Shrek 2
The film which I have chosen to analyse is Shrek the main reason why I choose this film is because it represent the best possible example to portray the two narrative theories Todorov and Vladimir. This film goes in an order of beginning, middle and end this is known as a linear pattern. This is the progression to a resolution.
The first theory is todorov and this is his theory of how a film should be sequenced and his theory is split into three which is equilibrium, existing state of harmony. Disequilibrium, what is going wrong is order disrupted and lastly new equilibrium where harmony exists once more.
The equilibrium of Shrek 2 is that he is happy with his life as in the previous Shrek film he liked the princess who he rescued however she was meant to marry lord farquaad but instead choose to marry Shrek the ogre. So Shrek is happy with his life, living with his wife in the swamp happily ever after. This is the existing state of harmony.
The equilibrium is soon disrupted by the disequilibrium. The way this is conveyed in the film is by Fiona parents asking Shrek and Princess Fiona to visit the parents in their castle and this unsettles the mood of the film as Shrek does not want to go and meet Fiona’s as he is happy the way his life is. So they decide to go and there is action codes used when the family is eating around the table as Shrek and the dad are looking at each other and are trying to make them more dominant and powerful. Furthermore enigma codes are used to convey hatred to each other and how they do not like being in each other’s presence. Furthermore there are more problems that will occur upon Shrek and Fiona’s marriage. The reason for this is the fairy godmother wants Princess Fiona to marry her son prince charming therefore the fairy godmother tries to convince Princess Fiona to marry her son and her dad herald also wants prince charming to marry Princess Fiona. Love between prince charming and Princess Fiona by enigma codes. Shrek feels that princess Fiona does not love him so he gets the potion which would turn him into a human and he is willing to do this to portray his love for Princess Fiona again enigma codes are used as people don’t why Shrek changed himself. But Shrek changing himself works to the advantage of prince charming as princess Fiona thinks Shrek is prince charming because the potion changes Shrek to a human. When the real Shrek goes to see Princess Fiona he is arrested. The climax is where Shrek has to stop prince charming kissing Princess Fiona otherwise princess Fiona will love prince charming,
The new equilibrium is followed when Shrek and Princess Fiona kiss they turn back into an ogre and after the fairy godmother tries to turn Shrek into a frog but reflects of heralds shield and makes the fairy godmother disappear the evil forces are defeated and harmony exists once more with Shrek and Fiona living happily ever after.
Shrek also pursue Vladimir’s theory to a certain level. His theory was found by looking at the roles of characters in Russian fairytales. These roles consisted of
· The villain-creates complication
· The donor-gives hero something
· The helper-helps hero restores resolution
· The princess- saved by the hero
· The dispatcher-sends hero on task
· The hero-saviour
· The false hero-appears to be good but is bad all along
· The villain-fairy Godmother
· The donor-donkey
· The helper-donkey
· The princess-princess Fiona
· The dispatcher
· The hero-Shrek
· The false hero-Prince charming
Two characters play more than one role, for example Donkey. He plays the Helper as he assists the Hero Shrek and also plays the donor as he reminds Shrek he loves Princess Fiona; Shrek has to save the Princess Fiona from liking prince charming; prince charming the evil villain as he tries to make Princess Fiona like him.
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