the actantial model

It comes from Vladimir Propp "Morphology of the Folk Tale" (1929).

· Main focus: focused not on character but in function. What matters it's not who you are in the play but what you do in it, it's about functions.

· Main actantial functions:

Subject - the person that it's performing the action.

Object - idea, thing, person... that the object is pursuing.

Helper - idea, thing, person... that contributes to the subject getting the object).

Opponent - idea, thing, person... who try to stop the subject from getting the object.

-Example: 'Lost' TV series.

Subject: John Locke.

Object: make those who left the island return in order to save those who were left behind there.

Helper: Jacob (he helps John to get out from the island).

Opponent: Ben (he doesn't want him to succeed).

{The other way round}

Subject: Ben.

Object: return to the island and become the leader again.

Helper: Jack (he helps him to convince the rest to go back).

Opponent: John Locke (he interferes in his plans though John is not aware of that).

2 comments:

  1. Careful with spelling mistakes in some basic words (ACTANTIAL, etc.).

    ReplyDelete
  2. I see you've corrected it; well done. "Lost" is such a complex text that it has become useful as an example for many subjects.

    Good.

    ReplyDelete