2. PROPP’S IDEAS
Vladmir Propp identified a theory about characters and actions they have when
carrying out their narrative functions. According to Propp, characters have a narrative
function throughout the story. They provide a structure. Propp argued that the typical
characters found were:
1. The Hero – the character that seeks something.
2. The Villain – who opposes or actively blocks the hero’s quest.
3. The Donor – who provides an object with magical properties.
4. The Dispatcher – who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message.
5. The False Hero- who disrupts the hero’s success by making false claims.
6. The Helper – who aids the hero.
7. The Princess – acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the
villain’s plots.
8. Her Father – who acts to reward the hero for his effort.
The Villain Is Overcome, The State Of Disorder Is Settled Producing The Recognition
Scene – at this stage in the film, the hero is recognised, or the false hero or villain is
unmasked. The false hero could be punished in this scene. The hero attains the reward,
and they live happily ever after.
3. OUR CHARACTERS:
Below shows the only characters that could be applied to Propp’s Theory.
However, the rest of Propp’s applied theory to narrative is not the case for our
music video.
1. The Victim(s) – could be considered as the hero as they are seeking
something, the freedom from their violent partner.
2. The Perpetrator(s) – could be considered as the villain as they are opposing
and actively stopping the hero’s ‘quest’.
I could not apply Propp’s other characters as his theory is based on narratives for
movies and stories. There are different aims for music videos and films, a music
aims to promote a product in a short amount of time. Therefore, there is not time
to include these characters with the same message. The other characters in our
music video are:
3. The Friends – for the female, who help her and for the male, who laugh and do
not help in a time of need.
4. The Artist – who is sending a personal message to the audience from
experience and also to show it is his song.
