Narrative structure, a literary math, is generally described as the structural framework that underlies the order and manner in which a narrative is presented to a reader, listener, or viewer. Two theories have been suggested by Todorov and propp.Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages: A state of equilibrium at the outset. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action. A recognition that there has been a disruption. An attempt to repair the disruption. A reinstatement of the equilibrium. This type of narrative structure is very familiar to us and can be applied to many ‘mainstream’ film narratives.
Vladimir Propp broke up fairy tales into sections. Through these sections he was able to define the tale into a series of sequences that occurred within the Russian fairytale. Usually there is an initial situation, after which the tale usually takes the following 31 functions. Vladimir Propp used this method to decipher Russian folklore and fairy tales. First of all, there seem to be at least two distinct types of structural analysis in folklore. One is the type of which Propp's Morphology is the exemplar par excellence. In this type, the structure or formal organisation of a folklorist text is described following the chronological order of the linear sequence of elements in the text as reported from an informant. Thus if a tale consists of elements A to Z, the structure of the tale is delineated in terms of this same sequence.Propp also suggested there are eight different characters and they are hero,villain,Helper,Mentor,Dispatcher,Blocker,Prize andFalse Hero.
The two theories when applied to Batman the dark knight rises has different outcomes such as Todorovs narrative structure does not work with batman the dark knight rises because, like most modern films, the story is too complex. There are to many characters, side plots and defining moments in the story. The structure would work for the film if it was describing sections of the film as opposed to the whole story.Propp’s theory or structure to the narrative side of a story works better than Todorov’s in my opinion because instead of telling events, which limits the description of modern day stories as they are so complex, it describes characters, and depending on how much detail you go into in your descriptions of these characters you can begin to narrate the story a lot better than you can using Todorov’s structure. Although you could argue that Propp’s theory resembles a cast list. Whilst being better than Todorov’s structure it still has its faults. Today’s stories are more complex than the simple structures these two men have devised, sometimes in modern stories the the characters could overlap each other. For example using Propp’s theory to tell the story of the dark knight rises Miranda Tate is a false princess because she also turns out to be the villain. So Propp’s theory doesn’t fit Batman either.Propp’s theory is very good because his 31 part structure describes the story pretty much down to every last detail
Verisimilitude is the appearance or semblance of truth or reality.The problem of verisimilitude is the problem of articulating what it takes for one false theory to be closer to the truth than another false theory.
Realism is when something is representing a person or thing in a way that is accurate and true to life.There are advantages and disadvantages to realism an advantage is that you see the black and white of a situation and its is easier to work with reality in moving toward a more correct answer that is real, when making a low budget movie or series it is easier to stick to realism as it is easier to recreate whereas if it is unrealistic you need to invest more money usually on CGI and effects like that to give it a feel of possibly being realistic.Realism can give people a better feeling of the film as it is more believable and they can get possibly relate to situations for example if there is a film about world war 2 old people can relate to it whereas if there is an alien battle in space nobody can relate to it and people will still enjoy it but it wont speak to you as much as a realistic film as if it touches you personally it can make it more memorable and exciting.Ultimately all that matters is that a film maintains believability within its own internal context. The logic might not match up with how it works in the real world (unless the film tries to base itself in a real life situation), but as long as it remains consistent with the information we're given, our suspensions of disbelief can stay.
Being realistic isn't always important and will not destroy the film if it isn't realistic for example Any of Spielberg's more fantastical films are great examples. Sharks don't really attack people in real life like they do in Jaws, but in the film we are told that this shark does, and we run with it. Characters behave in ways that are consistent with who they're shown to be and the world remains solid. Nothing ever happens to contradict the set up rules. Same thing for Jurassic Park.Ultimately, all a filmmaker must ask of its audience is their immediate suspension of disbelief. Anything that violates that is a fault of the artist for not making a cohesive enough world. However anything that isn't real that makes sense within its own context (sound in space during Star Wars for example) is merely a petty subjective grievance.Disadvantages of being unrealistic id sometimes it can be so ridiculous that the audience can laugh at it or find it annoying but alot of the time it works in favour of the director and can sometimes make a film more exciting like the sounds in the space in star wars it is unrealistic but without it the scenes in space would be boring and lightsabers aren't realistic but are cool and people find them a fun idea and it adds something to the film.
The way I see it, realism is just one of many tools a film maker can use to tell a story, and like any tool, it can be used well, it can be used poorly, or can be completely ignored. I think both are good having it realistic can limit it but it can still be exciting and good. When a film is unrealistic it is limitless and sometimes it can backfire and look stupid but can also be fantastic and captivate audience.
Eden lake
Nursery teacher Jenny and her boyfriend Steve, escape for a romantic weekend away. Steve, planning to propose, has found an idyllic setting: a remote lake enclosed by woodlands and seemingly deserted. The couple's peace is shattered when a gang of obnoxious kids encircles their campsite. Revealing in provoking the adults, the gang steals the couple's belongings and vandalises their car leaving them completely stranded. When Steve confronts them, tempers flare and he suffers a shocking and violent attack. Fleeing for help, Jenny is subject to a brutal and relentless game of cat-and-mouse as she desperately tries to evade her young pursuers and find her way out of the woods.
Horror conventions used are at the beginning are a enigma as behind the sign of Eden lake there is a more threatening message behind it although the characters don't see it the audience do.in the opening credits there is a screaming women covered in blood and this shows the tone of what the film will entail.The digetic music in the film also helps to add a visceral feel to the film other bits in the film that provoke a reaction are when he is getting stabbed and it shows the wounds and when the spike goes through her foot.The lighting is dark and you cannot see much which adds to the fear factor.
Jenny when we first meet her she seems kind,innocent and posh.Her boyfriend Steve seems flirty,kind and rich.The teenagers are made out in a bad light as they are a disruption in the peaceful scenery of Eden lake.There is one leader in the gang and he well and truly dictates what the gang do.Later on in the film Steve and Jenny switch places with Jenny becoming the alpha male and not the damsel in distress.She goes from being clean and tidy to so dirty she looks unhuman and acts unhuman at one point.When she comes out of the bin and stabs that boy that is when she acts unhuman.
There are many different angles and shots used throughout the film.There are many shots such as point of view, montage, vignette,privileged shot,voyeuristic,worm shot,aerial shot,dolly shot,continuous shot,wide shot,one shot,reverse shot,crane shot,360 degree shot and switch angle.A specific example of a camera angle is the crane shot when they are travelling over the forest and it does this three or four times.An example of these shots are when it shows them in the tent and the chavs nearby and this is a wide shot.Over the shoulder is used when she looks in the mirror and it shows her all muddy and bloody and she looks unhuman the mirror can also represent her reflecting on her choices,acts and the deaths of the gang and Steve.Visceral moments are throughout when Steve is getting cut by the gang the amount of blood and pain he is going through provokes a reaction from the audiences and when the spike goes through Jenny's foot this also is a squeamish moment and provokes a visceral moment.
