Connect…

04/09/2014 Term 1, Lesson 1 1

Connect

Can you create a 3 panel story similar to GARFIELD?

Think Carefully – Time Is Against You!

Narrative• Narrative: A story (plot) or a description of a series of events.

• The sequence of events in narrative cinema revolves around the concept of 'cause and affect' otherwise known as;

Causality: Cause and Affect

• 'A narrative is a sequence of events taking place in time and space, in a casual relationship. A sequence of random events does not make a narrative' Bordwell and Thompson, Film Art; An introduction.

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Story

PlotPlot describes a set of events as they relate to each other. The term is concerned with how to sequence and select the events of a story

as a structure for its telling and how that telling can find maximum effect.

NarrativeHow the events are told. Narrative is the

ordering of events into a consumable format. Narratives may involve a reordering of the events of a story. The story’s events can be

set out of chronological order; be combined with elements from outside of the story to

better tell the consumer what is going on; or to build dramatic effect.

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Narrative Theories

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Todorov Propp

Levi-Strauss Barthes

There are 4 key Narrative Theorists and Theories you need to know

Todorov• Todorov studied fairy tales and concluded that all stories followed

the same steps to make their stories

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Equilibrium •A state of normality

Disruption•Something happens to disrupt the normality

Recognition •Hero realises the disruption

Complications

•Hero meets issues trying to restore the equilibrium

New Equilibrium

•Hero restores a new normality

Todorov in Action

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSD_zp8yZFo

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Linear Vs. Non Linear

Linear Narrative• Linear narratives follow a straight line

— starting at the beginning, moving to the middle and proceeding to the end of the story. Often Chronological.

Non-Linear Narrative• non-linear narrative often starts at

the middle of a story or the height of a conflict and then double-backs to the beginning.

• Another, albeit more challenging, non-linear narrative form employs flashbacks and “flashforwards” to keep the audience on their toes as the film tells the full story.

Circular Narrative• A story that ends in the same place it

began is commonly called a circular or cyclical narrative.

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Propp• Vladimir Propp studied fairy tales and recognised the same stock characters

in every story

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HeroCharacter• Character who seeks something. The Protagonist.

VillainCharacter• Opposes the heroes quest. The Antagonist.

PrincessCharacter• The heroes reward – not necessarily a person!

DonorCharacter• Gives the hero something to help with his quest

DispatcherCharacter• Sends the hero on his quest

HelperCharacter• Helps the hero – often a sidekick

False HeroCharacter• Looks heroic but disrupts the hero in their quest

Princess’ FatherCharacter• Rewards the hero by giving him the princess

Propp in Action

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q2-Eg-ZiMs

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Levi Strauss• Claimed stories could only exist with BINARY OPPOSITES,

elements that are against each other

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Binary Opposite Examples

WomanBeauty

StrengthDecisive

LoudOldRich

Exciting

MenUgliness

WeaknessIndecisive

QuietYoungPoor

Boring

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Barthes• Roland Barthes explored how an audience decodes a text and

the different codes used to construct meaning from a text

• Barthes also said narratives can be OPEN or CLOSED

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Enigma CodeAnything that sets up a mystery

or question – Offers the audience a reason to watch

because of mystery

Action CodeActions and behaviours that are

universally understood and lead to further actions

OpenGives the audience the full storyline so they feel fully engaged – feeling of respect.

ClosedGives the audience a partial glimpse of the story and leaves out details. Engages the audience to “solve” the story.

• The text is like a tangled ball of threads • The thread needs to unravelled • Once unravelled, we encounter an absolute wide range

of potential meanings. • We can start by looking at a narrative in one way, from

one viewpoint, one set of previous experience, and create one meaning for that text.

• You can continue by unravelling the narrative from a different angle and create an entirely different meaning.

What he meant …

Other Narrative Devices

Device Definition

RestrictedGives the audience a partial glimpse of the story and leaves out details. Creates Enigma and engages the audience to “solve” the story.

UnrestrictedGives the audience the full storyline so they feel fully engaged – feeling of respect.

Dramatic IronyGives audience information the people in the film don’t know – feeling of empowerment for the audience

Cliff-hangerThe story has a dramatic moment which lacks resolution – feeling of tension and mystery.

Chekov’s Gun

Chekhov's gun is a dramatic principle that every element in a narrative be irreplaceable and that anything else be removed.

If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it's not going to be fired, it shouldn't be hanging there.—Anton Chekhov

In media resIn medias res is Latin for "into the middle of things." It usually describes a narrative that begins, not at the beginning of a story, but somewhere in the middle — usually at some crucial point in the action. 16

Plenary

• Can you tell todays lesson as a story?

• How might you include any of the 4 Narrative Theories?

• Can you use any Narrative Devices?

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Celebrate