Vladimir Propp, plus fairytales and cosplay

In a lecture this week we were told about fairy tales and cosplay and a little about Vladimir Propp. I thought I would post a small amount of research on Vladimir Propp, and some on fairy tales and cosplay.

Vladimir Propp was born 17th April 1895 and died 22nd August 1970. He was a Russian soviet folklorist and scholar. He analysed the basic plot components in a folk tales, he then broke the stories down into morphemes which means he analysed chunks of them. Propp identified 31 narratemes which means narrative units that form the structure of many stories.

A fairy tale is a type of short story. Within these story's there are characters (European folkloric characters, fantasy) such characters can be elves, fairies, goblins, witches, trolls anything of magic and enchantments. So many stories today still feature these types of characters and their natures in books, films, TV and games, Disney is a popular choice for showing these characters and stories within their films.

Cosplay is the term used for people (Fans) who dress up in costumes of their favourite character from such things as books, games, films, comics etc... it is them expressing their love for the character and a form of role-playing. It has been popular since the 1990's. I have been too many events in the past were cosplayers have been present, I am not one for cosplaying but I enjoy the costumes and I do appreciate the efforts that go into them.

Bibliography

Unknown. Fairy tales. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_tale. Last accessed 12th Nov 2015.

Unknown. Propp's Morphology of the Folk Tale. Available: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/propp.htm. Last accessed 12th Nov 2015

Images

 Dyluthus Chris, (2014), Bio shock cosplay [ONLINE]. Available at: http://dyluthus.deviantart.com/favourites/42140540/Cosplay-Photographs [Accessed 12 November 15].

 Josh Jackson, (2014), League of Legends Cosplayers are the Best: Dragon Con Photos [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/09/league-of-legends-cosplayers-are-the-best-photos-f.html [Accessed 12 November 15]

Contextual studies, chosen games and there story plots

We were told to choose games that we know and place them into the right stories plot categories.

Here are my games listings, and what I think is the right story plots for them games.

Kingdom hearts

 Overcoming evil/ monsters

In the game Kingdom hearts you play as "Sora" who is the protagonist, he has to fight many evil forces in his quest to find home and his lost friends. Many of the monsters you fight in this game are called "Heartless". The more you fight through the story it leads to the end boss battles in each the worlds you travel to. The image above is a good reputation of one of the best battles in the game. As you can see there are many evil forces to take down. 

Fable 2

 Rags to riches 

In the game fable 2 you start off as a child character called "Sparrow" Who is a child that is very poor and lives on the streets. The image above shows the character in that world. As you progress throughout the game and travel on your adventures you become more powerful as you grow to an adult. As the story comes more to an end the character Sparrow becomes a king/queen. The character gains power, wealth, a home, (Many even) and a family if you wish. 

The Witcher 3

The Quest 

In the game The Witcher 3 You set off on many quests. There are main quests to secondly quests that you can complete in the game, both leading to different objectives. "Geralt" is the protagonist that you play as, he is very powerful witcher. The more quests that Geralt can do he will comes across many more evil forces and friendly companions to help him in some of his many quests. The more quests he does the stronger he will become.

The legend of zelda: The wind waker

Voyage and return

In the game The legend of Zelda: The wind waker, you start of in your homeland. The princess called "Zelda" gets kidnapped by a evil force. The objective of this game is that the character that you play as that is called "Link" travels across the seas on his boat and to many islands along the way and bring Zelda home. Along the way Link comes across many characters and other evil beings that you need to take down on your path. 

Octodad

Comedy

In this game Octodad, you are a octopus that has a family. The game is very silly. Octodad is a third-person adventure game. In the game you can be destructive, as the control of the character limbs are hard to navigate as the controls are designed this way causing the character to mess the room with objects that have fallen etc.. there is not much to this game as it is just a comical game, a game for laughs. 

Life is strange

Tragedies

In the game Life is strange you play the protagonist "Max" she has the power to rewind time, but this leaves destruction in its path. Max has a best friend called "Chloe" but her friend Chloe doesn't have much luck and gets into dangerous situations that causes Chloe to die each time. Max tries to stop this from happening, so she goes back in time to prevent this happening again, Each time she does she causes destruction in the other timelines, which then causes a massive storm that is heading for the characters hometown. Max has to decide, does she sacrifice the town and the people in it, or sacrifice her best friend Chloe who she has tried endless times to save. Both endings are tragic.

