Todorov's 3 Act Structure

The three-act structure is a model used in writing and evaluating modern storytelling which divides a screenplay into three parts called the Setup, the Confrontation and the Resolution.

Izetan Todorov was a Bulgarian structuralist linguist publishing influential work on narrative from the 1960s onwards) Todorov suggested that stories begin with an equilibrium or status quo where any potentially opposing forces are in balance. This is disrupted by some event, setting in chain a series of events. Problems are solved so that order can be restored to the world of the fiction.

Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages: A state of equilibrium at the outset. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action. A recognition that there has been a disruption. An attempt to repair the disruption. A reinstatement of the equilibrium. This type of narrative structure is very familiar to us and can be applied to many ‘mainstream’ film narratives.

Tzvetan Todorov thought of the 'Three Act Structure' this is

Equlibibrium

Disruption

New Equalibrium

His theory can be applied to most films for example in the film Taken

Equlibibrium- When Bryan has quite his job to stay in his daughter, Kim's life but Kim lives with her mum and her very rich step-dad. Bryan doesn't see his daughter much and he is a very protective father.

Disruption- Kim goes on holiday with her friend, alone and Bryan doesn't want her to and she gets kidnapped whilst on holiday by trafficers. Bryan goes to try and find his daughter. Mean while Kim's friend dies because the trafficers drug her till her death.

New Equalibrium- Bryan rescues his daughter and he starts to build a better relationship with his daughter.




By researching Todorov's three act structure it will help me to decide whether I would like to use his theory in my music video. It also will help my apply this to my music video if I chose to use it. In my music video I am thinking of creating a performance/story therefore I will make sure I use the three part structure to create my story. I want my video to end happily therefore this will definitely enable me to use Todorov's three part structure.