EVALUATION - Narrative Analysis of Inception Teaser Trailer

During class we analysed the teaser trailer to Inception in terms of the narrative theories. We used Propp's spheres of action theory, Todorov's five narrative stages theory, Barthes enigma code and Strauss' binary opposites theory.


Propp:

• The girl getting dragged/ pulled away from the helicopter may be the 'princess' character, who needs saving from the disequilibrium in the narrative.
• The 'villain' could be the man who is in a fight down the twisting corridor and who is later seen in all black with a medium close-up shot.
• The 'false-hero' may be the man coughing up water, who is distracting the hero from his quest to conquer the difference between his mind and reality.
• Leonardo DiCaprio as the 'hero' as he is the main character and often portrays this hero character in other films he has been in.

Todorov:

• There was no start or end in the storyline of the trailer
• No established equilibrium at the beginning
• The progression of action events getting worse throughout the trailer as the editing speeds up
• The trailer starts with a view of the city and ends with one which is much denser and compact to show the view of this city has changed by the end of the film.
• A dawdle spins at the starts, then falls out of balance showing a disequilibrium

Barthes:

• There is a sense of mystery and a play with the mind
• Mysteries left unresolved- the girl getting dragged away, the audience won't know what will happen next.
• The time scenes are important

Strauss:

• The trailer shows the character in two states of mind- calm and then playing in action
• The mind vs reality- (this is very postmodern)

Nikki Stock