Vladimir Propp developed a character theory for studying media texts and productions, which indicates that there were 7 broad character types in the 100 tales he analysed, which could be applied to other media:
- The villain (struggles against the hero)
- The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
- The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest)
- The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative)
- Her father
- The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off)
- The hero or victim/seeker hero, reacts to the donor, weds the princess
Propps theory is used in the film Die Hard
Hero - John McClane
The Doner - Al Powell
Villian - Hans Gruber
Helper - Al Powell
False Hero - Harry Ellis
Princess - Holly Gennaro McClane
Her Father - John McClane
Die Hard is a film about a detective (John McClane) who intends to spend christmas with his family but a group of terrorist have taken over the work place of his daughter (Holly Gennaro McClane) who have taken everyone inside hostage. The donor (Al Powell) which at time seems like the only friend John McClane has helps McClane with his police radio all the way through the film. The false hero Harry Ellis makes a big mistake by pretending to be McClane's oldest school friend, however gets himself killed trying to safe his own life.
We wont be sticking to the Propp's theory within our thriller opening due to the thriller only having one or two characters (undecided as a group which is better!) Although we will not be sticking to it in some ways such as having several different characters, our main character will be portraying many different persona's which in a sense does create the propp's theory.
Jae
No comments:
Post a Comment