Propps Character Theory

Media Studies

1. Media Studies Propps Character Theory

2. Task In groups you have fifteen minutes. Choose a recent film you have watched. Name the characters in that film. What type of character are they and how do you know? You could do this as a brainstorm. You can choose any recent film you have watched. You are going to feedback back to the group.

3. Types of characters These are some of the main characters you could have within a film: Protagonist – hero of the film. Antagonist – Villain of the film. Sidekick – friend of the main character Damsel / love interest – object of desire pursuit. Do these roles match the characters you have identified?

4. Character Theory Vladmir Propp analysed over one hundered texts/media and he identified seven broad character types. He believed that you could adapt these types to fit the characters in all text/media.

5. Character Theroy Propps Theory The villain (struggles against the hero) The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object) The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest) The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative) The false hero (perceived as good character in beginning but emerges as evil) The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off) The hero or victim/seeker hero, reacts to the donor, weds the princess

6. Thor Who would the characters be in the film. Watch the trailer http:// www.youtube.com / watch?v = JOddp-nlNvQ

7. Thor The villain The donor The (magical) helper The princess The false hero The dispatcher The hero or victim/seeker hero Characters are: Thor, Odin, Jane, Destroyer, Loki, Heimdall , Erik Selvig

8. Other Characters Stories alter and change over time consider some of these roles can you name some film examples of these roles. Reluctant Hero Anti-hero Corrupted villain – may have honourable origin or intention. Femme Fatale Henchman Patriarch Matriarch In groups you have ten minutes can you identfify any of these characters.