Film Theorists

1. Barthes – Enigma Codes
2. Levi Strauss – Binary Opposites
3. Traditional Hollywood Narrative Structure – 3 Acts (linear)
4. Todorov – narrative theory – 5 stages
5. Propp – Character Types.

1. Media Theory – Barthes –Enigma Codes
•Enigma codes (problems introduced) – usually in ‘disruption’ stage.
•Open – not resolved at end
•Closed texts – resolved at end
•Polysemic texts – lots of different meanings


2. Heroes and villains ‘Binary opposites’ Levi Strauss

Levi Strauss – Binary Opposition –
He said narratives can be organised through binary opposition - two things opposed – often dominant vs subordinate - e.g. male/female, hero/villain.


3. Traditional Hollywood narrative

•Three Act Structure = the typical Hollywood narrative = set up (25% time) /confrontation (50%) /climax (Final 25% of film time)
•Linear (chronological), few, if any, sub-plots, tendency towards closure at end of film.

4. Todorov's Narrative Theory

•In 1969 Todorov produced a theory which he believed to be able to be applied to any film. Todorov believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern through various stages.

The 5 Stages:
•1. A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)
•2. A disruption of that order by an event.
•3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.
•4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.
•5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium


5. Vladimir Propp

1.Vladimir Propp – character types – analysed traditional folk stories – 8 key character roles
2. Hero/Villain/Helper/Donor(Provider)/Father/Dispatcher/Princess/
False Hero - N.B. one character can perform more than one role – how many in your thriller?

Representation of Women in Film
•Women viewed as the objects of male erotic desire – in film and audience
•Men active / women passive
•Women do not have agency – they do not move the plot forward.
•The audience is forced to identify with male gaze.
•Cinema reflects patriarchal (male dominated) society
•Patriarchy and phallocentrism linked – phallus (penis) a symbol of power – e.g. in cinema guns = phallus = power.