#if that giant book is her mom's book of folktales

[pkalunge]

BLOG 1: Stories- Briefing, Narrative Theory

Reading through Narrative theory & interactive narrative, I thought Vladimir Propp’s framework is a good tool to analyse the character types in Disney-Pixar movies, “Luca” and “Turning Red.” Let’s find out If they fit into Traditional Narratives or Experimental narratives.

As I immerse myself in the aspects of Propp's work, in one of his books, “Morphology of the Folktale”, he analysed a set of recurring character types and 31 narrative functions that he believed exist in fairy-folk tales and came to the conclusion that any movie can be analysed by 8 character types. 

Here’s Vladimir Propp's eight character types:

The Hero (Seeker Hero)

The Villain

The Princess (or Prize) 

The Dispatcher (or Sender, who sends the hero on a quest/mission)

The Donor (or Provider, helps provide training, etc): 

The Helper (Magical Helper/ Sidekick): 

The father ( father of the princess)

The False Hero ( Anti-Hero)

Let's chat about the Disney animated movie "Turning Red" and see how Vladimir Propp's character types come into play:

The Hero: Our main star is Mei Lee, a teenager dealing with the ups and downs of adolescence, not to mention her quirky ability to turn into a red panda.

The Villain: This one's a bit different. Instead of a classic bad guy, Mei faces challenges from her overprotective mom and societal expectations. It's more of an inner and societal struggle than a clear-cut antagonist.

The Princess (or Prize): No traditional princess or prize here. The heart of the story lies in Mei's personal journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and the hurdles of growing up.

The Dispatcher: Mei's transformation into a red panda is like the call to adventure. And guess what? The source of this magical ability is tied to her family's history. Grandma PoPo and the family serve as influencers guiding Mei on her quest.

The Donor: Grandma steps up here, providing Mei with cultural context and sharing the magical history behind their family's connection to red pandas.

The Helper: Mei's friends and even her mom, despite their clashes, chip in to help Mei grow and understand herself better.

The Father: Mei's dad, Mr. Lee, has his role in the mix.

The False Hero: While there isn't a clear false hero, Mei's mom adds a layer of conflict and misunderstanding, making Mei's journey more complex.

Now, let's talk about "Turning Red" in simpler terms. It's like a blend of growing up and fantasy. The genre? It is coming-of-age with a dash of fantasy, making it an easy, engaging watch.

"Turning Red" leans more toward the classic way of storytelling, following a clear path from start to finish. Let's break it down:

Beginning: We meet Mei, a regular teen with regular teen issues. Then, bam! She discovers she turns into a giant red panda when her emotions kick in. Family tensions come into play.

Middle: Mei faces the usual teenage struggles, but with a twist. Grandma PoPo provides some cultural wisdom, and Mei dives into her family's background and the red panda magic.

End: Mei grows and learns to embrace her uniqueness. Family issues get sorted out, and there's a happy dance of self-acceptance.

Now, let's hop over to "Luca" and see how Propp's character types fit in:

The Hero: Our guy is Luca, who is on a journey of self-discovery during a summer adventure.

The Villain: There is no classic villain here, but there's tension with the townspeople who fear sea monsters.

The Princess (or Prize): No princess, but Luca and his buddy Alberto find a prize in acceptance and friendship with humans.

The Dispatcher: Luca's adventure comes from his own curiosity. No external dispatcher – it's all self-driven.

The Donor: Alberto, Luca's friend, drops knowledge bombs and introduces Luca to the human world.

The Helper: Alberto also doubles as a magical helper, guiding Luca through human-world challenges.

The Father: Massimo, a fisherman and Alberto's father figure lends a helping hand.

The False Hero:  no clear false hero, but there's tension between sea monsters and humans.

"Luca" also leans toward a traditional narrative, just like "Turning Red." It's a coming-of-age tale with solid characters and a straightforward plot. Call it a coming-of-age flick with a strong friendship vibe.

Now, for the linear lowdown of "Luca":

Beginning: Luca, a sea monster, lives underwater, but his curiosity about the human world takes him on a wild ride. He befriends Alberto, another sea monster who's been living on land.

Middle: Luca and Alberto explore the Italian coastline, form a rock-solid friendship, and get mixed up in a local race. Luca's secret as a sea monster threatens to spill out, and they face challenges, including prejudice.

End: Luca's sea monster identity is out in the open, causing drama. The trio tackles the aftermath, and Luca and Alberto's friendship is put to the test. In the end, Luca heads back to the sea, having grown and accepted himself.

As I explore Propp's character types within Disney-Pixar movies, I find that "Turning Red" and "Luca" emerge as traditional narratives, presenting clear coming-of-age tales. Mei's self-discovery in "Turning Red" and Luca's adventure, both reflecting Propp's archetypes, contribute to enriching the cinematic experience (Propp, 1970; Cook, 1985).

References: 

Propp, V. (1970). Morphology of the Folktale. University of Texas Press.

Cook, P. (1985) The Cinema Book. London: British Film Institute

#Youtube #disney pixar #pixar luca #turning red #narratives

[prplepixie]

all of them

Girl, I love you.

Before I answer any questions, I’m going to say @haveyoutriedtequila is perfect and amazing and lovely and just ugh, the best human being in the world.

Alright, here we go!

moon: what is your astrological sign?

- My sign is Libra

gingerbread: your moral alignment

- My moral alignment is True Neutral, which I feel is somewhat accurate

birdseed: family or friends?

- My family, but to be clear, I have friends who are family. Even my family members have said they feel my friends are family members.

sheets: your sexual orientation

- I am still exploring this, I used to identify as bisexual but than decided that pansexual fit me more. But I’m still on this searching adventure.

warm milk: when do you usually fall asleep?

