Todorov suggested that within a text there should be a state of equilibrium and disequilibrium.
He suggested there are 5 stages with in a text where this takes place
1. Begin with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be and everything is equal)
2. A disruption to the equilibrium. (disequilibrium)
3.Recognition that the disorder has taken place
4 .An attempt to mend the disruption.
5. Equilibrium is restored. (new equilibrium)
Todorov argues that narrative involves a transformation and this can be in a character or a situation in a text and it is caused by disequilibrium.
We need to think about this when creating our trailer as a trailer is like a summary of the whole film and the whole film should, according to Todorov, contain these elements.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Friday, 6 August 2010
Barthe's Enigma Code
He created the idea that a text is like a tangled ball of thread. Each thread represents a viewpoint of the text. You can either pull one and create one meaning or pull a different one and create a different meaning.
With trailers, particularly teaser trailers, the meaning is not supposed to be clear. Barthe mentioned that a text can be open (unraveled in different ways). This, to me, also sounds like a trailer in that the meaning behind it can be interpreted in many different ways.
In order to fit in with the codes and conventions of a teaser trailer we need to keep this in mind.
With trailers, particularly teaser trailers, the meaning is not supposed to be clear. Barthe mentioned that a text can be open (unraveled in different ways). This, to me, also sounds like a trailer in that the meaning behind it can be interpreted in many different ways.
In order to fit in with the codes and conventions of a teaser trailer we need to keep this in mind.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Psychological Thriller Genre
Psychological – Elements that are related to the mind or processes of the mind
Thriller – A genre of fiction that attempts to "thrill" its audience by placing characters at great risk.
Psychological + Thriller – By combining these two terms, the definition changes to a narrative that makes the characters exposed to danger on a mental level rather than a physical one. Characters are no longer reliant on physical strength to overcome their brutish enemies (which is often the case in typical action-thrillers), but rather are reliant on their mental resources.
The suspense created by psychological thrillers often comes from two or more characters preying upon one an other's minds, either by playing deceptive games with the other or by merely trying to demolish the other's mental state.
Stream of consciousness - a literary technique which seeks to describe an individuals point of view by giving the written equivalent of the character's thought processes. In psychological thrillers, the narrative tries to manifest the character's psyche through word usage, descriptions, or visuals.
First-person narrative - a literary technique in which the story is narrated by one or more of the characters, who explicitly refers to him or herself in the first person. This direct involvement that the characters have with the story in turn makes the reader more involved with the characters themselves, and thus able to understand the mechanics of the characters' minds.
Back-story - the history behind the situation at the start of the main story. This deepens the psychological aspect of the story since the reader is able to more fully understand the character; more specifically, what the character's motivations are and how his past has shaped his current cognitive perceptions.
Thriller – A genre of fiction that attempts to "thrill" its audience by placing characters at great risk.
Psychological + Thriller – By combining these two terms, the definition changes to a narrative that makes the characters exposed to danger on a mental level rather than a physical one. Characters are no longer reliant on physical strength to overcome their brutish enemies (which is often the case in typical action-thrillers), but rather are reliant on their mental resources.
The suspense created by psychological thrillers often comes from two or more characters preying upon one an other's minds, either by playing deceptive games with the other or by merely trying to demolish the other's mental state.
Stream of consciousness - a literary technique which seeks to describe an individuals point of view by giving the written equivalent of the character's thought processes. In psychological thrillers, the narrative tries to manifest the character's psyche through word usage, descriptions, or visuals.
First-person narrative - a literary technique in which the story is narrated by one or more of the characters, who explicitly refers to him or herself in the first person. This direct involvement that the characters have with the story in turn makes the reader more involved with the characters themselves, and thus able to understand the mechanics of the characters' minds.
Back-story - the history behind the situation at the start of the main story. This deepens the psychological aspect of the story since the reader is able to more fully understand the character; more specifically, what the character's motivations are and how his past has shaped his current cognitive perceptions.
Cry Silent Tears
*His father was the only person he could rely on to help him.
*At the age of 5 Joe's father took him to work so he would be away from his mother. Joe's father went into work to speak to someone briefly and left Joe in the car. There was an explosion and Joe saw his father running around on fire; Joe watched his father burn to death. After watching this ordeal, Joe was then struck dumb.
*He was left to live with his mother and brother who raped and abused him.
*Joe was locked in a cellar and forced to lick scraps of food from the floor. This happened for most of Joe's childhood, but his mother invited other people to rape her son, such as Joe's step dad.
* At the age of 14 Joe finally managed to get away and lived in a hideaway near a railway line, where he met other run aways who he spent most of his time with.
Damaged
True life story
http://www.cathyglass.co.uk/damaged.html
*A true story about a relationship between an obese 8 year old girl called Jodie with behavioural and mental problems.
*Jodie had been fostered by many different carers but her behaviour was too difficult to handle, when she first arrived and Cathy's house she soiled herself and smeared faeces all over her face and walls.
