In order to evaluate my thriller opening, I need to compare it to different media theories. This will allow me to see how effective the opening is.

Torodov stated that narratives are led by events in a cause and effect format:
1. The narrative starts with an equilibrium (a nice settled picture)
2. An action of character disrupts the equilibrium.
3. A quest to restore the equilibrium

4. The narrative moves on to a confrontation/climax
5. A resolution where films are back to normal

Todorov's theory is a simple structure, and some texts defy this idea as they seek to challenge audiences. Some text's offer open-ended narratives that require the audience to interpret what they understand by the ending. Other resolutions are far from a return to equilibrium, which allows the audience to relaise that the only resolution is tragic e.g. everyone dies at the end.

Propp looked at characters in over 100 fairy tales as he thought that characters helped drive the narrative. The different types of characters:

The Hero-is on a quest

The Villain-works against the hero

The Princess-what/who the quest is for

The Dispatcher-sends the hero on a quest

The Donor-gives the hero something to help them on their quest

The Helper-assists the hero on the quest

The Father-rewards the hero

The False Hero-appears to be helping the hero but is unmasked as a fraud

A genre is a classification of any media text into a category or type.

Genres tend to have identifiable codes and conventions which have developed particular expectations, which may either be fulfilled or denied/subverted by the producer.

All genres have sub genres. This means that they are divided up into more specific categories.

Daniel Chandler is a former media student who made a table showing what similar qualities are found in different genres:

Narrative - similar plots and structures, predictable situations, sequences, episodes, obstacles and resolutions

Characters - similar types of characters (sometimes stereotypes), roles, personal qualities, motivations, goals, behaviour

Themes - topics, subject matter, (social, cultural, moral, sexual), ideologies and values

Setting - geographical and historical

Iconography - echoes the narrative, characters, themes, settings, connotations. INclues decor, costumes, objects, dialogue, music, sounds

Strauss said that rather than the order of events. the narrative and themes are more important

Man vs Woman

Weak vs Strong

Old vs Young

Action code - Showing a meaning through the use of action

Mystery code - A code which the audience has to work out

The semic code - Signs which are created for the audience to show information (generally an item)

The cultural code - Different hings have different meanings to different people

Code of oppositions -