Propp and Todorov

PROPP

Vladimir Propp created this in 1938.

Character types:

Propp suggests that characters have different functions / spheres of action. Characters can fulfil more than one spheres of action, e.g. a princess can also be a helper. Spheres of action can also be made of more than one character, e.g. there can be several villains.

Hero - the main character / protagonist of the story who restores the equilibrium by usually going on a mission to accomplish something, to which there is often a prize or reward of some sort.
There are two different types; the victim hero and the seeker hero. The victim hero is who the villain is after, but the seeker hero helps those who are the villain's victims.

Villain - the antagonist of the story who disrupts the equilibrium.

False hero - appears to be good but is revealed in the end to be bad.

Prize - a reward for the hero once the mission is fulfilled.

Helper - helps hero to restore equilibrium; one or more character/s who provides help to the hero to help complete the mission, and ussually accompanies the hero on their mission.

Mentor/Doner - gives hero something (an object/information/advice) to help resolve disruption; the character/s who guides and advises the hero on their mission by providing information/aid.

Blocker - the one who is also trying to prevent the hero from fullfilling their mission and is usually an associate of the villain.

Dispatcher - sends the hero on to their task.

Princess/victim -usually most threatened by villain and is saved by the hero. Especially in fairy tales, the father usually gives princess to hero at the end.

Narrative Structure

Propp organised his narrative structure into six different categories which tells the story:

> Preparation - a community or family is in an ordered state of being.

> Complication - can be when the villain harms a member of the hero's family; or when the hero plans action against the villain.

> Transference - can be when the hero is given a magical gift; or the hero arrives at the place that he can fulfil his quest.

> Struggle - there is a struggle between the hero and the villain.

> Return - can be when the hero escapes; or a task is set for the hero; or the hero accomplishes a task.

> Recognition - the hero is rewardeed.

TODOROV

This narrative structure was created in 1954 by Tzvetan Todorov.

Narrative Structure:

This structure is organised into five different categories which tells the story and the headings of each category speak for themselves:

> Equilibrium

> Disruption

> Recognition of disruption

> Attempt to repair disruption

> A return or restoration of NEW equilibrium

Source: www.watershed.co.uk/east/content/narrative.html

Gregory Crewdson Image 2

Denotation
The denotation of this image looks like a painting of a man and a woman sitting around a dinner table.  Spotlight lighting is used to make them stand out in the centre of the image, whilst the surrounding edges are in shadow.  There are four seats around the table - two being vacant, a chandelier, tableware, the usual furniture seen in a domestic household (i.e. a cabinet and picture frames), and there is a small kitchen situated behind where the lady is sitting.

Connotation
This image could connote how people's lives can be different to the persona which they reveal on the surface, as in someone could be pretending to be happy and sociable amongst friends, but at home it is in fact a different story as the persona does not need to be shown to the family members who know what you are going through.  It could also connate how a person's home reflects on their personality.



Enigma
A few questions which could be asked are:
Why do the couple look so sad?
Why are two of the seats vacant?
Why is the surrounding area so dark?
Why are they sitting around a dining table when there is in fact no food on their plates?
Why is no one serving the food?

Notion of Codes
Their facial expressions of them frowning represent sadness, or it might possibly be depression, and they are not regarding each other so it is as if they are just sitting in silence which usually happens when someone has a lot of things on their mind.  Their posture, especially the male's, seems very static which signifies tension between the two.  Light is a signifier usually used to signify happiness/warmth, but in this instance I think the lighting is only used so we can see the scenery clearer when in fact the whole room could be plunged into complete darkness.  The darkness is a reflection of the mood and relationship between the man and woman - cold, tense, and probably hostile.

Gregory Crewdson Image 1

Denotation
The denotation of this image is what I can see, which is a woman sitting in a bed of flowers and mud, so she is covered with mud herself.  Unusually, the flowers is in the middle of a room which seems like a kitchen and there is light streaming in through the window on the right.  In the background there are counters and kitchen furniture with plates and crockery.

Connotation
The connotation of this image could be the saying that "life is not a bed of roses", which means that there are ups as well as downs in life.



Enigma
This image is very enigmatic because it raises a lot of unanswered questions within the viewer, some examples being:
Why is she smothering herself in dirt?
Why does she look unhappy?
Why is there a small garden in a kitchen?
Does this house belong to the woman in the image?

Notion of Codes
Her facial features are that her eyes are drooping and she is frowning, the notion of codes for this facial expression is that the person is unhappy or angry or tired, etc.  From my perspective it seems to me that the woman is unhappy and tired/fed up.  She could be fed up of life, which links back to the connotation that "life is not a bed of roses".

She is kneeling down, the notion of codes for this could be her surrendering to something, or having to rest due to exhaustion.  The fact that she's kneeling down in mud could mean that she wants to bury herself and hide away, which is the complete contrast of the lighting because the bright light streaming in should represent positivity, especially as it is focused on her.  Her posture and facial expression contradicting the lighting could represent the dichotomy of life - there is always a mix of good and bad.

Her clothing is a very unattractive top, style and colour-wise, and she is only wearing underwear to cover her lower body.  This could mean that she does not care how she looks and the drabness of her clothes could reflect on the drabness of her life.