The complexity of narrative The complexity of narrative (or how a painting tells a (or how a painting tells a story)story)

Lene Yding PedersenLene Yding Pedersen

Aalborg UniversityAalborg University

NARRATIVE THEORY MEETS COMPLEXITY NARRATIVE THEORY MEETS COMPLEXITY THEORY – some advantagesTHEORY – some advantages

Complexity theory allows narrative as a Complexity theory allows narrative as a dynamic conceptdynamic concept

Complexity theory is a way of theorizing Complexity theory is a way of theorizing post-classical narratologypost-classical narratology

Complexity theory may solve the Complexity theory may solve the paradox of ’postmodern/poststructural paradox of ’postmodern/poststructural narratology’narratology’

Complexity theory may lead towards a Complexity theory may lead towards a ’cultural narratology’.’cultural narratology’.

PART 1PART 1

What is complex about narrative?What is complex about narrative? What is narrative about painting?What is narrative about painting?

PART 2PART 2

How are narratives constructed in How are narratives constructed in paintings?paintings?

NARRATIVES ARE NARRATIVES ARE COMPLEXCOMPLEX

Narratives are Narratives are unstable, unstable, irreducible, irreducible, contradictory, contradictory, incoherent, and incoherent, and contextualized contextualized constructs.constructs.

Narratives evoke Narratives evoke storiesstories

Stories have 1. a Stories have 1. a spatial dimension, spatial dimension, 2. a temporal 2. a temporal dimension, 3. a dimension, 3. a logical, mental logical, mental and formal and formal dimension. (Ryan)dimension. (Ryan)

NARRATIVE PAINTINGS – NARRATIVE PAINTINGS – basic assumptionsbasic assumptions

Painting is a narrative medium Painting is a narrative medium without a language channelwithout a language channel

Painting specializes in retelling Painting specializes in retelling known narrativesknown narratives

Narrative painting has a temporal Narrative painting has a temporal dimension.dimension.

NARRATIVE PAINTING – NARRATIVE PAINTING – further assumptionsfurther assumptions

Narratives constructed from narrative Narratives constructed from narrative paintings are emergent narrativespaintings are emergent narratives

Narratives constructed from narrative Narratives constructed from narrative paintings are contextualized paintings are contextualized constructsconstructs

Narratives constructed from Narratives constructed from narrative paintings project narrative paintings project themselves historically.themselves historically.

EMERGENT NARRATIVESEMERGENT NARRATIVES

ContextContext TimeTime Self-reflexivitySelf-reflexivity screensscreens

NARRATIVES ARE NARRATIVES ARE COMPLEX SYSTEMSCOMPLEX SYSTEMS

Narrative is a dynamic conceptNarrative is a dynamic concept Narratives emerge as different Narratives emerge as different

elements interactelements interact Narratives are open systems Narratives are open systems

interacting with the world around itinteracting with the world around it Narratives evolve through time.Narratives evolve through time.