Audience Theories (Todrov's Theory)

Todorov's theory states that a film and a trailer can be broken down into five sections. These sections are an equilibrium at the start, a disruption of that equilibrium, a recognition of the disruption, an attempt to repair the disruption and the final stage of where the equilibrium is restored. 

Here narrative is not seen as a linear structure but a circular one. The narrative is driven by attempts to restore the equilibrium. However, the equilibrium attained at the end of the story is not identical to the initial equilibrium. Todorov argues that narrative involves a transformation. The characters or the situations are transformed through the progress of the disruption. The disruption itself usually takes place outside the normal social framework, outside the ‘normal’ social events.

For example:

• A murder happens and people are terrified.

• Someone vanishes and the characters have to solve the mystery.

• The character start to work out the pattern and track down the murderer.

• The characters try to catch the murderer by setting up traps and attempt to get the police involved.

• The antagonist is caught or killed and the characters live the rest of their lives, well the ones that remain.