Narrative Post #7

Narrative

Blog Post #7

Narrative:

Narrative is the order in which a film is told. In terms of Media and films narrative is the coherence/organisation of media texts (eg. the story). The human brain needs narrative to make sense of things. We connect events and make interpretations based on those connections. Narrative is correlated with genre as some genres have typical story-lines.

Narrative Enigmas:

The purpose of this engages audience attention, maintains curiosity and interest within the narrative chain of cause and effect.

Difference between narrative story and narrative plots

A narrative story is what happens in the film which includes a backstory as well as those projected the story whereas a narrative plot is the order in which the story is told. 

For example the a series of events from a narrative story could be in this order: 

Crime Conceived
Crime Planned
Crime Committed
Crime Discovered
Detective investigates
Detective Identifies criminals

However, the story events could be re-arranged in a different sequence to make the narrative more interesting, for example the plot could be:

Crime Discovered
Detective investigates
Detective Identifies criminals
Crime Conceived
Crime Planned
Crime Committed

Narrative Analysis in Media Studies:

             

Summary of the video:

When watching the video I learnt that you must remember six things when analysing media text, these things are:

Technical Code - This is to do with anything 'technical' that goes into the narrative process such as camera angles, sound, designs and editing.

Verbal Code - The way the language is used to convey the story, verbal codes are both written and spoken.

Symbolic Codes - Clues within the narrative for example a character may be driving a broken down old car suggesting the character is poor

Structure - Most structures can be summed up using Tsvetan Tordorovs theory which suggests all narratives follow a five part structure:
Equilibrium: (beginning) where everything is 'hunky dory'.
Disequilibrium: (middle) where something goes along to disturb the equilibrium.
New Equilibrium: (end) This is usually the bit where the hero restores the equilibrium. 

Character -  Protagonist: The stories hero
                     Antagonist: The stories villain
                     Heroine: Love interest for the protagonist.
                     Father: An authoritative figure, often the one who rewards the protagonist.
                     Helper: Someone who helps the protagonist, often a sidekick.
                     Mentor: Teacher and guide of the protagonist.

                                   
Theorists:

Narrative Conflict - Claude Levi-Strauss (20th century theorist) suggested that all narratives are moved forwards by conflict and that this conflict is caused by opposing forces for example: rich and poor, love and hate etc. Also opposites within a storyline are extremely important in a successful story, as drawing two different worlds or characters together inspires conflict and interesting narrative.

Roland Barthes suggested that there are codes within a film which serves to engage audiences.
The Enigma Code generates and controls what information a viewer is aware of within a narrative and holds their interest throughout the film. It introduces problems or puzzles which must be solved as well as mysteries which must be uncovered.
The Action Code refers to events which occur that the viewer immediately can identify as being significant to the development of the narrative. Resolution also may be achieved through action.

ProppNarrative Devices:

Vladimir Propp also proposes narrative structure which is similar to Todorov's, but slightly more detailed and complex:

• Preparation - Introduction to the story.
• Complication - Keys or clues to the direction of the story.
• Transference - The donor events.
• Struggle - Dealing with complications.
• Return - Back to 'home' however there are still issues remaining.
• Recognition - Loose ends are tied up.

Propps also looks at character theory which identifies more character roles than the previous antagonist and protagonist. Propp identifies seven main roles:

• The villain
• The donor - Prepares the hero or gives them a magical object
• The (magical) helper - Helps the here throughout the quest
• The princess - Object of the heroes desire, sought for during the narrative
• The princess's father - Rewards the hero
• The dispatcher - Character to send the hero off
• The hero (victim/seeker) - Reacts to the donor, weds the princess, completes the quest
• The false hero, usurper or anti hero