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Artical 1 - Discovering Haarlem Through Local Eyes: Unveiling Local Sports and Rou

  Discovering Haarlem Through Local Eyes: Unveiling Local Sports and Routines Haarlem, with its winding canals, cobblestone streets, and iconic windmills, is often known for its rich history and charm. But beyond its postcard-perfect beauty lies something even more vibrant, its people. The locals of Haarlem infuse the city with their energy, passion, and love for active living.  To truly experience Haarlem, you have to move like a “Haarlemmer”. From running along the Spaarne River at sunrise to paddle boarding through quiet canals, we spoke with locals to uncover their favourite sports and daily routines. Their stories paint a picture of a city that thrives on activity and connection.  A Morning Along the River  From Anna, a 32 year old graphic designer, the day doesn’t officially start until she’s had her morning run along the Spaarne River.  “Running by the water feels like hitting a reset button”, she says with a smile. “I love watching the city wake up - t...

Narrative Theory

 My Film Journal 

Lo:
  1. To understand what a Narrative Structure is
  2. To apply knowledge of structure to existing films
  3. To investigate Todorov, Propp and Levi-Strauss narrative theories 
What is a Narrative actually is?
  • "a chain of events in a cause-effect relationship occurring in time" (Bordwell & Thompson, Film Art, 1980)
  • "Choices regarding how and when to present in formation about characters contribute to the overall storytelling framework of the film. That organizing framework is called a film's narrative form."
  • The way that stories are told, how meaning is constructed to achieve the understanding of the audience.
  • In film, narrative is constructed through elements like camerawork, lighting, sound, mise-en-scene and editing. 
What drives a Narrative forward?

Why is a goal orientated plot useful for story telling?

Example: 
  • Kill Bill - Kill Bill
  • The Hangover / 2 - Find their friend
  • Children of Men - Save the girl
  • Inglorious Bastards - Kill Hitler
  • The Bicycle Thieves - Replace the bicycle 
  • Scott Pilgrim Vs The World- Defeat the evil's ex's
NARRATIVE THEORY: STARTING POINT 

Tzvetan Todorov was a historian, philosopher, structuralist literary critic, sociologist and essayist.

Todorov’s theory of narrative included five stages:

·       the equilibrium

·       the disruption

·       the recognition

·       the repair

·       New equilibrium 

He claimed it could be applied to any movie however it can’t be applied to fragmented movies, especially those including flashback scenes.


1. The Equilibrium – the state of balance in the narrative, where we get to know the characters and their situation

2. The Disruption – oppositional characters are introduced and the story moves forward

3. The Recognition (of the disruption) -  where the story develops, different events and characters become involved and more drama occurs

4. The attempts to repair the disruption – where there may be a twist or climatic point

5. The New Equilibrium -  the problem is solve and harmony is resolved, though things may have changed


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYGZgPuIyGw





  • Equilibrium: world in its current state, audience will be persuaded to side with the protagonist
  • Disruption: de-balances the equilibrium, a problem/disruption
  • Recognition: Main characters realize there is a disruption, stage of the film where the characters begin restoring the disruption
  • Repair: is the part of the plot where the characters try to repair the damage and restore the problem 
  • New Equilibrium: Either they’ve restored equilibrium, or the equilibrium changes all together·           
  • This theory can be applied to both Toy Story and Jurassic Park
The Finding Nemo
  • Equilibrium is the balance at the beginning of the story: Nemo living with his dad, and it's his first time of school. This would be the everyday thing to do.
  •  Disruption: Nemo goes on a school trip, and tries to go to the open sea, and eventually gets caught by a diver.
  •   Recognition: Marvin realizes Nemo has been taken and he acts by trying to find him.
  •   Repair: Marvin meets Dory and they both decided to go on this sea-wide search adventure for Nemo, and they get in all sorts of situations. 
  •   New equilibrium: Nemo and Marvin are united, and this would make the audience feel satisfied.
The Mandalorian episode 2

  • Equilibrium: The Mandalorian begins with a shot of the soldier walking with Baby Yoda in the desert. There are several shots of lizards to which the soldier doesn't react, this means it’s a natural setting for the characters.
  • Disruption: The soldier notices the ship filled with little people that hate him.
  • Recognition: The soldier climbs the ship and tries to attack them but eventually falls off. He instead tries to make a deal with them to save his broken-down ship.
  • Repair: The soldier offers a trade to the small people in return for the parts for his space-ship. They eventually trust him, and he retrieves their egg.
  • New equilibrium: The soldier receives the parts for his ship and fixes it, he flies into space and equilibrium is restored.
Propp Theory

  • The villain: prevents the hero from achieving their goal.
  • The dispatcher: the character that makes the villain's evil known and sends the hero off.
  • The helper: helps hero to achieve their goal.
  • The princess: the reward with the hero and is protected from the villain by the hero
  • Her father: gives task to hero
  • The donor: prepares the hero or gives them a magical object to help them.
  • The hero: the character seeking a certain goal .
  • False hero: initially appears to be good but is evil.
The Finding Nemo
  • Hero: Marlin

  • Villain: Humans

  • Helper: Dory

  • False Hero: Bruce, Chum and Anchor

  • Princess: Nemo

  • Her Father: Marlin

  • Donor: Dory

  • The Dispatcher:


The Mandalorian
  • Hero: the mandalorian

  • Villain: jawas

  • Helper: Kuiil

  • False hero: 

  • Dispatcher: Kuiil

  • Princess: Baby Yoda

  • Her father:

  • The donor: jawas


Claude Levi-Strauss: Binary Oppositions
  • Introduced the idea of binary opposites in narratives that create meanings. He suggested that two opposing forces clashing to create conflict within a narrative.
  • Usually one must overcome the other for the narrative to be resolved (to reach new equilibrium)
  • light/dark 

  • good/evil 

  • noise/silence 

  • youth/age 

  • right/wrong 

  • poverty/wealth 

  • strength/weakness 

  • inside/outside


Levi-Strauss noticed another important feature of these 'binary opposites': that one side of the binary pair is always seen by a particular society or culture as more valued over the other. This give the audience a instinctual alliance with one over the other.

  • Good vs. Evil 

  • Order vs. Chaos 

  • Light vs. Dark 

  • Right vs. Wrong 



What is it and examples?

·           This is a narrative theory known as binary opposites and they are used in shows or films to differentiate between characters or ideas. Some examples include love vs hate, objectivity vs subjectivity, good vs evil, detailed vs general, masculine vs feminine.           

·           Batman is methodical and has morals whereas the Joker is mentally insane. This is a good example of good vs evil. Mufasa vs Scar is another good film example where this theory has been used in the Lion King. Scar is selfish and manipulative whereas Mufasa is loved by people and kind. 

·           A good example of a TV show that uses this theory would be Stranger Things. Here, there are two completely different worlds. One is the normal and ordinary world and the other clued ‘the upside down’ is a darker and colder version of that world with evil creatures in it


The Finding Nemo

  • One-way binary opposites are used in this film are between the two characters Dory and Marlin. Dory is carefree, forgetful and pushes boundaries whereas Marlin is uptight, extremely safe in every situation and focuses on every detail. However these characters end up both helping each other greatly. 
  • Nemo is focused on getting out of the dentist office whereas Marlin is going half way across the world to find him. Although they have the same goal of finding each other, how and what they have to do to get to each other is different.
















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