Narrative Theory in relation to Halloween (Carpenter, 1978)

Tzvetan Todorov

"Classic Hollywood Narrative" was based on Tzvetan Todorov's ideas on narrative structure. This is where an equilibrium is set up and any potential opposing forces are in balance. This then is disrupted by a chain of events then resolved into a new equilibrium by the end of the story. The classic Hollywood narrative can be useful for media texts as it links to the audiences expectations for the story and how we all want a happy "fairy tale ending". We as the audience want to be thrilled and this narrative theory helps producers and film makers to justify how it should be made in regards to configuring a resolution. However, in terms of the movie Halloween, we see that this theory doesn't always get put into play by order of an initial equilibrium then a chain of events disrupting it. Instead, in the first scene, we see the young Michael spying on his older sister only for him then to murder her. We see as the audience that there is no balance. As Todorov's theory suggests, 'problems are solved so that order can be restored to the world of the fiction', this does happen but not exactly to his theory.

Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp examined folk tales and identified eight character roles and thirty-one narrative functions. His aim was to establish whether they shared any structures. His eight character roles are:

1. The villain(s)- the 'baddie'

2. The hero- our main protagonist and victor

3. The donor- who provides an object with some magic property

4. The helper- who aids the hero

5. The princess (the sought for person)- 'reward' for the hero and object of villains schemes

6. Her father- who rewards the hero

7. The dispatcher- who sends the hero on his way

8. The false hero- the double agent who hinders the hero rather than helping him

Looking at these character types we can discover how useful it is for understanding media texts. The audience has expectations and when it comes to the characters, we can determine who might be the hero and who might be the the villain by watching their personalities and chain of actions occurring over time. It also can come under many factors such as their clothing however, it also helps us as the audience to understand the narrative of the film. In Halloween, we see through the viewpoint of young Michael's eyes at the beginning scene as he kills his sister which immediately creates a tense atmosphere and we would label him 'the baddie'. Later on in the film, we see Laurie, saving herself and younger children therefore we would label her the hero.

Claude Levi-Strauss

Binary oppositions was a theory that Claude-Levi Strauss looked at in relation to narrative structure. It allowed media texts to reveal the structure to them from set of opposite values. In relation to Vladimir Propp's theory too, we can acknowledge what happened socially and politically in the past and how that has influenced media texts today. This could be in the form of monsters, aliens, villains (such as Hitler and the atom bomb destroying humans health from the thermal radiation) to diseases, nuclear weapons and medicines effecting living forms and developing them into something different. For example, the drug thalidomide effected babies in that they would be born with missing limbs. In comparison to the film Halloween, we see many binary oppositions such as good/evil and past/present linking to the events occurring and understanding who/what is good or bad. Michael would be seen as the bad opposition whilst the innocent sexually active teenagers distracted by their own lives would be seen as the good opposition-doing no harm but having fun.

Bordwell and Thompson

Bordwell and Thompson defined narrative as "a chain of events in a cause-effect relationship, occuring in time and space". Where, when and how can all be linked to how narrative defines time and space. By doing so, we as the audience can make sense of the narrative. However, to fullfill this, narrative uses technical techniques to manipluate time and space. This engages the audience by adding flashbacks, slow motion and jumping between places and time sequences. As the audience, we want to be engrossed in the story and by adding these additional effects and by manipulation, we can justify what and why events occur and it also increases our emotional stability. In Halloween, we see how at the beginning an event occurs then many years later a similiar situation happens if not reflecting the past and making a deeper connection with Michaels actions and the teenagers lives and what possesses him to murder sexual teenagers. Horror movies are renound for their jumping effects between space and time, to create more movement and engagement for the audience, as well as creating emotional reactions which is why we may feel scared watching certain events occuring.