Narrative

Narrative Task

1) Choose three clips from YouTube and embed them in your blog - one from film, one from TVand one of your choice.

FILM: 



 TV: 

Hitman Agent 47:

2) For EACH clip, apply the three narrative theories: Barthes' action and enigma codes; Todorov's equilibrium; Propp's stock characters. Make specific reference to aspects of the clip (as you would in a film language analysis). Remember to highlight media language.


The Equalizer trailer follows  Propp's theory of character types. The use of cinematography enhances who the hero is and who the damsel in distress is. This happens specifically in the extreme close up of Denzel Washington taking the ring off the frightened cashier as the medium shot of when he was observing the woman get thrown into the car. However, this trailer contains more than one damsel in distress which could suggest how much of a hero the protagonist is as well as to heighten the importance of him. In this trailer we can tell that there is no one being of help towards to protagonist which could also enhance the stereotype of how men are the ones saving the female with out help.



The Blacklist trailer follows Rowland Barthes theory of Equilibrium, Disequilibrium and New equilibrium. Instantly we could tell that the protagonist is Raymond Red Reddington due to the establishing shot of him sitting at a bench outside the FBI building. This is reinforced by the fade to black and cuts that were used to show that he carries an errie atmosphere around him as he enters the building. The equilibrium in this trailer was shown through the calm and serene atmosphere before Raymond face was shown in a close up. In addition we can tell that this trailer follows Vladamir Todorov's narrative theory due to the fact that Raymond Reddington was the catalyst that caused the disequilibrium. However, this trailer also makse the audience assume that it could follow Roland Barthes theory of action and enigma codes because when Raymond placed his briefcase down and took his jacket off it made the audience question if something was going to happen.


Hitman Agent 47 also follows Roland Barthes and Propps narrative theories. This is because the first scene we see is of a sniper looking directly at the camera this is an enigma code due to the fact that it instantly gets the audience wondering what is happening. Furthermore, we then see a head appearing from below the fact that this is happening after the sniper looked like it was targeting the audience suggests that the protagonist/hero is the person who the sniper is now aimed at thus helping the audience identify with him more. This is also following Propps theory of character types as there is a close up of a woman looking into the mirror, later on in the trailer we see the same woman being told that her life is in danger which suggest that she is the damsel in distress