Media Theorists - Vladimir Propp

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Media Theorists - Vladimir Propp Propp, like Todorov, was a structuralist, he wanted to understand the patterns that lay beneath narrative progression & character roles within a narrative. He proposed that there were seven different character types which crop up regularly in stories: 1. The protagonist/hero (the character around whom the action revolves) 2. The antagonist/villain (opposes the hero) 3. The dispatcher/boss (send the hero on the quest) 4. The helper/sidekick (aids the hero) 5. The donor/fairy godmother (gives the hero advice or a useful object) 6. The princess/the girl (motivation & reward for the hero) 7. The false hero/the betrayer (often a helper who turns on the hero & is punished) It’s important to note that: Not all character types will appear in all stories (especially music videos) Some characters make take on more than one role in the narrative. Propp’s Character Types in Practice The Hero The Villain The Helper(s) The Donor The False Hero The Princess The Dispatcher Media Theorists - Vladimir Propp Representation & Character Types in a music video: A music video will use some of these character types, but given the problems with time and limited narrative space, these character need to be represented clearly and precisely otherwise the audience may have an oppositional (aberrant) reading of the text. Consider the character codes that are used in a professional music video of your choice and consider: Which character types have been used? How the character is designed (encoded) in order to be read in that character role? Is the reading of the character open to interpretation? Use this diagram & table to create some notes about how the character has been encoded (character codes) as a particular type: Actions/ Behaviour Representation through narrative Their Character Type(s): Events (What happens to the character)? Attitude Casting Relationships Appearance With whom? How does it change? Body Language Costume Demeanour Mannerisms Character’s Journey What are they like at What have they learnt? What are they like at the beginning? the end? Hair & Make Up .

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