Narrative Theory

Narrative Theory

Propp - Character theory

Propp claimed that there was pre defined character roles that all stories inadvertently stuck to.
In Submarine we can link characters that we know to the roles that Propp proposed.

Our Hero is Oliver, although sometimes not that regal and correct he seeks to do good and help others in the only ways he knows. This can be seen in the opening sequence because we only see Oliver, showing us he is the most important part of the story, this is usually the hero.

The Villain could be split between Graham Purvis and Jordan's Mum's Cancer. This is split because the Hero has two self appointed tasks to complete which is what the whole story is based on, he must stop is parents from splitting up and he must be a good boyfriend to Jordan firstly so they can loose their virginity and then because he cares deeply for her. Both Graham and the cancer challenge his ability to do this.

The Dispatcher is Oliver himself, this isn't too unusual in coming of age films where a character goes themselves or inadvertently gives themselves a task to complete that eventually changes them as a person.

In some ways we could argue that the False Hero is also split because we see these two different challenges that out Hero faces being completely separate until the very climax so we see Books as the False Hero in Oliver's attempts to keep his parents together as his incessant reading leads him to take his reading as a definitive answer to some problems in both cases. Chips is also a False Hero because he is giving Oliver (what we see to be) completely the wrong advice about how to deal with his affections towards Jordan.

The Princess is Jordan as Oliver seeks to be with her for the whole movie and (SPOILER) in the very end he is 'rewarded' by the two of them coming together again.

There are a few un filled roles as is the nature of Submarine Oliver is left on his own for most of the picture, this isn't uncommon for coming of age films as we see a lot of character development from our main characters overcoming obstacles on their own.

Todorov - Equilibrium

Submarine is a great example of Todorov's theory since near to the beginning of the film we begin to see Oliver's equilibrium, of being on his own and trying to figure out who he is, broken by his inadvertent interaction with Jordan that brings them close. Then Graham moving into the next-door house. Then the rest of the film is Olivers sporadic and rocky attempts to resolve these problems. The theory is completed when a new equilibrium is come across, we don't see much of it but understand that it is equilibrium.

Levi-strauss - Culture reflections

Submarine slightly fulfils Strauss' theory of binary opposites as there is some conflicts of this sort in the story. We see Oliver fight for the good of his parents staying together rather than splitting, these sides (as everything in the film) is determined in Oliver's head and so we do not make the rightness or wrongness of a side we just observe. We also see Boy against Girl in the breakdown of Oliver's relationship with Jordana.

Barthes - Five codes

There is lots to argue that The Semantic and Symbolic codes are the most predominant in submarine as lots of meaning is implemented across the film, there is lots of symbolism that points us towards hidden meanings in the film allow the audience to look deeper into the characters. In some ways the two codes compliment each other as the symbolism adds to the semantic meaning.


Learning comments

• I had not heard of the last two theories but they are very interesting and adaptable to different films which is the point of them. I think they will be useful to me when making my opening sequence as it has opened my eyes to the way different narrative codes can compliment one another.
• The character types will be interesting to try and implement into my opening sequence, I will most probably have to rely on prejudices or obvious assumptions to keep a good opening sequence timing but also introduce characters and their place in the piece 
• The main character shown in the opening sequence is almost always our hero this is a common theme throughout all genres of film not just coming of age. 
• We are sometimes told a story in the opening sequence of a film and this is something I want to so in mine so using these character types and codes will really help me form a good narrative.