GTA 5

Rebirth

In this game Gta 5 there is a character called "Michael" who is a criminal that has killed people, robbed banks etc...he also has a family. I know this is a strange game to choose for the rebirth story plot but I find in some way it relates, mainly because of the character Michael. I think this because for most of his life he has been a bad person causing death, crime and telling lies, but throughout the whole game he is seeking help from a therapist, it shows he wants to change, to become a better person, even if it is for his family to be a better husband and father. At the end of the game the three main characters say there farewells and part after the main mission has been completed. Michael retires from his crime days and tries to be the best husband and father he can be.

Bibliography

Square Enix , (2005), Battle of 1000 heartless [ONLINE]. Available at: http://kingdomhearts.wikia.com/wiki/Battle_of_the_1000_Heartless [Accessed 03 November 15].

Lionhead studios, (2008), Let's Play Fable 2 Episode 2: From Rags To Riches [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fable+2+sparrow&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIm9Ckz7eayQIVwV0aCh1Q-wxI&biw=1752&bih=971#tbm=isch&q=fable+2+rags+to+riches+image&imgrc=TkVaHrYLt2oUOM%3A [Accessed 03 November 15].

CD Projekt RED, (2015), The Witcher 3 [ONLINE]. Available at: http://gearnuke.com/witcher-3-release-date-broken-ps4-version-wild-cdpr-confirms-censorship-middle-east/# [Accessed 03 November 15].

Nintendo, (2013), The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.dualshockers.com/2013/08/08/the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker-hd-makes-sailing-a-breeze-in-new-details-from-eiji-aonuma/ [Accessed 03 November 15].

 gamespot, (2014), Octodad: Dadliest Catch [ONLINE]. Available at: http://square-go.com/octodad-dadliest-catch/ [Accessed 03 November 15].

pinterest, (2015), chloe price, max caulfield, train tracks [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.pinterest.com/adriana1601/life-is-strange/ [Accessed 03 November 15].

Contextual studies, Stories and archetypes

In our contextual studies lecture this week, we were told about a man called "Christopher Booker" he wrote a book that was published in 2004 called "The seven basic plots: Why we tell stories."  This book took 34 years to complete. The book is influenced by a man called "Carl Jung" as it is a analysis of stories and their psychological meaning. We were also told about Carl Jung, he is a Swiss psychiatrist that believed that archetypes are models of people, behaviours or even personalities.
Carol Pearson was born in 1944 and released a book called " The hero within" (1986). She identified six archetypes. The Pearson- Marr archetypes indicator is influenced by Jung and Campbell work.

The seven basic plots are:

Overcoming evil/monster- The protagonist (hero) sets out to find and destroy the evil force that is threatening the heroes homeland, environment, world etc...

Rags to riches- The protagonist starts out as a poor, less powerful individual but later gains wealth and power throughout the story to the end.

 Quests-  The protagonists sets out on an adventure either on their own or with companions to achieve the objective in whatever that may be.

Voyage and return- the protagonist sets off to a new land or strange place were a evil threat could be taking over, returns from such a place with more experience.

Comedy- The character is cheerful, the story ending is happy.

Tragedies- The story leads to a unhappy ending, the hero could also become the villain or was the villain along.

Rebirth-  Within the story there could be consequences that make the protagonist become a better being, changing them.

Types of character archetypes:

Ego types

The innocent - Wants to do things right, seen as happy and free.

The orphan/regular guy/girl - Class both a equal, seen to be good and silent majority.

The hero- Desire to prove their worth in courageous acts, seen as the leader, winner.

The caregiver- Wants to protect others, seen as parent, helper.

Self types 

Jester- Lightens up the world, seen as the comedian, joker.

The sage- Wants to find the truth, seen as being very wise and knowledgeable.

The magician- Makes dreams come true, seen as the healer.

The ruler- Power is everything, always wants to be in control, seen as the leader, boss.

Bibliography

 About education. Archetypes Jung's Archetypes. [ONLINE] Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/personalitydevelopment/tp/archetypes.htm. [Accessed 03 November 15].

Wikipedia. 2004. The Seven Basic Plots. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven_Basic_Plots. [Accessed 03 November 15].

