Narrative Theory

What is Narrative theory ? 

There are many elements to narrative theory; time, closure and enigma. The time the text covers is usually in chronicle order, however it may include flashbacks to the past. All texts in narrative theory needs closure, this means that there is a clear ending, all the questions the movie sets are answered. The last element in enigma, these are the questions that the movie asks it is also the problems that the movie sets, these need to be answered, for example who is the kidnapper?Classical Hollywood Narratives are linear, going from start to end in chronicle order, they do not include flashbacks. There are also very few, if any, sub-plots to these narratives and they usually end in closure.


The theories of narrative was thought of by a man called Tzvetan Todorov. He said that the films start in an equilibrium (everything is normal to the characters), there is then a disruption (which is the problem the characters have to solve, for example; a murder), after this there is a resolution (for example; a revenge for the murder) and lastly there is a new equilibrium (due to the problem the characters are not the same as before, something has changed and therefore, although they live a normal life again it is not as before).

Using Vlaimir Propps 8 characters in stories For Eminem Stan

Hero- Eminem
Villain- Stan
Donor- Eminem
Helper- Girlfriend
Father- Eminem
Dispatcher-
Princess- Eminem
False Hero

Applying Tzvetan Tudorov's theory to Eminems stan.

The equilibrium in the video is Stan is where stan is a big Eminem fan and he is living at home with his pregnant girlfriend. The disruption is When Eminem doesn't reply to his letters.The resolution to the video is where he kills him and his girlfriend by driving off a bridge. The new equilibrium is stans little brother who is also a big Eminem fan who follows in stans footsteps by dying his hair blonde.