Liam: Thriller 07: Narrative Theory

Case Study: Rear Window (1954 - Hitchcock)

Levi-Strauss: Binary Opposites

Good Vs. Evil

Imprisonment Vs. Freedom

Bachelorism Vs. Married Life

Light Vs. Dark

Fear Vs. Happiness

Paralasis Vs. Healthy Body

Adventure Vs. Routine

Male Vs. Female

(to name a few...)

Todorov: Narrative Structure

State of Equalibrium - Jeff at home recovering from a broken leg. This can also be refered to as the First Disruption, as we discover Jeff used to be a well travelled photographer
Girlfriend and nurse visit him on a daily basis, but during his time alone in his boredom he resorts to spying on his neighbours, leading to the Major Disruption - the suspected murder of one of his neighbours, committed by her husband
Attempts at resolution - Jeff attempts to prove that a murder has occured. He enlists the help of his nurse and his girlfriend, who both initially do not believe his allegations, but in time begin to realise Jeff is right. He informs a friend in the police force of the possible murder, and also persuades his girlfriend to go to the killer's flat and search through his belongings. However, the evidence he gathers is still not sufficient to prove a murder has takken place.
Final confrontation / Resolution - The murder is uncovered and Lars (the killer) discovers Jeff has been watching him. Lars enters Jeff's flat, and approaches him with murder in his eyes. Jeff however, uses the flash on his camera to stall the killer until the police arrive. Jeff is pushed onto the street from his appartment window, but Lars is arrested straight after. We then see a New Equalibrium reached, as Jeff and his girlfriend prepare for a life together.

Propp - character types

Barthes - Action codes (what happens next? events lead onto other events - answers)

Barthes - Enigma codes (why did this happen? - questions)

Liam: Thriller 07