AQA GCSE Media Studies: Exploring Narrative Theories in Media

AQA GCSE Media Studies: Exploring Narrative Theories in Media

This tutorial will guide you through understanding narrative theories and their application in media. You'll learn how these theories help us analyze the structure and impact of stories in various media forms.

What are Narrative Theories?

Narrative theories are frameworks used to understand how stories are constructed and how they work on audiences. They explore the patterns, conventions, and techniques that shape our experience of narratives.

Key Narrative Theorists and Their Ideas

• Vladimir Propp: Propp studied Russian folktales and identified common character archetypes and narrative functions. His theory helps us recognize recurring patterns in storytelling, regardless of genre or cultural context.

  • Character Archetypes: Propp identified eight basic character types, including the hero, villain, donor, helper, princess, dispatcher, and false hero.
  • Narrative Functions: Propp identified 31 narrative functions that typically occur in a specific order. These functions provide a blueprint for how stories unfold.

• Tzvetan Todorov: Todorov's theory focuses on the structure of narrative development, proposing a three-stage model:

  • Equilibrium: The initial state of balance and order.
  • Disruption: An event that disrupts the equilibrium, creating conflict.
  • Resolution: The restoration of equilibrium, often with a new understanding or perspective.

Applying Narrative Theories to Media

• Analyzing Television Content: Todorov's theory can be applied to analyzing television programs, examining how they create conflict, introduce obstacles, and ultimately resolve problems. For example, think about how a crime drama might establish a peaceful community (equilibrium), introduce a murder that disrupts the peace (disruption), and conclude with the arrest of the killer and the restoration of order (resolution).
• Understanding Audience Impact: Narrative theories help us understand how stories engage viewers. By using familiar character archetypes and predictable narrative structures, media producers create a sense of familiarity and comfort, making stories more engaging and relatable.

Example of Applying Narrative Theories to a CSP

Let's analyze the CSP "The Crown" using Todorov's theory:

• Equilibrium: The first season of "The Crown" establishes the traditional, established social order of the British monarchy in the 1950s.
• Disruption: The arrival of Prince Philip and the subsequent marriage of Queen Elizabeth II introduces a new dynamic and challenges the established order.
• Resolution: The series explores how the monarchy adapts to the changing world and embraces a new era.

Exam Tips:

• Practice applying narrative theories to different media texts, especially television shows.
• Learn the key terms and concepts associated with narrative theories.
• Be prepared to discuss the impact of narrative structures on audiences.

Remember: Narrative theories provide a powerful framework for analyzing media texts. By understanding these theories, you can gain a deeper appreciation for how stories are constructed and how they affect us as viewers.