Narratology: Todorov's approach to understanding the structural properties of narratives, aiming to develop a general theory applicable to all stories.
Three-Part Structure:
Equilibrium: Stories begin in a stable situation.
Disequilibrium: This stability is disturbed, causing an imbalance.
New Equilibrium: Characters strive to restore balance, leading to a new state of equilibrium.
Example: Disney’s Moana
Equilibrium: Motunui island is prosperous and stable.
Disruption: A blight affects the island, damaging resources and threatening the community.
Repair: Moana seeks to restore balance by returning the heart of Te Fiti.
New Equilibrium: The world is healed, and Moana leads her people on a new journey.
Example: Luigi’s Mansion 3
Equilibrium: Luigi and friends arrive at a hotel for a peaceful vacation.
Disruption: The hotel becomes haunted, and friends are captured by King Boo.
Repair: Luigi, with help from allies, confronts challenges to rescue his friends.
New Equilibrium: Friends help rebuild the hotel.
Grammar of the Story
Syntax of Characters and Discourse:
Nouns: Characters within the story.
Verbs: Actions taken by the characters.
Clauses: Plot points with relationships (temporal, spatial, causal).
Advertising Example: Maybelline’s "That Boss Life"
Clauses:
Arrival at a hotel.
Interaction with hotel staff.
Use of mascara and resulting transformation.
Recognition of causal relationship between product use and impact.
Key Elements: Characters (nouns) like Shayla, Manny, and the bellhop. Actions (verbs) such as applying mascara and the bellhop stealing it.
Message: Using the product leads to a significant transformation.
Exam Practice and Revision
Application: Utilize Todorov’s framework to analyze various media texts.
Example Text: Weight Watchers advertisement for a clear disequilibrium to equilibrium movement.
Resources: Access narrative exam practice exercises for further learning.