Todorov's Equilibrium Theory
Tzvetan Todorov was born on March the first in 1939. He is/was a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher. In 1969 he produced his theory which he believed to be able to be applied to any film. Believed that films all followed the same narrative pattern. They all go through the stages.
Equilibrium = Balance
Status Quo = Initial power set up by group, person or authority
Disruption = Disequilibrium - new equilibrium
Final Equilibrium = Often status quo is restarted (sometimes this expectation is broken) happily ever after but thriller and horrors sometimes often break this.
Todorov simplified the idea of narrative theory while also allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts with his theory of Equilibrium and Disequilibrium.
Simply the theory is when the fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be in a state of equal balance between powers of any kind, where equality of importance or effect exists among the various parts of any complex unity).
1. A state of equilibrium is all how it should be, the equal balance.
2. A disruption of the balance a disruption.
3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.
4. Attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.
5. A return or restoration of a new equilibrium is at the end of the narrative.
Applying Todorov's Equilibrium Theory To Little Red Riding Hod -
-Initial equilibrium/status quo, parents are in control, they set her 'path'
-Red is off the path to pick flowers this is a disruption to the equilibrium
-New equilibrium - Red begins to disobey parents and explore freedom
-Wolf arrives and lusts after her basket of goodies - disruption
-New equilibrium, the wolf has tempted her and taken her from her parents 'path' her parents setting the 'path' shows us that they have set a future for her, care about her safety and could maybe be over protected
-Wolf then goes to grannies, eats her up and 'becomes' the granny, this cause disruption yet again
-Red has doubts and the wolf reassures her creates a new equilibrium
-Wolf attempts to eat Red causing disruption
-Red flees, new equilibrium, in danger
-Meets the Woodcutter who owns a big 'axe', kills and slices the wolf up, disturbs equilibrium
-Granny then pops out, surprise! Causing disruption
-Final equilibrium, the original status quo is restarted, Red realises the error of her ways and sticks to the 'path' in the future.
Tzvetan Todorov was born on March the first in 1939. He is/was a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher. In 1969 he produced his theory which he believed to be able to be applied to any film. Believed that films all followed the same narrative pattern. They all go through the stages.
Equilibrium = Balance
Status Quo = Initial power set up by group, person or authority
Disruption = Disequilibrium - new equilibrium
Final Equilibrium = Often status quo is restarted (sometimes this expectation is broken) happily ever after but thriller and horrors sometimes often break this.
Todorov simplified the idea of narrative theory while also allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts with his theory of Equilibrium and Disequilibrium.
Simply the theory is when the fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be in a state of equal balance between powers of any kind, where equality of importance or effect exists among the various parts of any complex unity).
1. A state of equilibrium is all how it should be, the equal balance.
2. A disruption of the balance a disruption.
3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.
4. Attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.
5. A return or restoration of a new equilibrium is at the end of the narrative.
Applying Todorov's Equilibrium Theory To Little Red Riding Hod -
-Initial equilibrium/status quo, parents are in control, they set her 'path'
-Red is off the path to pick flowers this is a disruption to the equilibrium
-New equilibrium - Red begins to disobey parents and explore freedom
-Wolf arrives and lusts after her basket of goodies - disruption
-New equilibrium, the wolf has tempted her and taken her from her parents 'path' her parents setting the 'path' shows us that they have set a future for her, care about her safety and could maybe be over protected
-Wolf then goes to grannies, eats her up and 'becomes' the granny, this cause disruption yet again
-Red has doubts and the wolf reassures her creates a new equilibrium
-Wolf attempts to eat Red causing disruption
-Red flees, new equilibrium, in danger
-Meets the Woodcutter who owns a big 'axe', kills and slices the wolf up, disturbs equilibrium
-Granny then pops out, surprise! Causing disruption
-Final equilibrium, the original status quo is restarted, Red realises the error of her ways and sticks to the 'path' in the future.