LO3 Narrative Theory

Narrative: Structure of how its put together
Story: Plot- a sequence of events
Mediation: Something specifically encoded
Ideologies: Values and beliefs

Wade Wilson is subjected to an experiment that leaves him with healing powers and a quest for revenge as the new DeadPool.

Key Theory 1: Tim O' Sullivan et al (1998) All media texts tell us some kind of story. Throuh careful mediation, media texts offer a way of telling sories about ourselves(as a culture) - these are ideologis.
In DeadPool the wider meaning of it is that beauty is important that he needs his face to be back to normal so he can be with the girl he loves

Key Theory 2: Pam Cook (1985) The standard Hollywood narrative structure should have: "Linearity of cause and effect withi an overall trajectory of enigma resolution" A high degree of narrative closure. A fictional world that contains verisimilitude especially governed by spatial and temporal coherence. In DeadPool the enigma is that deadpools face is messed up by Ajaxs experiment and he wants his revenge but although it doesnt get resolved at the end he still gets Vanessa as she says she will get used to it and he shoots Ajax in the head

Key Theory 3: Todoroz Equilibrium Theory (1977) Stage 1: The normal situation is the equilibrium. The equilibrium is disrupted and something bad happens which is the disequilibrium. Then theres a new start as everything goes right again which is the new equilibrium. The equilirbium in DeadPool starts off as Wade Wilson a normal pizza delivery guy with a happy life. The disequilibrium is when he gets diagnosed with cancer and tries to fix it with Ajaxs help but instead gets healing powers and a messed up face so he wants revenge. The new equilibrium is at the end when Vanessa takes off his mask and looks at Wades face and still wants to be with him no matter what he looks like and that DeadPool gets his revenge on Ajax like he planned to.

Key Theory 4: Levi Strauss (1958) Binary Oppostions all narratives are understood through complete oppsotites for example Good vs Evil. Love vs Duty. In Deadpool theres Love vs Duty, Evil vs Evil.

Key Theory 5: Vladmir Propp (1928) All naratives feature stock characters and that audiences understood stories because of such feautures.

• Villain/Antoganist   (Ajax and Recruiter)
• Hero/Protagonist      (DeadPool)
• Helper/Supporter      (Weasel/Collosal/Negasonic Teenage Warhead)
• Princess(prize for the hero)    (Vanessa)

Key Theory 6: Roland Barthes (1977) Narrative codes- Enigma codes work to keep up setting problems or puzzles for the aduience. Aciton codes work inform he audience in terms of what is happening in the next shot/scene.

(35 seconds where DeadPool gets two guns out shows hes about to fight)

(1:24 when DeadPool realises Ajax has moved and gone missing shows theres an enigma)