Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Todorov, Propp and Barthes - Skins, E4


Tzvetan Todorov
Equilibrium: It seems like an everyday morning at the main characters house, the main character Tony and he is phoning up his friends organising what they’re going to do in the day.                    
Disruption: Tony gets invited to an upper-class girl’s party but
Recognition of Disruption: Tony doesn’t know anybody who’s going so he tries to gather a group of his mates together to go to the party
Attempt to repair: Tony gets some of his friends to the party
New/Return to Equilibrium: Mid-way through the party Tony’s other friends turn up, after getting into a fight at the party Tony and his friends leave, the end scene shows Tony and his best mate lying in bed, the rest of the family take there usually morning routine again.


Vladimir Propp


Roland Propp

Barthes theory is based on 5 codes that readers use to decode the text:
Action- events which have logical consequences e.g. when food is presented, there is a probability that characters will eat it. 
Enigma- the mystery that audiences are left to decode, and questions raised by the narrative. 
Semics- signs used to express stereotype, objects and sets etc. e.g. spaceships connote sci fi. 
Symbolic Code - which is meaning expressed through juxtapositions and conflict within the narrative. 
Cultural Code - anything from stereotype to pop culture references or even knowledge we know and share together. This is an element very typical of spoof movies.

1 comment:

  1. There appears to be nothing on Barthes here. You should have a summary of the concepts on your blog as well. Good, albeit brief, analysis of Propp and Todorov functions within Skins.

    ReplyDelete