Halloween (Carpenter, 1978)
Todorov suggested that most horror films follow the same rough narrative structure - starting with an equilibrium, occurring to cause a disequilibrium, then a chain of events which leads to a new equilibrium. Halloween does not follow this structure as the film starts with a murder; not normality. For the character of Laurie however, this structure could possibly apply to her. She starts off with an equilibrium as a student and baby-sitter, there is then a disequilibrium in the form of Mike Myers successfully killing her friends and attempting to kill her. This disequilibrium is never resolved within the length of the film meaning there could not be a new equilibrium.
Vladimir Propp
The fact that Mike Myers killed Laurie's friends and tried to kill Laurie shows that he is definitely the villain. This is clear to see even without binary opposition (levi-strauss) - a hero/heroin present. This does help identify him further has the villain however making him seem even more evil next to a decent character. Propp came up with the theory that there are 8 character types in a film of any sort that create a form of narrative because of the roles they play. When you try to apply this to Halloween, some characters overlap because there isn't a clearly defined baddie vs. goody at all time.
Claude levi-strauss
Levi-strauss' theory of binary opposition works especially well with horror films and super-hero films. His theory consists of putting the negative force, or antagonist, next to the positive force (protagonist). This means it allows the 'bad' person to seem even more 'bad', and the 'good' person to seem even more 'good'. Within the film Halloween, the best example of binary opposition is between Laurie and Micheal. This is because Laurie is a pure, innocent and sensible. On the other hand, Micheal is referred to as "pure evil" and so seem to be completely opposites but the binary opposition helps reinforce this.
Bordwell and Thompson
Bordwell and Thompson had a theory that by using different camera shots, a story (narrative) could be told without a single actual piece of dialog. This would be done by the audience making links and figuring out what is going on themselves.
1. Does The crazies follow the CHN (classic Hollywood narrative)?
No, The crazies does not follow the classic Hollywood narrative. This is because the first scene of the film is a shot with the entire town on fire and in a state of dis-repair. The next scene is 'Two days earlier' where the town is in it's regular state. This therefore does not follow the CHN structure as it does not start with equilibrium. The film also does not end with a new equilibrium which is essential to conform with this narrative theory.
2. How many of Propp's character types can be identified in the film?
The sheriff, David, fits into the character type of the hero within the film. This is because of his repeated efforts to save his wife Judy. This is the first of Propp's character types to be found in the film. The next is David's wife, Judy. She could be put into the character of the princess; the character that the quest is to save. Although she proves to be a strong, independent woman, she is reliant on David to free her from the bed and kill the 'crazies' that would have inevitably killed her otherwise with a pitchfork.
The deputy, Russel, fits well into the 'false hero' category, even if he can't help this. Although, he helps David and his wife several time during his time alive, towards the end, he himself begins to turn into a 'crazy' hindering their progress in seeking help and safety. An example of this is how he points his gun at David and Judy and threatens to shoot and also how he kills the government agent when David clearly said he wanted to talk to him.
3. List five examples of binary opposition in the film and explain them briefly.
There is binary opposition between the first scene and the second scene. This is because in the first scene, the town is blazing in flames and is completely wrecked, but in the second shot, it is calm peaceful and full-functioning. There is also often clear binary opposition between genders. This can be seen by how David is always very independent and self-sufficient whereas Judy is constantly needing reassurance and to be taken care of. The clearest binary opposition within the film would be that of the well compared to the unwell. The difference in behaviour, sound, and appearance could not be much more opposite thus making the very typical humans seem even more 'normal' and the crazies look even more bizarre and frightening. The fourth form of binary opposition of chosen is the part compared to the present. The past was such an average, typical small-town lifestyle but the present is completely spontaneous and extraordinary. Finally the fifth form of binary opposition i have chosen is that of David and Russel's relationship. Without Russel, it would have never had been made clear just how much authority David has as the sheriff.
4. Identify the three 'durations' and give an estimate of the time each duration covers.
Within the 92 minute screen duration, the actual story line plot happens over a 3 day period of time. The story line duration however, could potentially run over a couple of years. A few significant events happened before the beginning of the film where we join the story. Some key events are:
The creation of the weapon (this could well have taken years to develop before we joined the story line).
