Narrative theory for Halloween (Carpenter, 1978)

Narrative theory for Halloween

How do the narrative theories of Levi Strauss, Todorov, Propp and Bordwell and Thompson relate to the 1978 horror classic; Halloween?

Levi Strauss - Binary Opposition: The binary opposition elements of this film are presented in multiple ways, a straight forward example of this theory is that the more hard working, non-sexualised, androgynous character (Laurie) is more aware of her surroundings and the final outcome of this is that she is the one who survives whereas her peers (Linda, Bob etc.) are the binary opposite who are in fact sexualised and 'always leave their books' meaning they are not hard working and they are unaware of the on-goings and the outcome of this is their inevitable deaths. A slightly more subtle example of Strauss' theory is that Michael Myers as a little boy at the start of the film is 'pure evil' and his binary opposite could be seen as the very innocent and childish 'Tommy Doyle'.


Todorov - Classic Hollywood Narrative: Todorov proposed a basic structure for all narratives. He stated that films and programmes begin with an equilibrium, a calm period. Then agents of disruption cause disequilibrium, a period of unsettlement and disquiet. This is then followed by a renewed state of peace and harmony for the protagonists and a new equilibrium brings the chaos to an end. The simplest form of narrative. However "Halloween" does not follow the Classic Hollywood as at the very start of the film there is not an equilibrium, it in fact starts with the disruption of equilibrium and the entire film is then based around a conflict and then ends with an ongoing disequilibrium as Mike Myers is not vanquished. This creates its own narrative structure for horror and slasher films.


Propp - Character types: Vladimir Propp (A Russian critic who examined 100's of examples of folk tales to see if they shared any structures. His book on this ‘Morphology of the Folk Tale’ was first published in 1928) Propp identified 8 character roles and 31 narrative functions.

The 8 character roles are

1. The villain(s) (Mike Myers)
2. The hero (Laurie)
3. The donor – who provides an object with some magic property. (absent in "Halloween")
4. The helper who aids the hero. (Sam Loomis)
5. The princess (the sought for person) – reward for the hero and object of the villain’s schemes. (absent in "Halloween")
6. Her father – who rewards the hero. (absent in "Halloween")
7. The dispatcher – who sends the hero on his way. (Laurie encounters the conflict herself)
8. The false hero (The Sheriff)

"Halloween" follows this theory as stated above, filling some roles but only those suited to the structure of horror films.


Bordwell & Thompson - Space and Time: This is the basic idea that the audience does not need to have seen all the events of the plot or narrative to understand the current ongoings of the film, for example in "Halloween" Dr. Sam Loomis says he spent 15 years as Mike Myers' doctor in a mental institution, which you as an audience member see none of, but none the less the events still occurred in the film's narrative.