Media Theory

 Hello all!

Lately, I’ve been exploring different theories to add more color to my portfolio project, and one that really stands out for me was Vladimir Propp’s Character Theory. It’s an interesting way to think about the roles characters play in stories and how they can help shape the narrative. I will be asking myself questions for reflection, sort of a way to help me to help you to help us.

Before anything it's important to know: who is Vladimir Propp? Vladimir Propp was a Russian scholar who studied fairy tales and noticed a sort of pattern. He realized that in almost every story, characters are usually grouped into specific roles that stay the same across different stories. These roles help structure the plot we recognize in stories. 

What is Propp’s Character Theory? I will be illustrating this theory, with an actual film. For this, I'll be using Tangled (2010) as a demonstration. Propp identified a few key character roles that often appear in stories: The Hero: The main character, often on a quest or journey.

The Villain: The antagonist who opposes the hero. For Tangled, it would be Mother Gothal, as she constantly wants to keep Rapunzel for her own benefit.

The Donor: A character who helps the hero, often with advice or magical aid. (Super random but this picture of Eugene will always be funny to me). Rapunzel's love interest, as well as opening her eyes to a whole new world.

The Helper: Someone who assists the hero along the way. Pascal is always there helping, even if he is just a chameleon. With his eyes alone, he gives various messages to Rapunzel and helps whenever.

The Princess: A character the hero seeks, usually representing a goal or desire. Ever since Rapunzel was born, she always wanted to visit the "floating lights", knowing it was meant for her in some way. 

The False Hero: A character who pretends to be the hero but is later revealed as an imposter. 

Why is This Important for My Film? Even though Propp’s theory comes from fairy tales, it can still be really useful in film today. By using these character roles in my project, I can create a story that feels familiar to viewers. These roles help make a clear structure for my characters, making the story easier to follow and more engaging. For instance, in my project, I might start by introducing the Hero (the female gymnast), a character who’s dealing with a personal challenge. Then, I can bring in a Villain who represents the outer viewable conflict. As the story progresses, the Donor or Helper could offer the hero support, whether it’s through advice or a tool to help them overcome the challenges they face. 

How Does It Help Me? Using Propp’s theory gives me a way to think about my characters more clearly and helps me organize the story. While I’ll still make my characters unique, these roles give me a structure and sort of foundation to build from. I can also play with these roles, maybe the False Hero is someone who seems like an ally but is secretly working against the hero. In the end, Propp’s theory is a device that helps me create more meaningful, relatable characters, while also keeping the story interesting for the audience. I’ll keep you posted on how it all turns out! See you soonnn!