narrative theories in relation to Halloween

Narrative theories in relation to Halloween

Tzvetan Todorov

In relation to Halloween Todorov’s theory does not apply to this film. Todorov implied that the beginning of films begin with an equilibrium, which is where we find out the norm within the plot of the story, this does not completely apply to Halloween as we first meet the killer comitting his first murder within the first scene jumping straight to the Disequilbrium, which Todorov stated was the main scene were key action took place. Todorov's theory is that the film will end with a new equlibrium, this again does not apply to Halloween.

Vladimir Propp 
 

Theorist Vladimire propp identified the 8 character roles that play the parts in horror films, In relation to Halloween, this theory does apply, but only to two of the following:

·         The villain,     The hero,     The donor,    The helper,   The princess , Her father, The dispatcher And  The false hero

The villain is the little boy Michael, The hero within the film would be seen as Laurie as she is the protagonist. Propp identified that his theory can be applied to any type of narrative, this include tv programs and plays. 

Claude Levi Strauss

Strauss looked at narrative structure in terms of binary oppositions, for example in Halloween Laurie, the good, versus Michael, the evil. Strauss looked at the arrangements of themes rather than concentrating on the order. 

Bordwell and Thompson

In relation to Halloween Bordwell and Thompson’s theory that “a chain of events in a cause –effect relationship, occurring in time and space” does partly apply to Halloween as the theory was that the film will typically begin with a situation, which in the case for Halloween is Michael as a young boy committing a murder. There will then be a series of changes which may be the serial killing carried out from Michael ending with a new situation which is Laurie left alive, thinking the villain is dead, when in fact revealed he has once again escaped, leaving the film on a cliff hanger.