to point to our shared knowledge about the way the world works.
The symbolic – annoyingly difficult to explain. You will only understand it if first we look at binary opposites.