The plane crashing just a little way up stream from Ogden marsh (dialog with a character suggests this was approximately one week before the first outbreak is seen on the first of the 3 days we see).
The pregnancy of Judy (this could have happened anywhere up to 9 months before we joined the story line but as she is not clearly showing, I assume she was more like 0-2 months pregnant).
5. Give two examples of events that cause later events in the film but which occur before the film starts.
We never actually see/hear/know of the biological hazard until quite late in the film however, the product must have been made before the first events occurring as the plane had already crashed causing the illness to spread. My estimation of time this would have covered would be approximately 2 days before the first effect is seen in the form of the character who is shot on the baseball field.
Another example of an event that happens before the film starts is Judy's pregnancy. Although again we don't find out until a little while in, it plays a vital role in the film as it potentially changes the characters outcome at the end of the film. If Judy was not pregnant, she wouldn't have been quarantined meaning David could never have saved her. As the innocent people being loaded into trucks were all killed even though they were 'clean', if she hadn't have been taken away, both characters would have been killed altering the story line considerably.
6. List two events from the 92 minute film that happen in a different time and space to the one we are shown.
Throughout almost the entirety of the film, Russel and David are together, but there are just two occasions where we are not told of Russel's exact location but explanation, but we figure out by things he says at a different time. This is an example of something that happens in a different time and space to the one the audience sees on screen.
The first time Russel is not on screen is just a short while before David and Judy are being taken from their home by the Army. He appears to be doing something to his car which becomes apparent later on when we find out that he tried to run the first time. This is clearly shown later in the film when he says "bastards spiked my tired" whilst a shot a car at the side of the road is shown. Judy goes to his car looking for water and finds a cool box that you could assume would have once been full. This suggests that he was trying to run from the Army and escape capture.
The second time Russel is not in a scene is when David and Judy have been separated. Judy is strapped down onto a bed in the high school as she looks through a window to see a red truck drive through the chain-link fences, the Army firing at this red truck, and the people within the fenced off area escaping by pushing the fence over. The audience at this point is not made aware of where Russel actually is, however, in a later scene he describes the entire situation to David. We also later find out that Russel is indeed infected with the disease and so we can assume that he saw the situation occur as he was within the fenced off area with all the other infected people as it happened.
The fact that Mike Myers killed Laurie's friends and tried to kill Laurie shows that he is definitely the villain. This is clear to see even without binary opposition (levi-strauss) - a hero/heroin present. This does help identify him further has the villain however making him seem even more evil next to a decent character. Propp came up with the theory that there are 8 character types in a film of any sort that create a form of narrative because of the roles they play. When you try to apply this to Halloween, some characters overlap because there isn't a clearly defined baddie vs. goody at all time. Claude levi-strauss
Levi-strauss' theory of binary opposition works especially well with horror films and super-hero films. His theory consists of putting the negative force, or antagonist, next to the positive force (protagonist). This means it allows the 'bad' person to seem even more 'bad', and the 'good' person to seem even more 'good'. Within the film Halloween, the best example of binary opposition is between Laurie and Micheal. This is because Laurie is a pure, innocent and sensible. On the other hand, Micheal is referred to as "pure evil" and so seem to be completely opposites but the binary opposition helps reinforce this.Bordwell and Thompson
Bordwell and Thompson had a theory that by using different camera shots, a story (narrative) could be told without a single actual piece of dialog. This would be done by the audience making links and figuring out what is going on themselves.
The Crazies (Eisner, 2010)
1. Does The crazies follow the CHN (classic Hollywood narrative)?
No, The crazies does not follow the classic Hollywood narrative. This is because the first scene of the film is a shot with the entire town on fire and in a state of dis-repair. The next scene is 'Two days earlier' where the town is in it's regular state. This therefore does not follow the CHN structure as it does not start with equilibrium. The film also does not end with a new equilibrium which is essential to conform with this narrative theory.
