Some Views on Narrative Structure

Narrative serves a number of purposes:Narrative serves a number of purposes:1)1) It delivers the Story in Visual & Dialogue It delivers the Story in Visual & Dialogue 2)2) It decides what order information is to be It decides what order information is to be

delivered and whendelivered and when3)3) It places the audience on the side of the It places the audience on the side of the

protagonist by way of ‘privileging’ their protagonist by way of ‘privileging’ their perspective above othersperspective above others

4)4) It establishes the pace of the textIt establishes the pace of the text5)5) It delivers implicit messages & values It delivers implicit messages & values

(Ideology) which support the perspectives (Ideology) which support the perspectives of the makers.of the makers.

Story:Story:All the events. Both those that are All the events. Both those that are

visually represented and those that are visually represented and those that are inferred, before and parallel to those inferred, before and parallel to those onscreen, which we DO NOT see…onscreen, which we DO NOT see…

Plot:Plot:The filmic arrangement of the story – The filmic arrangement of the story –

which is usually less than the story and which is usually less than the story and may be in a different order (eg. may be in a different order (eg. GoGo or or Pulp FictionPulp Fiction))

The world of the Film’s StoryThe world of the Film’s Story Everything that is going on in the Everything that is going on in the fictional reality on screen. This is why fictional reality on screen. This is why the most common use of the term is the most common use of the term is to describe SOUND as either to describe SOUND as either Diegetic Diegetic (as in dialogue & naturalistic (as in dialogue & naturalistic background noise) background noise)

or or Non-Diegetic Non-Diegetic (use of ‘mood’ music (use of ‘mood’ music in a scene)in a scene)

Romantic Violins in a Love Scene… Romantic Violins in a Love Scene…

Continuity Editing:Continuity Editing:

A style of Editing which creates the impression of A style of Editing which creates the impression of seamlessness (invisible editing) which draws the seamlessness (invisible editing) which draws the Audience in to the world of film – when a character Audience in to the world of film – when a character walks through a door to the left, they enter the walks through a door to the left, they enter the next room from the right to create the impression next room from the right to create the impression that the room is ‘real’that the room is ‘real’

Montage Editing:Montage Editing:

A term used in a number of different ways but here, in A term used in a number of different ways but here, in contrast to the aforementioned Continuity editing – a contrast to the aforementioned Continuity editing – a style of editing which employs effects to create style of editing which employs effects to create particular moods or meanings, particularly when shots particular moods or meanings, particularly when shots are crashed together without logical progression or are crashed together without logical progression or relationships. Eg: The Shower scene in Psycho or Action relationships. Eg: The Shower scene in Psycho or Action sequences.sequences.

Compression of Time:Compression of Time:

Most films operate a high degree of Ellipsis Most films operate a high degree of Ellipsis or Time manipulation. In order to move the or Time manipulation. In order to move the story forward, the audience only ‘sees’ the story forward, the audience only ‘sees’ the moments in time which are relevant to the moments in time which are relevant to the Narrative. Narrative.

Some texts operate time as a more balanced Some texts operate time as a more balanced ‘Real time’ construction but Classical/Post ‘Real time’ construction but Classical/Post Classical Hollywood Narrative maintains Classical Hollywood Narrative maintains strict control over Narrative Time.strict control over Narrative Time.

Use of Narrative to create Suspense and Use of Narrative to create Suspense and Audience expectations… Audience expectations…

Restricted or Unrestricted Narratives Restricted or Unrestricted Narratives determine how much information is determine how much information is released to the Audience at a time… released to the Audience at a time… What do they need to know and when?What do they need to know and when?

Eg Eg the Mystery companion Clare (Katie Holmes) has in the Mystery companion Clare (Katie Holmes) has in the opening sequence of “Go” – not revealed until the opening sequence of “Go” – not revealed until the final quarter as the relevance of it would have the final quarter as the relevance of it would have challenged the suspense of the central narrative challenged the suspense of the central narrative sequences…sequences…

• Prioritises Narrative over Form.Prioritises Narrative over Form.• Highly constructed Reality which masks its Highly constructed Reality which masks its

own constructionsown constructions• Continuity editing which ‘stitches’ the Continuity editing which ‘stitches’ the

audience into the filmaudience into the film• Disruption to Equilibrium – Complication – Disruption to Equilibrium – Complication –

new Equilibriumnew Equilibrium• Neater, Higher degree of Narrative ClosureNeater, Higher degree of Narrative Closure• Spacial & Temporal Clarity – Audience Spacial & Temporal Clarity – Audience

aware of Time & Spaceaware of Time & Space

Action Codes: Images or sequences Action Codes: Images or sequences which work as a form of a Visual which work as a form of a Visual Shorthand making complex Ideas Shorthand making complex Ideas immediately apparent and carrying the immediately apparent and carrying the story forward.story forward.Enigma Codes: Images/sequences which Enigma Codes: Images/sequences which control how much we know in the story, control how much we know in the story, engaging and holding audience interest. engaging and holding audience interest. They present puzzles which demand to They present puzzles which demand to be solvedbe solved

And The Action CodesAnd The Action Codes

TodorovTodorovStage One: Stage One: EquilibriumEquilibrium

Stage Two: Stage Two: DisruptionDisruption

Stage Three: Stage Three: Recognition of Recognition of

disruptiondisruption

Stage four: Stage four: Attempt to Attempt to repair repair damagedamage

Stage five: Stage five: Return to a Return to a new new EquilibriumEquilibrium

ProppProppStage one: Stage one:

PreparationPreparation

Stage two: Stage two: ComplicationComplication

Stage Three:Stage Three:transferencetransference

Stage four: Stage four: StruggleStruggle

Stage five:Stage five: Return Return and and recognitionrecognition

And the Binary OppositesAnd the Binary Opposites

Vulnerability of those in need of Vulnerability of those in need of protectionprotection

WeakWeak

Effeminate/FeminineEffeminate/Feminine

Uncivilised/No ethicsUncivilised/No ethics

Ignore JusticeIgnore Justice

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On the side of BADOn the side of BAD

EVIL / GuiltEVIL / Guilt

DishonestDishonest

CriminalityCriminality

Skill & expertise of the heroSkill & expertise of the hero

StrongStrong

MasculineMasculine

Civilised set of ethicsCivilised set of ethics

Sense of JusticeSense of Justice

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On the side of GoodOn the side of Good

InnocenceInnocence

HonestHonest

Law abidingLaw abiding

1) 1) SeparationSeparation::The hero ventures forth from the world of The hero ventures forth from the world of

common day to a region of Supernatural common day to a region of Supernatural wonder.wonder.

2) 2) InitiationInitiation::The hero encounters dangers/threats which he The hero encounters dangers/threats which he

overcomes with guidance from a mentor – overcomes with guidance from a mentor – rewarded for his heroism with powers or gifts. rewarded for his heroism with powers or gifts.

3) 3) ReturnReturn::The hero returns from this Adventure with the The hero returns from this Adventure with the

power to bestow boons upon his fellow man / power to bestow boons upon his fellow man / with the power to free his fellow man.with the power to free his fellow man.

And the Hero’s Journey…And the Hero’s Journey…