The Hero's Journey- Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell was a American scholar who was born in New York in 1904 and later died in 1987. He wrote a book called "The hero with a thousand faces". The hero journey is a narrative pattern that is shown in storytelling, myths etc...it is about the archetype known as the hero, the one who achieves great things, one who goes on a adventure. 

The stages are:

1.        THE ORDINARY WORLD - The hero is introduced to a different world that is alien to them.

2.     THE CALL TO ADVENTURE-  The hero has a problem or challenge that needs to be addressed. Maybe a character is not who they seem, was shown as good but they were causing problems to this new land.

3.     REFUSAL OF THE CALL -  The hero has a fear of the unknown, wants to turn from the adventure.

4.     MEETING WITH THE MENTOR - The hero meets a wise character, gives the hero advice and wisdom. 

5.     CROSSING THE THRESHOLD - The hero enters this alien world and sets of on the real adventure, it begins. 

6.        TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES - The hero makes allies in the alien world, may have to pass certain tests to gain trust and even gain training.

7.     APPROACH - The hero comes to a very dangerous place in this new alien world, this is where the objective or treasures of the quest is hidden. Gaining treasure, retrieving something important etc...

8.     THE ORDEAL - The hero may face his or her death, greatest fear. death comes new life.

9.     THE REWARD - The hero gains the objectives, treasure etc... but there is a danger of losing the new belonging. 

10.  THE ROAD BACK - The hero leaving the alien world with the treasure etc... and bringing it home, this may still bring cause for concern as a chase or danger can be lurking. 

11.   THE RESURRECTION - The hero is tested once more, could be a moment of death and rebirth at a different level. The hero actions cause resolve.

12.   RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR - The hero returns home with the treasure etc...Power to the world or the hero is transformed.

Bibliography

Hero's journey- Joseph campbell's. 1990. Hero's Journey . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.thewritersjourney.com/hero's_journey.htm. [Accessed 07 October

Contextual studies, Classification grid.

In our contextual studies lecture, we were told of Roger Caillois and about his book called "Man, Play and Games" we were told to form our own classification grid, placing 5 of our favourite games into the grid with the correct classification. 

 

• Paedia- meaning: To play without any rules, it is spontaneous.
• Ludus- meaning: To play by the rules which can be very limiting, needs skill, can be complex.

  These are the four categories:

• Agon- meaning: Competition, are competitive games based on rivalry, wants to have a winner.
• Alea- meaning: Chance, are games that driven on chance that can effect the final outcome.
• Mimicry- meaning: Imitation of others.
• Ilinx or other know as vertigo- meaning:  Games that want to panic another, momentarily wants to destroy the stability of perception.

              

Agon	Alea	Mimicry	Ilinx
The witcher 3 In this action open world role playing game,  you travel and hunt monsters gaining experience points and earning coin, this leads to levelling up and gaining strength. This will lead to the main enemy at the end of the game, when you feel ready.	Life is strange A point and click repopulated adventure game, were the player has choices in the game that can have consequences throughout the story and the ending.		The witcher 3 In this game it will be less of a struggle if you are at the right level for some of the quests in the game, if you do not do this it can become very difficult to succeed in destroying the enemies.
Fable A action adventure role playing game, were you set off on a adventure and progress to get stronger the further you play on. Encounter enemies throughout the game that do become stronger the more you progress.	Fable Choices that you chose in game effect your game play and story. You can help people along the way, this will make you a good protagonist and form a halo, or you can chose the bad options such as killing villagers, this will lead to a evil protagonist and give you horns.
Tekken tag tournament 2 A beat them up game were you have to beat your opponent,( health to zero). You have to advance into different more difficult stages, The opponents get stronger the further you progress	The witcher 3 Making choices is one of the main objective in this game, it all leads to an final outcome in the end of the game. This can also effect relationships and quests  on what you chose through the narrative scenes of the game.	Tekken tag tournament 2 The characters in this game can be customized, the further you progress. The items will have different benefits in the game.	Tekken tag tournament 2 In a game like this you have a advantage if you are a skilled player, you could do so well in a match but another opponent can catch you off guard so easily if you mess up a move.
Ni No Kuni A role playing game were you defeat creatures and some that can be captured. You can use your creatures to help you progress in the game.		Ni No Kuni Throughout the game you can capture creatures and train them so you can advance the game. The creature also can evolve the more you train them, do this to beat the main enemies.