Todorov's Narrative Theory of Equilibrium Theory Research:
(Picture of Tzvetan Todorov: 2012)
The Narrative Theory of Equilibrium originated from Tzvetan Todorov, who believed that the narrative of every story falls into five specific parts simplified into three sections.
The first section of this theory would be "Equilibrium." In this section, the audience is introduced to characters and the beginning events of a story. This helps to introduce an initial sense of normality for the viewers, which will be built or destroyed later on in the story depending on the creative choices by the creators. I believe that this section would be a vital part to my story because by introducing the audience to a seemingly calm and ordinary situation, I can surprise them with the abrupt entry of the bully, Austin.
The second section of this theory would then be "Disequilibrium." In this area, a new element is introduced that interrupts the protagonist's life, with the character now working to attempt and fix the situation. This would be applicable and seen in my story with the entry of Austin, who is disrupting Asher's previously peaceful walk back home from school.
The final section of the theory is "New Equilibrium," this is when the protagonist has ended this new disruption that has intervened in their affairs. This would also be applicable to my story, with Asher murdering Austin to get out of engaging with him and continue his journey back home.
With my story having been constructed alongside this theory, I believe that it can also be used to increase the quality and strength of me and my group's project. This is because in the story, I can use this consistent pattern to build up and upon new situations and key plot events that would keep the viewer engaged. For instance, after the new equilibrium of Asher murdering Austin is created, I can then create a new and seemingly ordinary situation with Asher at his house. I will then be able to use this particular theory in order to build a theme of normality before being replaced with new information or scenarios. This will help to create a strong narrative structure within my story that will keep viewers intrigued and would be feasible in a longer format of my project. However, I will want to use this idea sparingly as I believe that it will carry more meaning if used at key moments throughout my plot, such as its unexpected usage in my introductory sequence.
These three sections a part of this larger media theory have allowed for the creation of iconic and strong plots and character arcs. The presentation of normal situations and events then being replaced by unexpected events have been used throughout the history of cinema. For example, in the film "The Lion King," it uses the theory throughout the entirety of its duration. The film introduces the Pride Lands and builds the normality of it up until the disruption, which comes from the death of Mufasa and the reign of Scar. The plot then rebuilds an expected situation, with Mufasa's son Simba now living in the wild with Timon and Pumbaa. However, when he is asked to come back to the Pride Lands to take back control, which is a form of disequilibrium, Simba is able to take back the kingdom and establish a new kingdom under his reign. Through the usage of this repeated format, the film is able to keep the viewers engaged with the story without losing their interest.
(The Lion King: 1994)
Another example of the Narrative Theory of Equilibrium is seen in the film "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." To be specific, in the film, the basis of a deal between Indiana Jones and a criminal named Lao Che establishes the basis of the film. Then, after being double crossed, Indiana Jones then has to escape onto a plane and get away from the dangerous fugitive. With this much smaller condensed version of Todorov's theory, we can clearly see that much smaller versions of this can still enact its intended impact on the audience. This demonstrates that my intro, which is using Todorov's theory, can still have a strong effect on the audience despite its shortened implementation.
(Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: 1984)
I do believe that with this theory, many films and productions have increased their ability to present their ideas and stories to their audiences. Although my current story uses it in a more quickened format, it still utilizes its elements and would be expanded upon in a longer format of my project. This would permit the creation of a strong plot structure that would not only accentuate the success of the climax, but bring about a better, more well-rounded story overall.
Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, May 23). Tzvetan Todorov. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzvetan_Todorov
Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, July 24). The Lion King. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King
Huyck, W., Katz, G., & Lucas, G. (1984, May 23). Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087469/
No comments:
Post a Comment