Ifaz Chowdhury

Narrative structure
Todorov in 1969 produced a theory that he believed to be able to be applied to any
film. He believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern. They all went
through stages called the equilibrium, disequilibrium, realising the disequilibrium,
solving and again equilibrium.
There are five stages the narrative can progress through:
1. A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.
2. A disruption of that order by an event.
3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.
4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.
5. A return or restoration of a new equilibrium
Equilibrium
The dogs are busy celebrating the biggest heist in English history. They are seen to
be counting money which in total was 10, 000,000. The Chief is drinking after
executing a big plan. Hal and Joe are sorting out the money while the Chief is readjusting the guns to make sure everything is working perfectly. Robert the
newcomer has gone to get rid of the evidence on the van and at that moment he
realised that the Ballers have arrived.
Disruption of equilibrium
The Ballers have busted into the safe house and had Hal, Joe, Chief and Billy is
being held down at gunpoint. The ballers ask for the 10,000,000 from the Chief,
which they had stolen. The dogs insisted to be silent. Chief had given a sly signal
with his eyes to Hal and Joe to get ready to run back in the room so they wont get
hurt during the gunfight. Chief and Billy drew out their and guns and shot the same
person accidently and as the Ballers are cocking back their guns. The Chief and Billy
find knives and threw it at the two rivals, taking them out. Chief and the rest were
relieved but as they were all about to leave the area another three men charge in
with guns which had held everyone at gun point except Robert. Robert was about to
destroy the van but had heard shouting coming from the front of the safe house.
Robert had come out the corner with an assault rifle taking all three rivals with ease.
New equilibrium
The ballers had been taken cared of and now there is no one else to threaten the
Dogs.

Roland Barthes narrative theory claims that a narrative can be broken down into five
codes or sets of rules.
These are:

Action code

Ifaz Chowdhury

Ifaz Chowdhury
This applies to any action that implies a further narrative action. For example, when
Robert draws out his gun on the enemy and we wonder what the resolution might be.

Cultural code
Any element in a narrative that is dependant on peoples knowledge about how the
world works because of where they have lived.
Enigma code
Refers to any element in a story that is not explained and therefore exists as an
enigma for the audience, raising questions that demand an explanation.

Semantic code
Any element in a text that suggests an additional meaning by connotations. For
example a gun has connotations of violence and death.

Symbolic code
Similar to the semantic code, but acts at a wider level where new meaning arises out
of conflicting ideas.

Ifaz Chowdhury