Narrative Theory: Levi-Strauss

Binary Oppositions

Binary oppositions are two things that are opposed to each other, it is the binary opposites that help drove a films narrative.

A good example of this theory is 'The Wicker Man'.

Christianity <---> Paganism

Sgt Neil Howie <---> Lord Summerisle

Monotheism <---> Panthem

Law and Order <---> Chaos

Authority <---> Anarchy

Virginity <---> Promiscuity

Repression <---> Expression

This film has many binary oppositions but the main on is Christianity <---> Paganism. Christianity goes by certain rules and things that should and shouldn't be done and most importantly that only believe in one God, where as in paganism there are no rules that have to be followed and they believe in more than one God.

This theory also wouldn't apply to my music video as there isn't any tension between characters, therefore the plot seemingly doesn't move forward. It is easier to apply this theory to my Thriller from last year as there are a number of different binary oppositions:

Male <---> Female

Old <---> Young

Adulthood <---> Childhood

Land <---> Water

Present <---> Past

Outside <---> Inside

Clothed <---> Naked

Antagonist <---> Protagonist

Narrative Theory: Todorov

The narrative is the way the story is organized and the three elements of narrative are time, closure and enigma.

Time is the period of time the film is over, for example in our Thriller we have made the flashbacks to show that our actre

ss was a child. The closure is how the story is wrapped up or how the loose ends are tied up at the end of the film. An enigma is a problem that is created within the narrative that needs to be solved by the characters.

Todorov

Todorov's theory says that films begin with an equilibrium where everything is balanced and normal, which then leads on to a disruption, a problem that creates an enigma. As the characters within the narrative need to solve the enigma the next stage is resolution, where the enigma created by the disruption is solved. The final stage of Todorov's theory is the new equilibrium, where everything becomes balanced and normal again but different to how it first was.

Although many texts use this theory there are still those that don't, one being Cloverfield (2008).

This theory wouldn't apply to my music video as the audience isn't sure what the time frame of the song is, we never see the equilibrium as the song isn't introduced, we don't know what the enigma is and we never see what happens at the end.

Reception Theory Diagram

Reception Theory

Given that the Effects Model and The Uses and Gratifications have their problems and limitations. A different approach to the audiences was developed by the academic Stuart Hall at Birmingham University in the 1970s.

The theory suggests that when a producer constructs a text it is encoded with a meaning or message, that the producer wishes to convey to the audience. In some instances audiences will correctly decode the message or meaning and understand what the producer was trying to say.

In some instances the audience will either reject or fail to correctly understand the message.

There are 3 types of audience decodings:

• Dominant
• Negotiated
• Oppositional

Dominant

Where the audience decodes the message as the producer wants them to do so and broadly agrees with it, eg watching a speech and agreeing with it.

Negotiated

Where the audience accepts, rejects, or refines elements of the text in light of previously held views, eg neither agreeing or disagreeing with the political speech or being disinterested.

Oppositional

Where the dominant meaning is recognised but rejected for cultural, political or ideological reasons, eg total rejection of the political speech and active opposition.

Uses and Gratifications Model

It is still unclear that there is any link between the consumption of violent media textss, and violent imitative behaviour. It is also clear that the theory is flawed in that many people watch violent texts and are not influenced, therefore a new theory is needed.

The Uses and Gratifications Model is the opposite of the effects model, where the audience is active rather than passive and the audience uses the text and is not used by it. The audience uses the text for its own pleasure or gratification.

Far from being duped by the media, the audience uses the text and is free to reject, use or play with media meanings as they see fit.

Audiences therefore use media texts to gratify needs for:

• Diversion
• Escapism
• Information
• Pleasure
• Comparing relationships and lifestyles with one's own
• Sexual Stimulation

The audience is in control and consumption of the media helps people with issues such as:

• Learning
• Emotional Satisfaction
• Relaxation
• Help with issues of personal identity
• Help with issues such as social identity
• Help with issues of aggression and violence

Controversially the theory suggests the consumption of violent images can be helpful rather than harmful. The theory suggests that audiences act out their violent impulses through the consumption of media violence. The audiences inclination towards violence is therefore sublimated, and they are less likely to commit violent acts.

Audience Theory: The Bobo Doll Experiment

This is a very controversial piece of research that children copy violent behaviour, conducted by Albert Bandura in 1961.

Children watched a video where an adult violently attacked a clown toy called a Bobo doll.

The children were then taken to a room with attractive toys that they were no permitted to touch.

88% of the children attacked the Bobo Doll when taken into another room. 8 months later 40% attacked the dolls.

The conclusion reached was that children will imitate violent media content.

The effects model (backed up by the experiment) is still the dominant theory used by politicians, some parts of the media and some r

eligious organisations in attributing violence to the consumption of media texts.

Key examples sited as causing or being contributing factors are:

• The film Child's Play 3 in the murder of James Bulger in 1993.
• The game Manhunt in the murder of Stefan Pakeerah in 2004 by his friend Warren LeBlanc.
• The film A Clockwork Orange (1971) in a number of rapes and violent attacks.
• The film Severance (2006) on the murder of Simon Everitt.

In each case there was a media and political outcry for the texts to be banned. In some cases laws were changed, films banned, and newspapers demanded the burning of films. Subsequently, in each case it was found that no case could be proven to demonstrate a link between the text and the violent acts.

Audience Theory- The Effects Model and Hypodermic Model

There are three theories of audience that we can apply to help us come to a better understanding about the relationship between texts and audience:

• The Effects Model or Hypodermic Model
• The Uses and Gratifications Model

The Effects Model

This is where the consumption of media texts has an effect or influence upon the audience. It is normally considered that this effect is negative. Audiences are passive and powerless to prevent the influence, the power lies with the message of the text.

The Hypodermic Model

Here the messages in media texts are injected into the audience by the powerful syringe-like media. The audience is powerless to resist, therefore the media works like a drug and the audience is drugged, addicted, doped or duped.

Key Evidence

The Frankfurt School theorised in the 20's and 30's that the mass media acted to resist and control audiences to the benefit of corporate capitalism and governments.