Narrative | The Jinx

TODOROVIAN STRUCTURE

The Todorovian narrative model is linear. Is this the case here?

EQUILIBRIUM

Before Detective Gary Jones’ call-out? Before Andrew Jarecki made the film “All Good Things” and received the call from Durst? Before the death of Durst’s mother?

DISRUPTION

The original murders? Or does the disruption occur further back in Durst’s childhood?

RECOGNITION

The discovery of the body in the bay

RESOLUTION

No – although the quest for the truth about Durst and the hunt for the murderer may be seen as an attempt to resolve the disruption.

EQUILIBRIUM

Not yet – narrative is episodic. Is it even now fully resolved?

Would we expect full closure in an episodic drama?

Are there non-linear elements within the episode?

Yes – flashbacks, reconstructions, fragmented narrative

Are there obvious cause/effect links set up through?

e.g. Barthesian action or enigma codes? Yes – through title sequence – newspaper headlines and home movie footage; clues within the investigation (e.g. address on newspaper, optician’s receipt). The gradually revealed backstory and codes which suggest Durst’s relationship with his family, particularly in the title sequence and interviews with Douglas Durst. Enigma codes throughout – whose body? Who is Dorothy Ciner? Why did Durst jump bail/ steal the hoagie? Did Durst kill them? “Still a bunch of question marks”, “This guy was an enigma”.