Narrative

key words:

Narrative: some kind of story re-telling. the narrative is not the story itself but the was the story is told.

enigma: what people want to find out.

Barthes

Anything is possible.

lots of meaning for the narrative

texts may be open or closed

Aristotle

Must be a beginning, middle and an end.
Todorov

suggests each narrative passed 5 stages.

equilibrium: state of normality

a character or an action cause effected which disturbs the normality./

has ups and downs.

the main protagonist recognises that the equilibrium has been disrupted.

Propps

Studied Russian fold and fairy tales

came tot he conclusion that all narratives have common structures.

propps 8 character types

1. The hero

2. The villain

3. The Donor

4.The dispatcher

5. The false hero

6.The helper

7.The princess

8. The father of the princess

Levi strauss

An interesting story has opposites

Binary opposites everywhere

e.g. good-evil

old-young

black-white

masculine-feminine

The Prestige- Opening scene 

Barthes Code 

what are that tops hats on the ground doing there? what is their relevance?
- The top hats could represent the magician, to foreshadow death, or even foreshadow the 'magic' which is trying to show the audience.

"are you watching closely?" what does this mean?
- this comment not only describes the audience when a magic trick is taking place; because they are trying to see how the trick is done, but also reminds the audience to pay close attention or they might miss something, it also suggests something is going to happen in the film which needs the audience to watch carefully.

who is the little girl?
- the young girl appears to be a relative or acquaintance of the older man. she is very young, and signifies innocence, and naivety , this could represent how naive the audience are to believe in magic.

who is the magician?

what is the big machine?
- the machine appears to give off electricity however this could be an illusion to fool the audience and build up tension.

what is the relationship between Angier and Borden?
-Angier and Borden work together i know this because  he says 'i'm part of the bloody act you fool'
Borden did not appear to be trying to help Angier get out of the water tank, this could suggest this was planned all along; for him to drown.

what will happen to the little girl?
- the little girl represents the audience, she may get caught up in the act and be fooled just as the audience have.

Action Code

Flattening the cage, could represent the death of the bird however the man then shows another bird, this could be used as representation that magicians do die but there will always be another to trey the trick.

Angier takes off his jacket, he later falls into a tank of water, he may have taken his jacket off so that he has less wight when he falls, however he doe snot seem to be aware of falling into the tank of water, therefore the removal of his jacket may just to be to add the suspense as part of the act to show off to the audience.

when Angier steps into the electrical field it adds to the suspense, the audience are unsure what is happening, this adds to the mystery and illusion of the show. 

water tank locks

Symbolic/ Semiotic Code:

The type of clothing signifies the Victorian Era.

The dress type seems to be suits- suggesting rich and successful people.

The lighting is very dark, adding the the mystery and gloominess f the scene.

Electrical fields shows danger- this also represent show dangerous a magicians job it and how not all of the tricks are safe.

the warmer colors in the young girls and older mans setting signifies comfort and being safe, in a warm environment this assures the incidence that the young girl is not in a dangerous environment.
The young girl represents the Audience, this also assures the audience that the audience in the film are also safe.

The bird represents the magician and the danger he is in.