Barthes Theory states that every movie, soap, poster etc. suggests a mystery to then attempt to draw an audience in to watching it. A good example would be any murder mystery film as in the trailers it will give enough information out to the audience but then leave them asking questions and then become very interested in going to find out what happens.
Due to Murder On The Orient Express being a murder mystery movie, we can apply this theory very easily because throughout the trailer we aren't given much information at all apart from each of the main characters and the supposed protagonist. As a viewer I am instantly drawn into this film, mainly because of not seeing much I am very interested in going to see this film to understand more of the movie.
Tuesday, 27 February 2018
Todorov Narrative and film Trailers
Todorov's 5 stage theory is very basic however we can apply it to most films, his theory suggests that each film follows these 5 stages:
Equilibrium, this is a normality, everything is as it should be and all life goes on undisturbed.
Disruption, this commonly happens a little way through the film after we establish a normality, the disruption can be anything in the film which effects the main characters such as a murder or a kidnapping.
Recognition, this is when the main characters then recognise the disruption and are aware of the problem.
Attempt to Repair, the main characters will usually do anything in their power to try and solve the problem, for example finding justice for a murder victim.
New Equilibrium, this is when everything then returns to its normal state.
However not every film follows these 5 stages, a lot of films can end up being in a continuous loop between disruption and attempt to repair.
The Insidious trailer does use Todorov's theory, to a certain extent, in which at the beginning of the trailer there is a clear Equilibrium of the family living happily in their home, the clear disruption is when the son falls off of the ladder, here the rest of the trailer is downhill as the haunting begin, the recognition is when the mother hears a voice on the baby monitor and is then scared and runs to help her baby. The attempt to repair is when she then calls on Elise to help them, as the trailer progresses there is no new equilibrium, however more disruptions as there are a lot events which are setting the film up.
We can use this theory in our trailer, to start have everything all normal but then slowly progress through each stage, making the trailer turn into a dark, twisted descent into pure horror, however I do not want to then create a new equilibrium as it can give too much of the movie away, this is why I believe that all film trailers don't show a new equilibrium as it is basically showing the end of the film.
Equilibrium, this is a normality, everything is as it should be and all life goes on undisturbed.
Disruption, this commonly happens a little way through the film after we establish a normality, the disruption can be anything in the film which effects the main characters such as a murder or a kidnapping.
Recognition, this is when the main characters then recognise the disruption and are aware of the problem.
Attempt to Repair, the main characters will usually do anything in their power to try and solve the problem, for example finding justice for a murder victim.
New Equilibrium, this is when everything then returns to its normal state.
However not every film follows these 5 stages, a lot of films can end up being in a continuous loop between disruption and attempt to repair.
The Insidious trailer does use Todorov's theory, to a certain extent, in which at the beginning of the trailer there is a clear Equilibrium of the family living happily in their home, the clear disruption is when the son falls off of the ladder, here the rest of the trailer is downhill as the haunting begin, the recognition is when the mother hears a voice on the baby monitor and is then scared and runs to help her baby. The attempt to repair is when she then calls on Elise to help them, as the trailer progresses there is no new equilibrium, however more disruptions as there are a lot events which are setting the film up.
We can use this theory in our trailer, to start have everything all normal but then slowly progress through each stage, making the trailer turn into a dark, twisted descent into pure horror, however I do not want to then create a new equilibrium as it can give too much of the movie away, this is why I believe that all film trailers don't show a new equilibrium as it is basically showing the end of the film.
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