Theorists

Todorov's narrative theory
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. (http://www.esfmedia.com/page/Narrative+theory)


(http://asanda2mediastudies.blogspot.com/2007/11/todorovs-theory-of-narrative.html)


Barthes' theory
Barthes once said "A galaxy of signifiers, not a structure of signifieds; it has no beginning; it is reversible; we gain access to it by several entrances, none of which can be authoritatively declared to be the main one; the codes it mobilizes extend as far as the eye can read, they are indeterminable...the systems of meaning can take over this absolutely plural text, but their number is never closed, based as it is on the infinity of language..."
This basically means that a media text can be interpreted in many ways and mean different things, there is no right way and the meanings can be infinite. He said that the different things in the text that can be interpreted in different ways are called narrative codes and these could be categorised in any of the following:
•Action enigma code
•Symbols and Signs
•Points of Cultural Reference
•Simple description