MEDIA THEORIES

APPLICABLE TO
FILMS

Vladimir Propps Character

Types:
Although the typical amount of character types
for his theory is 8, my trailer only manages to
include 2 of these due to only having two
characters in my trailer.
Typically, the 8 character types that he prosed
are: 1. the villain 2. the dispatcher 3. the helper 4.
the princess or prize 5. her father 6. the donor 7.
the hero or victim/seeker hero 8. false hero

My trailer - Villain
This is one of the character types included in my
trailer. Typically this character struggles against the
hero, with some sort of scarring.
As this is a horror trailer, there isnt a hero as such,
but there is definitely a villain who causes pain and
sorrow/horror to the other character in my trailer.
For example the villain in the picture is the joker
from the film the dark knight.
My other character is the victim of the villain who
becomes haunted by them and is put through some
scarring and terrifying events.

Tvzetan Todorov
Todorov states that most stories or plot lines follow the same pattern or path.
There are 5 steps in this theory: 1. Equilibrium 2. A disruption 3. Realisation 4.
Restored order 5. Equilibrium again.
Here is how these 5 steps may (or may not) relate to my horror trailer:
Equilibrium The happy start, my two characters are seen running down the
garden laughing and playing together.
A disruption Something disrupts the happiness, in this case one of my
characters has a sudden fall and dies.
Realisation The character realises that she is being haunted by her dead
sister. This is seen in the trailer when she visits her sisters grave and screams
when their hands actually touch.
Restored order This does not occur in my film. Seeing as it is a horror trailer,
things just keep getting worse and of a heavier impact.
Equilibrium again This is the final part of the plot, although, like the restored
order plot, there is no equilibrium again. This is because of the horror genre
typically ending in death or violence, which is what occurs in my trailer.

Roland Barthes 5 narrative

codes
The 5 codes are: 1. The hermeneutic code 2. The enigma
code 3. The symbolic code 4. The cultural code 5. The
semantic code
. The hermeneutic code My trailer does this by using
quick editing so that not everything is revealed at one
time, this leaves suspense and mystery for the viewer as
they are watching.
The enigma code I built up tension in my trailer by using
different types of music that built up more suspense as it
went along. I also used sound effects that gave the trailer
a more dramatic feel.

Claude Levi-Strauss Binary

Oppositions
Binary opposites are frequently used in films, especially in
the horror genre. Many horror films contain sets of binary
opposition in their plots.
My trailer My trailer includes the binary opposites of
good VS evil. There are the two main characters, one is a
victim, one is the villain trying to kill the victim.
My trailer also includes the binary opposites young VS
old. The main characters are sisters, one is the younger
one (emphasised by her wearing pigtails) the other older
(emphasised by her wearing makeup and straightened
hair).