Narritive theory - Disturbia

Levi-Strauss - Binary Opposites

Levi-Strauss said that binary opposites cause conflict during the film but are often solved by one triumphing over the other at the end of the film.

Typical opposites are:

-Good v Evil
-Adult v Youth
-Normality v Abnormality
-Society v Situation (sympathy of)
-Fear v Happiness
-Light v Dark
-Freedom v Entrapment

Some that apply to Disturbia are:

-Murderer v Kale + Mother
-Induvidual v Family + Society
-Good during day v Bad at night

Todorov - Narrative Structure

Todorov said that films will start with a certain equilibrium then to be disrupted but equalling in a final equilibrium different but comparable to the original. He also said that there will be thwarted attempts at a new equilibrium before we can settle on a final equilibrium.

In disturbia the normality at the start lies in the very natural family life shown in the film by the fishing trip/talk about life with the dad and the call home to the mum.

This is then disrupted by:
-The death of the dad
-Kale punching his teacher
-House arrest
-and Kale seeing the 'murder'

This disruption is followed by thwarted attempts to catch the Rob Turner such as telling his mum, best friend and girlfriend.

Equilibrium is finally restored by:
-The death of Rob Turner
-Release from house arrest
-and getting the little boys on his street back

Barthes - Action and Enigma codes

Barthes said that in a film significant things will happen leading to other events (action codes) and somethings will happen that will make us question why they happen and make us guess or act as a red herring (enigma codes).

Action codes in Disturbia:

Car crash --D what will happen next?
Punching of teacher --D what will it lead to?
House arrest --D what will it lead to?
Ashley sees boys spying on her --D what will that result in?
Turner sees Kale watching him --D what will he do?

Enigma codes in Disturbia:

Why does turner buy a shovel in the supermarket?
Why do we hear about past victims?
Why is Turner's car dented and scratched?

Propp - Character Types

Propp believed that in all thrillers there will always be certain character types. The following are how i applied these character types to Disturbia:

Protagonist - Kale
Antagonist - Rob Turner
Helper - Ronnie/Ashley
Princess - Mum
Donor - Dad/Mum
Dispatcher - Ashley/Dad
Father Figure - Dad/Mum
False hero - Policeman