*When she met new people she would kick them and be physically and verbally abusive towards them.
*Jodie was often found performing sexual acts on herself and her dolls and when questioned about this she explained that she was loving her dollies like her father had loved her.
*Jodie was also known to self harm, and would smear blood all over her body. When Cathy asked her if she could take a photo of Jodie, Jodie took her clothes off as this is what her father had asked her to do.
*Jodie was sexually abused by her mother, father, aunt's and uncle's.
*Jodie was told by her father that if she ever told anyone, the monster under her bed would bite off her arms and legs.
*Jodie set the family dog on fire in an attempt to set her house on fire, and upset her dad.
*As Jodie grew older, she learnt to trust Cathy and started to disclose information about how she had been treated by her family.
The Grim Sleeper
The first known victim was Deborah Jackson. She was 29 when she was found with three bullet wounds to the chest. She was a cocktail waitress, who had left her friend's apartment and was walking to the bus stop when she disappeared.
Just over a year later, another victim, Henrietta Wright was found a few miles away from Jackson's body. Like the other women, she had been sexually assaulted and shot.
On August 14 1986, another body was found. Thomas Steele 36 who had once worked as a pimp, and who was in town from San Diego visiting family was found in the middle of an intersection.
Bernita Sparks, 23, had run out to grab some cigarettes on April 15 1987 and never came home. She was found in the dumpster on Western Avenue the next day.
Alicia "Monique" Alexander18 had been making a run to the store for her dad, she never returned and was found a few days later, she had been sexually abused and shot.
Mary Lowe 26 had gone out on Halloween night in 1987 to the Love Trap Bar. Walking to or from her destination at some point the killer picked her up. She was found the next day in an alleyway on Western Avenue.
One victim seemed to signal that the killer was trying to communicate something to or by his victims: Lachrica Jefferson's body was left in an alley, her faced covered with a napkin. The word "AIDS" was scrawled ominously on the napkin.
Enietra Margette was the only survivor. Lonnie pulled up beside her when she was on the way to the shops and then going onto a party. He eventually persuaded her to get into the car and he drove her to the party where she invited him in. His mood changed and he shot her. She blacked out and when she woke up Lonnie was on top of her raping her whilst talking photographs.
Just over a year later, another victim, Henrietta Wright was found a few miles away from Jackson's body. Like the other women, she had been sexually assaulted and shot.
On August 14 1986, another body was found. Thomas Steele 36 who had once worked as a pimp, and who was in town from San Diego visiting family was found in the middle of an intersection.
Bernita Sparks, 23, had run out to grab some cigarettes on April 15 1987 and never came home. She was found in the dumpster on Western Avenue the next day.
Alicia "Monique" Alexander18 had been making a run to the store for her dad, she never returned and was found a few days later, she had been sexually abused and shot.
Mary Lowe 26 had gone out on Halloween night in 1987 to the Love Trap Bar. Walking to or from her destination at some point the killer picked her up. She was found the next day in an alleyway on Western Avenue.
One victim seemed to signal that the killer was trying to communicate something to or by his victims: Lachrica Jefferson's body was left in an alley, her faced covered with a napkin. The word "AIDS" was scrawled ominously on the napkin.
Enietra Margette was the only survivor. Lonnie pulled up beside her when she was on the way to the shops and then going onto a party. He eventually persuaded her to get into the car and he drove her to the party where she invited him in. His mood changed and he shot her. She blacked out and when she woke up Lonnie was on top of her raping her whilst talking photographs.
Research continued
The Italian Josef Fritzl
*Michele Mongelli has been dubbed the Italian Josef Fritzl
*He locked his daughter up for 25 years and raped her and his son repeatedly.
*The 64 year old groomed his son to sexually abuse his sister.
*Detectives have said that he started raping his daughter when she was 9 years old. She managed to escape once and told the police about her sexual abuse however her father managed to convince the police that she was mentally ill.
*His daughter was forced to live in a darkened room with no electricity and was only allowed out with her father.
*Michele's brother had also sexually abuse his own children aged 6, 8, 12 and 20.
The case was uncovered after police secretly planted listening devices in the household and recorded the 9 year old daughter saying: "Dad, get your hands off me. You are a bastard, stop it."
*Michele Mongelli has been dubbed the Italian Josef Fritzl
*He locked his daughter up for 25 years and raped her and his son repeatedly.
*The 64 year old groomed his son to sexually abuse his sister.
*Detectives have said that he started raping his daughter when she was 9 years old. She managed to escape once and told the police about her sexual abuse however her father managed to convince the police that she was mentally ill.
*His daughter was forced to live in a darkened room with no electricity and was only allowed out with her father.
*Michele's brother had also sexually abuse his own children aged 6, 8, 12 and 20.
The case was uncovered after police secretly planted listening devices in the household and recorded the 9 year old daughter saying: "Dad, get your hands off me. You are a bastard, stop it."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)