Narrative

Tuesday 14th April 2020L/O: to explore the narrative structure of a film

STARTER: Can you work out the anagrams from these Disney films

1. Gal Dent = Tangled

2. Hatted Millimetre = The Little Mermaid

3. A Babysat Tuned Thee = Beauty and The Beast

4. A Nacho Pots = Pocahontos

5. Whites Won Handstands Fever We = Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

6. Cleared Nil = Cinderella

7. Aid Land = Aladdin

8. An Tzar = Tarzan

9. A Bench Deck To The Fun Oh Mr A = The Hunchback of Notre Dame

10. Legion Think = The Lion King

Case Study Research

Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Director: James Gunn

Writer: James Gunn

Producer: Kevin Feige

Production Company: Marvel Studios

Distribution Company: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Date Released: May 28th 2017 (UK)

Genre:Superhero

Main Actors: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Baustista, Vin Diesel (Voice), Bradley Cooper (Voice), Karen Gillan, Kurt Russell

NARRATIVE

At the beginning of the story the Guardians have been hired to protect some batteries from an evil space monster (I can't be asked to find the name), In the middle of the story Peter's Dad shows up, tells him he has superpowers and whisks him away to his own planet. At the end of the story we find out Peter's Dad is evil and the Guardians kill him.

The most important things that happen are Ego (Peter's Dad) showing up, The Guardians killing Ego and Yondu (Peter's Father Figue) dying in the climax of the film.

If events happened in a different order the story probably wouldn't work.

The film tells us the names of the different locations using text on the screen.

The story is about the Guardians of the Galaxy, it also heavily features themes of family and loss.

The story happens over the course of a few days in the year 2014.

Before the story began, the Guardians were probably doing what they were doing in the beginning of the film. Regular jobs for them.

I think after it ends they return to some form of normality for them.

The story doesn't remind me of any other stories off the top of my head.

It continued a few years later in Avengers: Infinity War.

NARRATIVE THEORY: TODOROV

A film's narrative is the story of the film and is broken down into five stages by theorist Tzetan Todorov:
Equilibrium: Everything in the film world is normal (Not necessarily good, but it's normal)
Disruption: Something happens (usually caused by the film's main antagonist) to disrupt normal life
Recognition of Disruption: The protagonist/s realise that something is wrong in their world or discover the disruption

Attempt to solve: The main protagonist goes on a journer to the solve the disruption.
New Equilibrium: The disruption is solved and a new normality occurs (things can never be the same as they were before the disruption, but a new 'normal life' is created)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 in Todorov's structure

Equilibrium: The Guardians are out on a normal job goofing around. They finish and receive Nebula as a reward. They leave to head Xandar to turn in Nebula's bounty.

Disruption: Rocket stole some batteries and they are chased down by the people who hired them. The ship is heavily damaged but they are saved by Ego. 

Recognition of Disruption: They crash onto the planet and meet Ego who claims he is Peter's father. They also meet his servant Mantis. After much disagreement, Peter, Drax and Gamora go with Ego while Rocket and Groot stay with Nebula and the ship. When they get to Ego's planet they slowly unravel the fact that Ego wants to use Peter's newfound power to destroy the galaxy. Peter snaps and wants to kill Ego after he mentions that he killed Peter's mother.

Attempt to solve the disruption: Groot, Rocket and Yondu were captured but escaped and headed to Ego's planet. They all get together and kill Ego. Yondu dies to save Peter from the collapsing planet.

New Equilibrium: They have a funeral for Yondu. The Guardians watch as fireworks are set off in commemoration of him. Gamora and Peter become partners. Mantis joins the Guardians of the Galaxy at the end of the movie.