Narrative Structures

Narrative Structures

• 1.
  Narrative Structures Linear  Chronologicalorder of events – this is when the narrative goes from the start, middle then end.  There is a single starting point, which may lead to multiple developments and outcomes.  Linear productionshelpsthe audience to have an understanding of the story which makessense as the story starts from the beginning through to the end. Non-linear  Eventsare out of chronological order, or in other words the narrativedoes not follow the pattern of the events. This could be dream sequences, flashbacks, and flash-forwards etc.  Some television series use non-linear narratives as a narrative hook in the first episodes, this could be an intenseor shocking event, and then go back to the pastand show events leadingup to what happened. A good example of this is The Missing.  Another reason a non-linear narrativeis used is to show how the human memory recallsevents. Flashbacks  A flashback is a scene that jumpsthe narrative back in time from the currentpointin the story. Flashbacks are often used to recountevents that have happened beforea sequenceof events to fill in the backstory.  Used to cohere a story, develop a character, or add structure to the narrative. Realist Realist narrativesare story lines that are believable by that audience because they appear real or a based on a true story that has happened in the past.
• 2.
  Anti-realist Anti-realist is anarrativethat is not realistically filmed and structured. These dramasmay use a lot of after effects. Ends Open Multiplenarrativestrandswith no clear resolution. Often seen in soap operas. May be used to intrigue audience and let them form their own conclusion. Closed A clear resolution to the narrative. High degreeof narrativeclosure. Technical elements Camera  Master shot - Used to set the scene or location  Close up - Used to show emotion of character  Medium shot - Shows the body language of the character  Zoom - crash zoom can be used to give information as slow can increase the tension  Tracking shot - camera moveswith the action inside of a pan movement  Shallow/deep focus - shallow focusis when only a few objects are in focusto the audiencewhist deep focusis everything in focus  High/low angle - high angle looks down aslow angle looks up. Can show importanceof characters Lighting  High key - very bright light e.g. Shows something positive  Low key - low lighting e.g. Addstension  Naturallighting - daylight  Hard - strong and powerfullight e.g. Addsnegative emotions  Soft - soft lighting e.g. Addspositiveemotions
• 3.
  Sound  Diegetic -sound that has been placed within the film. If the character can hear it.  Non-diegetic - the characters cannot hear it within the film but the audiencecan. E.g. Music  Dialogue- diegetic sound  Music- non-diegetic  Sound affects - non-diegetic/diegetic (used in differentpoints for reasons)  The mix - how all the soundsaremixed together  Sound perspective - some soundsareincrease to a scene to add tension, emotion or drama Editing  Continuity -scenes flows seamlessly  Crosscutting/parallel editing - two pieces of film that happen at the same time but are joined together  Elliptical editing- a pause. Cutfrom a scene to another but has pushed the time forward; issuingapart of the story that isn't needed.  Cutaways - cuts that add meaningsto the story  Use of montage - shows of passingof time  Split screen Scripting, Buildingascene, Buildinga story PropsTheory - character typein stories Tvzetan Todorov - Suggests narrative is simply equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium
• 4.
  Story Arcs Purposeof astory arc is to move a character it a situation from state to another. Positioning of the audience The narrativehas position the audienceinto a particular relationship with the character on the screen How is this achieved?  P.O.V shots  Editing techniques