Research: Todorov's Theory of Equilibrium (Snow White)

 

Snow White (1937) [Up to 8:00 mins on the clip]

1. Who are the agents: the protagonist (the main hero who propels the narrative forward) and antagonist (opposing agent).
Our protagonist is of course Snow White, the beautiful, innocent titular character of this classic Disney film, and the antagonist is The Queen, who is the first character we are shown in the opening sequence.

2.Describe the Equilibrium. How is it represented? What kind of camera shots can you identify? (e.g establishing shots to create a sense of space or use of CUs/cutaways to emphasise particular objects/characters faces). Pick out 2 or 3 examples. Describe the mise-en-scene: what meanings do the props/costumes/lighting/framing carry?
The equilibrium is Snow White, living peacefully, clearly quite content with her life as it is by the way she is singing happily. The Queen is also living separately, content with knowing that she is the fairest of them all. We can see a contrast between the two characters by the way that the Queen is in a very dark, eerie looking castle, then it changes (with a fade rather than a cut, but that might be more to do with the technology or conventions at the time rather than for effect) to a bright, outdoor location with lots of white (symbolising peace and purity) where Snow White is sitting. The Queen is wearing more extravagant clothing, in rich purple, the colour of royalty, with a harsh-looking pointed crown and over the top dark makeup, whereas Snow White is in very simple, muted clothing and is drawn with a much more natural beauty. The differences between the two agents are also underlined by their facial expressions: Snow White has a constant smile on her face whilst the Queen is scowling throughout her scene.

3. Is the Disruption or Disequilibrium introduced or hinted at? (e.g the serial killer in "Seven" is introduced in the title sequence).
The suggestion of what will be the disruption of the equilibrium is introduced at the beginning of the film, when the Queen is told by her mirror on the wall that Snow White is now the fairest of them all, rather than the Queen herself. We can tell that the Queen doesn’t like being second by her outrage at this revelation, and when she clutches her hand and gasps, “Snow White!” we guess that she is now going to try and get her revenge on her, therefore disrupting the equilibrium of peace between the two characters.

4. Are there any visual/verbal/aural clues that hint at what the hero's journey might be? (e.g having to solve the murders within a time-limit of seven days in "Seven")
From the Queen’s reaction to finding out that Snow White is fairer than her, we assume that the hero’s journey will be something to do with escaping the Queen’s revenge on her, and attempting to thwart her plans to become the fairest of them all once again. We are also introduced to a handsome prince riding by on a horse, so we can also guess that her journey will have something to do with the prince, either teaming up with him to defeat her or trying to overcome the Queen’s evil to be together. Because it is an old-fashioned classic fairytale, it is likely that it will actually end up with the prince saving Snow White himself. At the end of the clip we see the Queen ordering a hitman to kill Snow White, so escaping death or capture by the Queen will probably be the main journey Snow White has to go through in the movie.

5. From your knowledge of the film, how will the equilibrium be restored and what will be the new equilibrium?
Having watched many classic Disney movies and fairytale before, the viewer will probably guess that the equilibrium will be restored by the death of the Queen, leaving Snow White and her prince to live happily ever after. This is of course what happens, when the Queen falls off of a cliff at the hands of the Seven Dwarves, then the prince kisses Snow White to bring her back to life.