Unit 1: Narrative Theories

Narrative Theories

Attack The Block begins in a crime ridden Neighbourhood when a gang, including the main character Moses,  attacks a woman. They form an unlikely alliance when there is an invasion of a strange alien creature which are out to kill them. However, they crash into Hi-Hat's car and he vows to kill them. Hi-Hat's two friends are killed by the alien but he continues on his search for Moses. As he reaches the gang, he aims his gun but as alien crashes through the window and kills him. They eventually form a plan after realising Moses has a liquid on him that is attacking the aliens. Sam turns on a stove whilst Moses carries the dead alien female into the room to lure the other alien in and kill it.

Todorov's theory suggests all narratives follow can be broken into five stages beginning with Equilibrium where everything is balanced. From here, there is disruption which is the point where something dramatic happens that changes the story. After this, there is a recognition of disruption and then an attempt to repair is. The final stage is the restoration of a new equilibrium when normality is restored with a few subtle changes due to the drastic causes of action.
This film follows the Todorov's Theory as it begins with an equilibrium as the gang attack a woman and go about their everyday life. However, disruption quickly arises as an alien emerges from the sky and crashes a car, allowing the woman to escape. Moses quickly kills the alien and peace is restored briefly until there is a recognition of the disruption, an invasion of a lot more aliens. The gang work together to come up with a plan to kill the aliens and attempt to repair this disruption. As the plan is forced into action, the aliens are killed and there is a restoration of a new equilibrium.
Although Attack The Block follows Todorov's Theory, there is a also subplot. However, this subplot also follows this theory. There is equilibrium until the gang crash into Hi-Hat's car when disruption arises and this is recognised by the gang when he vows to kill them. The gang attempt to repair the disruption by talking to him and trying to explain the situation but he refuses to listen. When all hope seems lost, an alien crashes through the window and kills him, restoring a new equilibrium.

Similarly, Propp's approach to narrative suggests all stories are shaped and directed by certain type of characters and specific types of actions. He believed that all narratives have characters which may assume any of the seven roles: Villain, Donor, Helper, Princess, Dispatcher, Hero and False Hero.
Attack The Block follows Propp's approach as there is a clear hero, Moses, who departs on a search and reacts to the Donor, Brewis, who prepares the hero with a more evidence, the liquid discovered on his jacket. The Villain is the aliens, and arguably Hi-Hat's in the subplot, whilst the Princess is Sam who is presented as weak and needs help from the Hero. On the other hand, it could be argued that Sam is also a helper as she helps Moses kill the alien by running into the apartment and turning on the stove and she also uses her experience as a nurse to help the gang when they are injured. As well as this, the helper is the rest of the gang who assist, rescue and help transfigure the hero and the false heroes are Probs and Mayhem who go to the crash site to prove how tough they are but only end up setting fire to one of the aliens. Despite not including all seven of the roles Propp's beliefs are necessary, there is no dispatcher, Attack The Block uses all the other characters so still uses his approach.

As well as this, Claude Levi Strauss's approach to narrative suggests that all narratives are organised around the conflict between such binary opposites. Attack The Block follows this approach as the conflict is focused around a conflict between domestic humans and aliens, which are binary opposites, and black versus white when there is conflict between the police and the gang.