Vladimir Propp

Vladimir Propp born 17th of April 1895 was a Russian scholar, critic and literary analyst.

In 1969 after researching over 100 folk tales and analysing them  he used the information to create his own character theory along with other theorist like Ervin Goffman, John Campbell and Gorden Fletcher.

His theory states that there are 7 main character types in folk tale narrative structures and they are the following.

1. The Villain- Otherwise known as the antagonist in the narrative and is contrary to the hero
2. The Hero- Otherwise know as the protagonist and is contrary to the villain.
3. The Donor- Plays a supporting roll in the narrative.
4. The Dispatcher- That sends the hero on his way.
5. The false hero- Pretending to be the hero.
6. The Helper- Helps the hero, in comparison to a supporting role.
7. The Princess- The reward for the hero.
8. Her Father- of the the obstacle preventing the hero from the princess.

These are the 7 broad character types he found and in relation to a music video, I have found 'Love Story' by Taylor Swift in which she is the princess in need of rescuing he is the prince and the hero who will save her and is a mixture of illustration and amplification. The is a dual character in the video as the villain and her father are play by the same character and his aim is to keep the prince away from the princess.

Propp's theory went further to classify narrative functions into four stages or as he calls them 'spheres'.

1. Preparation- The '1st sphere', or the premise of the narrative in seven parts;

• A member of the family leaves home. 
• A prohibition or rule is imposed on the hero. 
• The prohibition or rule is broken. 
• The villain makes and attempt at reconnaissance. 
• The villain learns something about his victim. 
• The villain tried to deceive the victim to get possession of his/her belongings. 
• The victim unknowingly helps the villain by being deceived or influenced by the villain

     2. Complication- The '2nd sphere', otherwise know as the plot leading to the climax. This sphere unlike the first only has four parts;

• The villain harms a member of the family. 
• A member of the family lacks or desires something. 
• This lack or misfortune is made known; the hero is given a request or a command and he goes on a mission or quest. 
• The seeker (often the hero) plans action against the villain

     3. Transference- The supporting characters in the narrative.

• The hero leaves home. 
• The hero is tested, attached, interrogated and, as a result, receives either a magical agent or a helper. 
• The Hero reacts to the actions of the future donor. 
• The hero uses the magical agent. 
• The hero is transferred to the general location of the object of his mission or quest

     4. Struggle- The demise of the story the part of the narrative where we can see the hero in trouble but he returns to save the day, also the fourth and final sphere.

Looking through Propp's theory and seeing the detail put into it I can really appreciate his character typing and I think that in order to make a good overall music video I will have to make sure that the narrative in which my group and I create is is well thought through and structured around some of Propp's theories.