The Bridge (MedIa Language)

Narrative Theory - Tzventan Todorov

EQUILIBRIUM = Normal Life

DISRUPTION = Disruption to the equilibrium.

RECOGNITION = That there has been a disruption

RESOLUTION = The attempt to restore the equalibrium

EQUALIBRIUM = Restoring a similar or changed life after the disruption has been resolved

The Bridge - Narrative Theory

DISRUPTION = Murder setting, Helle Anker has been murdered

RECOGNITION = The body is found, - Saga arrives at the murder scene,

- Helle Anker is identified as the victim.

RESOLUTION = The investigation is still continuing.

- There is no full resolution until the end of series 3 as it is a continuous crime drama.

Binary Opposition - Levi Strauss

The Bridge - Binary Opposition

Tact vs Bluntness

- Saga displays signs of severe bluntness, e.g she didn't think it was wrong showing the victim's family, the dead body.

- This establishes Saga's character personality and its binary opposite to Hanne, who is skilled and sensitive when working with victims.

Genre Theory - Steve Neale

= Genre is defined by repetition.

= Genre features that are familiar to the audience, help us understand the text.

= Genre also changes and develops over time

The Bridge - Genre Theory

= Steve Neale says genre changes one time. This is shown as Saga is head of the investigation and 'in charge', and Henrick is supporting her Sterotypically and in the past, a man would be in that role, and the women would be supporting him.

= Scandinavia is usually portrayed as a peaceful place, however, the controversy around Helle Anker portrays the country in a less positive way, which is an example of Steve Neale's theory.

Postmodernism

Features of a Postmodern text :

-Intertextuality

-References to Pop culture

-Self reflexive

-Irony

Ect...

The Bridge - Postmodern

- Relies on audience understanding of Nordic Noir Crime Dram's to decode it.

- Saga's police job is hyper-real as it is based on our perception of how the media represent the police force, but in reality, is it really like this?

- It shows similarities of style with other Nordic Noir shows. Eg "The Killing". Also other crime dramas have been influenced by Nordic Noir e.g "Broadchurch"

= Saga as our heroine (Female hero) is ironic and self reflexive. She is a female "Sherlock Holmes" - a high functioning sociopath