21st September 2012 - Tzvetan Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov

Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages:

1. a state of equilibrium at the outset
2. a disruption of the equilibrium by some action
3. a recognition that there has been a disruption
4. an attempt to repair the disruption
5. a reinstatement of the equilibrium

This type of narrative structure is very familiar to us and can be applied to many ‘mainstream’ film narratives.

My Example of Tzvetan Todorov

Stand By MeA state of equilibrium at the outset:The scene starts of mysterious, with a field and then a man, looking like he’s thinking. This would make the audience interested, and make them feel as though this man has a story to tell. He goes on to tell a story, and with this story comes a flash back of him and his friends, and their adventure that is yet to come. They decide to go and find a dead body, and that is what they do.

A disruption of the equilibrium by some action: The distribution is when the older bully’s decide to also find the body. This allows the audience to come to a realization that the boys are going to be in trouble.

A recognition that there has been a disruption:The older boys approach the younger boys just as they find the body. The younger boys get scared.

An attempt to repair the disruption:One of the boys mocks the older boys, disempowering them in the film