For this contextual lecture, we looked into how Vladimir Propp studied the methods of story telling within folklore and fairy tales. It was interesting to note throught extracts of text from the presentation, how he came to the conclusion that most folk/fairy tales use similar methods of story telling, by sticking to a specific structure. In this case we are focused on how characters are used within the narrative to create the world around them. Characters are one of the most vital roles to tell narrative and also paint the picture of the world you are captivated within. Propp devised a popular method that used the characters of a story in a particular way that helped develop the world around them.
'Propp assigns letters as symbols to the functions that he identifies, and strings these symbols along lines to represent linear narratives in folktales. The resulting analysis gives a detailed picture of how folktales play out according to the fixed structures that he identifies.'
Here is an example of how characters are narrowed down into categories within the story, from this structure you can see how each role of a character can develop the world and narrative:
.The villain
.The donor
.The helper
.The princess, and her father
.The dispatcher
.The hero (seeker-hero, victim-hero)
.The false hero
Although in present day describing environments or worlds within games are far more easier with the use of graphics. However, it is important to note how traditional book based tales, without the use of imagery depended on the roles of characters to visualize the world. This created a solid bond between the narrative and the world of the tale, which is a good way to show coherence with an older method of story telling. It is also interesting to figure out how Propp's strucutre is seen within many comics, video games and movies etc. It was actually difficult to not find this method used. It is very common in most fairy tale type games or movies. Disney is a prime example of these structures.
I decided to use the game 'Mario' to show how Propp's hypothesis works within creating a coherent world between narrative and story. Using this develops emotions and bonds between the characters and the world, that both develop the story very successfully.
The Villain: Bowser
The Donor: Boxes
The Helper: Yoshi/Toad
The Princess and her Father: Princess Peach, Toadsworth
The Dispatcher: Toad
The Hero: Mario/Luigi
The False Hero: Wario/Waluigi
Within Mario you can see how each character fits the role of Propp's method of story telling. Looking into how Mario is used with this structure, really shows how the story is primarily developed around them and not the graphics/imagery at all. With this method of character design, the narrative is already planned around those iconic figures. Their individual roles within the story help create the world around you within the game, what you as the player begin to imagine, experience or feel is primarily based around each character's role. It is evident that this method proves successful when creating the link between environment/world and narrative. Character's create that bond between the story and the world you play/experience. They invite the player to connect with their roles and guide them through different parts of the story, which as it develops, presents a bond between the world and the story. Making it believable, exciting and fun.
Within Mario itself, the basic principle is that a hero has to save the princess from evil in order for there to be a happy ending. As basic and boring as that sounds, the use of character's personalities, roles and attributes turns that concept into an exciting story. Even though it lacks realism, Mario has always captivated players with the way the characters are presented. Mario himself is a plumber that uses pipes to travel across a world filled with mushrooms! in fact the entire concept of Mario and what it entails is lunacy! but it is the way those characters are presented and used within the story/game play that brings believability to the tale, a likeness and interest. The way a story can be told and described better, is by the character's roles within it.
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