Individual Analysis of Narrative Theories

Hollyoaks episode from 17th October  shown on my programme analysis post.

Tzvetan Todorov

Equilibrium 

The opening sequence begins with two people getting out of a car, followed by a women in a house preparing a meal and a bedroom scene with the man getting ready for work. These actions all represent a real life situation.

Disruption

Martha has gone away for a month and Ash and Lacey don't want to have anything to do with her. However, Ash, Lacey and Callum believe the family has fallen apart because of Martha however, it is really Ally.

Recognition of Disruption

Martha becomes angry and unwanted and doesn't turn up for a coffee as Ally has deleted her text. This then causes her children to get even more angry with her.

Attempt to Repair

Myra offers Martha a place to stay.

New/return Equilibrium

Martha accepts Myra's offer and is determined to get her kids back. The kids then live their normal life as Ash and Ally go out.

Vladmir Propp

1. Hero-Myra McQueen
2. Villain-Ally Gorman
3. Princess-Martha
4. Donor-Ste Hay
5. Helper-Ste Hay
6. Princess's father-Ash
7. Dispatcher-Ste Hay
8. False Hero-Ally Gorman

Roland Barthes

Action

Ally looks at Martha with a threatening look on his face as well as dialogue. Martha then comes back to him with disapproving dialogue and with an angry face suggesting that there is a threatening relationship between the two of them and that this will lead to a negative event.

Enigma

• Why is Martha looking at a photograph as presenting sadness? 
• Has something happened between the people in the photograph? 
• Why do Martha's kids hate her? 
• Why does Ally want to ruin Martha's family?

Semic

Martha is cooking in her kitchen and then her kids walk in suggesting that it is a family environment, which produces family arguments.

Symbolic

This is similar to semic as the stereotypes of a family life are shown through behavior, dialogue and power.

Cultural

Family environment, relationships etc which represent real life situations which is what a soap opera is portrayed to do. This then allows for the audience to easily Hollyoaks as a soap.