2. How many of Propp's character types can be identified in the film?
The sheriff, David, fits into the character type of the hero within the film. This is because of his repeated efforts to save his wife Judy. This is the first of Propp's character types to be found in the film. The next is David's wife, Judy. She could be put into the character of the princess; the character that the quest is to save. Although she proves to be a strong, independent woman, she is reliant on David to free her from the bed and kill the 'crazies' that would have inevitably killed her otherwise with a pitchfork.
The deputy, Russel, fits well into the 'false hero' category, even if he can't help this. Although, he helps David and his wife several time during his time alive, towards the end, he himself begins to turn into a 'crazy' hindering their progress in seeking help and safety. An example of this is how he points his gun at David and Judy and threatens to shoot and also how he kills the government agent when David clearly said he wanted to talk to him.
3. List five examples of binary opposition in the film and explain them briefly.
There is binary opposition between the first scene and the second scene. This is because in the first scene, the town is blazing in flames and is completely wrecked, but in the second shot, it is calm peaceful and full-functioning. There is also often clear binary opposition between genders. This can be seen by how David is always very independent and self-sufficient whereas Judy is constantly needing reassurance and to be taken care of. The clearest binary opposition within the film would be that of the well compared to the unwell. The difference in behaviour, sound, and appearance could not be much more opposite thus making the very typical humans seem even more 'normal' and the crazies look even more bizarre and frightening. The fourth form of binary opposition of chosen is the part compared to the present. The past was such an average, typical small-town lifestyle but the present is completely spontaneous and extraordinary. Finally the fifth form of binary opposition i have chosen is that of David and Russel's relationship. Without Russel, it would have never had been made clear just how much authority David has as the sheriff.
4. Identify the three 'durations' and give an estimate of the time each duration covers.
Within the 92 minute screen duration, the actual story line plot happens over a 3 day period of time. The story line duration however, could potentially run over a couple of years. A few significant events happened before the beginning of the film where we join the story. Some key events are:
The creation of the weapon (this could well have taken years to develop before we joined the story line).
The plane crashing just a little way up stream from Ogden marsh (dialog with a character suggests this was approximately one week before the first outbreak is seen on the first of the 3 days we see).
The pregnancy of Judy (this could have happened anywhere up to 9 months before we joined the story line but as she is not clearly showing, I assume she was more like 0-2 months pregnant).
5. Give two examples of events that cause later events in the film but which occur before the film starts.
We never actually see/hear/know of the biological hazard until quite late in the film however, the product must have been made before the first events occurring as the plane had already crashed causing the illness to spread. My estimation of time this would have covered would be approximately 2 days before the first effect is seen in the form of the character who is shot on the baseball field.
Another example of an event that happens before the film starts is Judy's pregnancy. Although again we don't find out until a little while in, it plays a vital role in the film as it potentially changes the characters outcome at the end of the film. If Judy was not pregnant, she wouldn't have been quarantined meaning David could never have saved her. As the innocent people being loaded into trucks were all killed even though they were 'clean', if she hadn't have been taken away, both characters would have been killed altering the story line considerably.
6. List two events from the 92 minute film that happen in a different time and space to the one we are shown.
Throughout almost the entirety of the film, Russel and David are together, but there are just two occasions where we are not told of Russel's exact location but explanation, but we figure out by things he says at a different time. This is an example of something that happens in a different time and space to the one the audience sees on screen.
The first time Russel is not on screen is just a short while before David and Judy are being taken from their home by the Army. He appears to be doing something to his car which becomes apparent later on when we find out that he tried to run the first time. This is clearly shown later in the film when he says "bastards spiked my tired" whilst a shot a car at the side of the road is shown. Judy goes to his car looking for water and finds a cool box that you could assume would have once been full. This suggests that he was trying to run from the Army and escape capture.
The second time Russel is not in a scene is when David and Judy have been separated. Judy is strapped down onto a bed in the high school as she looks through a window to see a red truck drive through the chain-link fences, the Army firing at this red truck, and the people within the fenced off area escaping by pushing the fence over. The audience at this point is not made aware of where Russel actually is, however, in a later scene he describes the entire situation to David. We also later find out that Russel is indeed infected with the disease and so we can assume that he saw the situation occur as he was within the fenced off area with all the other infected people as it happened.
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