The trailer for The Perks of Being a Wallflower uses many narrative techniques typical of Hollywood romantic dramas. Applying Propp's Character theory we have a clear Protagonist in Logan Lerman's character Charlie. Again we have a clear group of antagonists, the 'popular' kids whom are getting in the way of the protagonist due to his autism. The heroine is Emma Watson's Character, Sam and the helper is Ezra Miller's Character, Patrick.
The Film's Narrative is clearly introduced in the trailer and follows Todorov's theory of equilibrium. The state of balance is the character of Charlie being an outcast in the socially divided school. The introduction of Sam and Patrick creates the disequilibrium - along with the bound of confidence Charlie receives when people notice him. The new equilibrium is not shown in the trailer - this is important as a standard Hollywood romantic drama narrative would suggest that Charlie and Sam get together at the end, however the film is not a typical romantic drama therefore the audience would have to watch the entire film in order to see and enjoy the resolution - be it typical or not typical of a Hollywood romantic drama.
The trailer consists of many of Barthes' enigma and action codes. They are designed to draw the audience in which results in them watching the entire film. A major enigma code the audience will wonder upon would be whether Sam and Charlie get together in the end and whether Charlie writes the book. another example of an enigma code would be Charlie wanting to 'turn things around this year'. It makes the audience wonder what had happened in the previous years,
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