- I definitely don’t have a regular schedule which explains my sleeping problems. But I will say most of the time I go to sleep before midnight because of work/school

pot of honey: your gender identity

- I identify as female.

snow: what is your favorite time of year and why?

- I love Spring time! I love it when 40 degrees feels warm compared to 40 degrees in fall as it gets colder. I love buying flowers and other plants to grow through the sunny weather. I love curling up in the sun and being able to open the windows.

yarn: what are your most enjoyable hobbies?

- Painting, drawing, Lego building, reading, video games, and most recently painting with diamonds

bicycle: what are you talented at?

- I would say nothing but I know for a fact my friends would tell me off for it, especially the one who asked me to answer these. So I will say I have talent in art related things. I have a lot of stuff to learn still and improve at, but there is always room for improvement.

folktale: what stories remind you of your childhood?

- hmm, I would definitely say any Dr. Seuss book. My aunt would read those books to me every night to help me sleep if I stayed over for the night. They are her favorites and now some of mine. And of course Goodnight Moon.

woods: where do you feel at peace?

- Honestly, when I’m alone or with people I feel truly comfortable being next to. But I also feel at peace when I go to the Disney Parks with my family, It’s a second home to me.

chicken feet: what is your emotional “flaw”?

- I am rather sensitive about compliments if that makes sense. I find it hard to accept compliments because somewhere in the back of my head, I don’t believe them.

red cheeks: what makes you nervous?

- Everything. I have terrible anxiety and worry about practically everything. But what I’m mainly nervous about is doing any form of presentation. I hate speaking in front of my peers.

sunflower: what do you love and cherish?

- My family and friends. They are the only people I’ve felt a close relationship with and with unconditional love. I will cherish them till the end of the line.

bells: what sounds are your favorite or calm you the most?

- The sound of thunderstorms and rain. Also the sound of the laughter of the people I care about.

turnip: what is a food you could eat everyday?

- I would eat Panera’s Asian Sesame Chicken Salad every single day if I wasn’t broke.

spit: do you get jealous easily?

- I feel I don’t get jealous in the sense everyone things of it. I get jealous when I see the level people are at with their art, but I remind myself that they’ve gotten there with practice. I get jealous sometimes when I see people happily in love, but I remind myself I don’t need love right now as finding myself and focusing on college is so much more important than adding a relationship to balance.

mushroom: list unique things you like about yourself

- I like my weird hypermobility, even if others like my family members find it weird and gross. I like my love and dedication to Disney. There isn’t all that much.

cupboard: a good childhood memory

- I think the best childhood memory I have is the day my younger brother was born, of course I don’t remember everything about it, but It changed everything. I wanted to take care of him the moment I met him in the hospital.

eyebags: what do you think makes a person attractive?

- I think its the confidence and even the personality that attracts me to the person. Body image doesn’t matter. Of course I can’t help seeing certain body types as attractive, but when I say attractive, I don’t necessarily mean in a romantic way, but as a I want to hang out with this person.

fallen log: something you’ve gotten over that you never thought you would

- I know this is such a petty thing, but I’ve gotten over the fact that fairy tale, romantic relationships barely happen. My parents have a fairy tale meeting and have raised me to false hopes.

dagger: your worst fear

- Not getting the opportunities I dream and hope for. Also losing those close to me.

whisper: do you have any secrets?

- Of course I do, but I’m not telling anyone!

wild boar: which person do you feel closest to?

- It’s a tie between my mom and the girl who asked me these questions.

sweet: what candies or cakes are you fond of?

- I’m in love with vanilla and chocolate cake, I’m a simple girl with cakes. When it comes to candies, I love snickers, reeses, and crunch. But I also adore Goofy’s Candy co. Sour cherry balls. I could eat those forever

footprints: do you remember your past lives?

- I wish I did

fur: name an animal you feel connected to

- I feel connected to cats 100%. I feel I am very similar to them.

vodka: do you drink?

- I have before in the company of family, I’m not a huge fan of it. I feel when I turn 21, I will do it for social occasions.

sour cherry: an obscure tradition from your family?

- Family trips to Disney. We pick a different resort every time we go, we make sure we go every 5 years. If there is a trip earlier, we don’t complain.

pine needles: what is your favorite scent?

- I love the smell of pine trees, reminds me of holidays and calming scenery.

heart-shaped: do you believe in love? are you in love?

- I believe in love, I hope for it someday. I have never experienced it before.

home: where do you dream of living?

- I don’t really have a set location. I would be cool to live outside of the united states but I also wouldn’t mind staying in Minnesota. I know I’d like to live with friends.

spice: list your favorite herbs

- Dill, mint, cilantro, and parsley

mud: something you’re insecure about but trying to love

- I am very insecure of my body and how I look. I have always had insecurities of my legs but I’m trying my best to change that opinion.

tobacco: do you have any addictions?

- Nope!

sock: how would you describe your clothing taste?

- A mess. I love my skinny jeans and graphic tees. I also have button ups and plaid. But I also have dresses. leather jackets and giant hoodies. Mainly black clothing too. I also wear a beanie with everything.

cuckoo clock: are you a morning, a noon, or an evening person?

- Can I say a mix? No matter how late I stay up, I can never sleep in. I can be super productive in the morning but also spend the whole day getting things done. If I need to stay up late doing things, I can.

wooden fence: a favorite memory

- This memory is from 2015. I went to Disneyland with the family for the celebration of the 60th. During the firework show, there was a lot of inspiration quotes and speeches that made me very emotional. After dealing with years and years of depression, I was finally in a point where I was seeing things get better. So I started crying in the middle of this show. My parents smiled at me as I think they realized my admiration was growing bigger but I was seeing the light appear in front of me. I also cried at the World of Color show too.

Wow, that took a long time...

Thanks girl, I love you!!