textual analysis and theories

Theories:

Levi Strauss and binary opposition: 

Narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict. This can be as simple as two characters fighting, but more often functions at an ideological level.

Vladamir Propp and the Propp Theory:

Analysed the plot components of Russian folk tales to identify their basic narrative elements. He theorised that there were the same 8 characters in every narrative;

Hero - Who goes on a quest and usually ends up with the princess

Villain - Who is against the hero

Dispatcher - Who sets the hero off on their quest

Donor - Helps the hero and sometimes has a magical power/object to help

Princess - Is usually the prize for the hero that the hero must overcome a task/defeat the villain to get her. 

Her father - Rewards the hero. Usually identifies the false hero 

The false hero - Takes credit for the hero’s actions and tries to marry/end up with the princess

The helper - Someone who helps the hero on their mission

Spider man Far from home example:

Peter Parker - Hero

Mysterio - Villian

Nick Fury - Dispatcher

Tony Stark - Donor

Michelle - Princess

Nick Fury - Her father

Mysterio - False hero 

Ned/happy - Helper

Todorov's theory:

Proposed a basic structure for all narratives. He stated that all films and programmes begin with equilibrium, a calm period. Then agents of distribution cause disequilibrium, a period of unsettlement and disquiet. This is then followed by a renewed state of peace and harmony for the protagonists and a new equilibrium brings the chaos to an end. For example Avengers Infinity war and Endgame.

Barthes Theory:

Theorised about enigma codes and action codes. Enigma codes refers to the audiences questions of the narrative. Why is there a person standing there? Action codes are about the audience thinking of what will happen next?

Altman theory:
argues that genres offer audiences a set of pleasures. There are emotional pleasures, Visceral pleasures and Intellectual pleasures.
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Mise on scene:

• Foreground and background - determines audiences focus
• Lighting - Determines what the audience can and can't see

The key light is the brightest and most influential 

The back light helps counteract the effect of the key light or creates an outline or silhouette 

The fill light helps to soften harsh shadows that the use of key and back lights create

• Costume

What the characters are wearing

• Props

What items can be seen in shot

• Setting

Where the shot is

• Colour palette 

Colours you can organically see on set

Colour grading 

Using a filter over the lights

• Hair and makeup

How a characters hair and makeup is done

Can make the videos better

• Performance

Body language and facial expressions

Camerawork:

• Camera movement

Pan - moving the camera from side to side

Tilt - moving the camera up and down

Crane shot - starts low and swoops upwards giving a wider shot

Tracking shot - tracks the person in the shot

Steadicam/handheld - no support to make it seem as if its movement of a person

• Camera angle

Low angle - makes the character seem in a position of power

High angle - makes the characters seem vulnerable and puts the viewer in a position of power

Over the shoulder - looks over the shoulder of a character to see what they are looking at

• Shot size

Extreme close up - small area of something for example an eye

Close up - neck and face

Long shot - Top to toe and more of the location

Wide shot - Shows a vast area for example a shot of the New York sky line

Medium shot - torso upwards

Point of view - what a character can see from their eyes

Editing:

• Speed of editing and creating pace 

 helps to determine the mood of what is taking place on screen

• Length of cuts 

the lengths of each scene

• Transition - how it moves from one cut to another

Straight cut - most common and "invisible" form of transition. 

Fade - A gradual darkening or lightening of an image until the screen becomes completely black or white. Typically used to show the passing of time

Dissolve - Dissolving one shot off the screen while another scene is fading in. The audience will be able to see both shots on screen at the mid point of the dissolve.  

wipe - One image is pushed off the screen by another. Images signals a movement between different locations that are experiencing the same time. 

Sound:

• Diegetic 

The world of the text. Natural sounds in the world.
For example, Dialogue, sound effects and music with a source within the text.

• Non Diegetic 

Everything outside the world of the text.
For example voiceover, soundtracks and captions

• On screen sound 

The audience can see the source of the sound

• Off screen sound

The audience can't see the source of the sound

• Parallel sound

Sound that matches the action

• Contrapuntal sound 

Sound that doesn't match the action

• Sound bridge 

Helps to create a smooth transition between one scene to another