Narrative theory and The Shining

Vladimir Propp - this theory is based on character types. The theory fits well to an extent, although more thinking than in classic Hollywood narrative is required because of the switching of roles, which is where the problem lies. For example, Jack may be a 'Hero' at the beginning of the film, but ends up being the 'Villain'. Wendy and Danny might both fulfil the 'Princess' role at different times as well as the 'Helper' role etc.


This theory isn't hugely useful in analysing The Shining as it doesn't tell us much about the story and narrative. It does, however, lead us to analysing 'minor' characters more closely for their narrative functions - Halloran for example might seem unimportant. When looking at his function, however, he plays both the 'Donor' and the 'Helper' roles, even providing Wendy and Danny their means of escape.


Todorov - this theory is based on narrative structure derived from story telling in old cultural myths and stories. It tries to apply the unifying underlying structure to films. It can be used loosely as a description of the narrative of The Shining. The sequence of events that underpin Todorov's theory can only really be applied to this film if you take them out of order. The problem lies in The Shining's strange plot - for example there isn't one event that changes or disrupts the equilibrium. The character types are also used in this theory, making it difficult to analyse this film because of the switching round and haziness of character roles.


This theory isn't very useful because it only really tells us that the story has a 'beginning', 'middle' and an 'end' - and goes into detail about each of the intermediary stages which often don't apply to films now.


Levi Strauss - this theory looks at binary opposition - for example Good/Evil and Known/Unknown. This theory is useful in analysing any film because of the themes you can exmplore using it. In The Shining the main oppositions could be:


Love/Hate
Known/Unknown
Sanity/Insanity
Socialism/Isolation


Looking at these themes in The Shining can help us understand why things happen - for example isolation leads to insanity.


Bordwell and Thompson - narrative is "a chain of events in a cause-effect relationship, occuring in time and space" according to these theorists. This can help analysing The Shining by thinking of what event causes the narrative to take shape, what happens because of this event and what brings and end to it. For example, Jack getting the job at the hotel causes the events thereafter to unfold e.g. Jack losing his sanity, Halloran coming to the house and dying and Wendy and Danny escaping using his snowcat while Jack dies.


Using this theory we can see certain characters' importance in the narrative and see links between events in the narrative.