Task 4 Compare and contrast narrative structures

Compare and contrast EastEnders and Dr Who


The following TV programme consists of many narrative key terms such as:

Linear/Non Linear  Restricted/ Unrestricted  Subjective/ objective
Dr. Who is a 'non linear' programme because it consists of the story line referring back to previous events in the story i.e flash back. By having this technique in the story line, it shows more detail in the story. With the audience knowing these features in the 'unrestricted' plot, it allows them to know the story in greater detail.

The narrative also includes subjective and objective viewpoints; Oswin (the confused Dalek) believes herself to be human and it is this subjective point of view that is shown to the viewer. It also has restricted and unrestricted narratives.

Whereas the narrative structure of EastEnders is linear; the story is sequential and there are never any flashbacks. However, there is subjective viewpoints and unrestricted narratives.

Realist/Anti Realist
Dr. Who has an 'anti realist' narrative, common to all Scifi genre productions. The science fiction genre is generally based on fantasy and non realist situations. The locations for Dr. Who are set in space, on board a spaceship/ Tardis, includes aliens, robots and uses science fiction language. Where as EastEnders is all based on reality and is set in a real life environment, so it falls under being a realist type of TV programme.

Todorov narrative theory:
The equilibrium was when the doctor was saving a damsel in distress and the suddenly encounters a problem resulting in himself being in danger. Where as Eastenders has multi stranded story-lines happening simultaneously, so the equilibrium, disequilibrium, recognition, reparation and new equilibrium in story-lines are different for each sub-plot.

Props narrative theory
In Dr. Who, the doctor is the hero, the 'Daleks' are the villains and Amy and her boyfriend are the helpers in the story. The 'damsel in distress' was the confused Dalek Oswin. In EastEnders the use of the Props theory is not always clear because anybody could be a hero, villain, helper or a damsel in distress.