Narrative

Give an example from film or television that uses Todorov's narrative structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium?

An example of a show that uses disequilibrium is a show called game of thrones as it has heroes or main characters that share a common enemy and when the peace is disrupted by the villain the heroes team up and fight against the villain and defeat him.

In this film the superheros are the saviours and presented as the main characters and they join together to take down the villain.this fits props theory of new equilibrium as there is heroes and villains and the villain disturbs the peace and conflict occurs and the villain is defeated by the heroes and peace is restored once again.

Give an example of a binary opposition?

A binary opposition is someone who is scared of planes or heights is put in a position where they have to jump from a plane.

What example is provided in the Factsheet for the way narratives can emphasise dominant ideologies and values?
The example that the fact sheet gives for the way narratives can emphasise dominant ideologies and values is a romantic scene.Binary oppositions can be very useful to help identify the ideology of a text. The conflict between opposites in a conventional text will usually conclude with one force winning becoming the dominant force this is usually the good force.The winner often represents the dominant ideas and values of our culture. When criminals are caught and locked up  in a crime drama or action movies– the ideology of the value of law and order is emphasised. When the girl wins the heart of the guy in a romantic comedy the values of heterosexual relationships(man and woman) and monogamy(single partner) are reinforced. In conventional texts crime doesn’t usually pay and the guy most often gets the girl. 

Write a one-sentence summary of the four different types of TV narrative:

• Episodic narrative (the series)

An "episodic narrative" is a story that is told through a series of episodes, or segments. It goes on for a certain amount of time.

• Overarching narrative (the serial)

 A serial is a section format by which a single larger work, often a work of film and episodes, is published in sequential instalments.

• Mixed narrative

 This may revolve round a central theme (e.g. troublesome neighbours) or group of people.

• Multi-strand overlapping narrative (soap narrative)

Popular in broadcast TV (e.g. soaps) and film. Involves more than one narrative running parallel involving different characters and locations.

How does the fact sheet suggest adverts use narrative?

The way the fact sheet suggests the advert uses narrative is that it gives examples of how adverts are presented using different narratives.

Narrative is used in all media texts – not just fictions.
•     Documentaries use the same structures to help construct their stories
•     Broadcast news uses narrative structure and character roles in its bulletins
•     A newspaper story may be part of a larger narrative arc which is in the complication stage. For example, the Beckhams’ move to Los Angeles, was presented as another episode in the ongoing narrative of their lives
•     Photographs and still images cannot easily show the passing of time which is central to a moving image narrative but often the narrative is implied.
Newspaper photographs are often chosen specifically to reinforce the character role of an individual paper based advertising often provides the solution a problem that is not stated but is understood by the audience 

• In advertising the idea of the problem and resolution is crucial. Often adverts set up a problem (bad breath) and then immediately offer the solution (buy their toothpaste) to create a swift resolution (fresh breath)