KTA8 LO3 essay for practice before final CAG exams

Narrative theories are used so they audience can understand the purpose for the story in a film or media product. The product I will be analysing is the trailer for Thor Ragnarok, released in 2017.

The first narrative theory is a theory by Claude-Levi Strauss (1958) and his theory suggests that binary opposition and the idea that people or objects can go directly parallel and opposite each other fuels each character. This can be seen in the Thor Ragnarok trailer as Thor represents good and Hela represents evil. Hela can be seen representing evil when a shallow depth of field is used to highlight Helas sword as she is about to kill people of Asgard.

The second narrative theory is by Pam Cook (1985) where traditional narratives have effects on he characters in films meaning when something happens or is about to happen it changes a characters actions.  This can be seen in the Thor Ragnarok trailer when Hela is about to kill people of Asgard and Thor has to retaliate to prevent Hela from doing so.

The third narrative theory is from Tzvetan Todoroz (1977) and his theory is the conventional structure meaning a character has an equilibrium, a disruption and then return to an equilibrium. This can seen in Thor Ragnarok trailer when before Hela arrives everyone is calm and in no panic but as she Hela arrives that's where the issue begins. This would be the disruption to the original equilibrium. The equilibrium is restored when is shows Hela facing defeat from Thor. This can be seen with a cross cut to Thor fighting Hela in the trailer.

Finally, the fourth narrative theory is from Roland Barthes and this theory is where every line in a story has a meaning so for example in Thor Ragnarok trailer when Hela is in the trailer but the audience don't know her mission. This is an enigma code as there is mystery to the story. This can be seen in the trailer when a flashback is used to also create mystery.