Narrative Theory

Social Realist films usually use the narrative structure that Levis-Strauss' binary opposition theory proposes. For example, in the Social Realism 'Fish Tank' there is conflict between the opposite characters of the main girl and her mother as they both want complete different things in life. The mother had children at a young age and lives off benefits, while the daughter wants to break free from the usually 'council estate' life. Also, between the girl and the other girls on the estate as they are complete opposites; the main girl wants more out of life than the other girls who only care about being attractive to men and following the lives of celebrities.



Another narrative theory useful to use in our trailer is Barthes Enigma Codes. Social Realist films almost always have open narratives to emphasise how unpredictable real life. In the Fish Tank trailer, there are so many different possibilities to how the story plans out as so many mysteries are built; for example when the main girl gets grabbed by a group of men it is hard to depict what is going to happen exactly.