So, it's an even numbered post, so heeeerrreeeesssss EMILY! :d
"
What is narrative:
The Google definition of 'narration' is- "a spoken or written account of connected events; a story". This tells us that a narrative is an account of a particular story. Narrative is similar to story, however, story is simple a sequence of events, usually called the plot and narrative is the way in which those events are put together and shown to an audience. Narrative is commonly confused with narration, however, narration is the actual process of narrating and is usually played over the top of the action.
Structure of narrative:
The story can have an open or a closed structure:
If the structure is open, it means that there is no final ending scene. It may have small cliff-hangers or apparent closing scenes, but not a finalized end. For example, many soaps on television have open endings at the end of each episode. This is because the soap will continue, even if it appears as if it has ended. this is effective as it leaves the audience with questions, so they will watch on.
A closed structure is the opposite and means that the story does end. This is more common in films and is known as closure. Usually, films have closure but particular films leave their ending open (i.e.- Inception). A closed structure is effective as it gives the audience closure and doesn't frustrate them in leaving questions.
What are the conventions of narratives in these genres:
Comedy:
Comedy can be a very unpredictable genre. The narrative in comedic films is difficult to define as each has it's own story.
For example, 'The Hangover' is a comedic film, yet it has a hugely different story line to 'Grown Ups'. Both of these films are comedy movies yet both have incredibly different plots- The Hangover is based around a group of men who were on a stag-do and have lost the groom. Lots of hi jinks occur, yet there is lots of action as they search for their missing friend. Also,Grown ups is based around a group of childhood friends who have met to spend the summer together with their families. There are lots of comedic moments, but nothing 'bad' happens.
Horror:
As a genre, horror can have quite a predictable narrative. Usually, the horror film begins with the characters venturing into an unusual and slightly scary setting (although they might not realize this at the beginning).
The situation gets more threatening and after venturing into this situation, a wave of violence and aggression is released. This leaves a large amount of the characters dead and the survivors are forced to fight back against the malevolent figure. Finally, the climax of the film provides a more dramatic fight between the characters and the figure. This can have different results, as many horror films try to make their endings unique and unpredictable. finally, it is more common in newer movies to leave the ending open to scare the audience.
For example, in the film 'Cabin in the woods', a group of friends travel to a lakeside cabin, that is seemingly harmless, yet rather spooky. The friends then find a diary, and much to the protests of a particular character, they read it and release a darkness. As the kids begin to enjoy themselves, one of the characters dies and they are forced to fight off the zombies that are approaching. Most of the characters die,except for two who are then forced to fight their way into the mysterious facility that are controlling the zombies. They fight their way through and finally realize that they are being controlled. In a last attempt to save themselves, they refuse to save the world, and the film ends with a mysterious hand ripping through the earth.
Action:
Action movies can sometimes have quite a typical narrative. At the start of the film, the characters are introduced and we learn the opening plot of the film (what the characters are going to do in the film). Then, basically all hell breaks loose. There is a car chase and the protagonists must either escape the antagonists or chase them. Typically, somebody dies or is injured, which only makes the situation more chaotic. The ending of an action movie can be hard to stereotype, as most movies change the ending to surprise the audience, but typically, there is a big reveal and the main character gets what he wants (this is usually some form of revenge). Many action films end with the bad guy being killed and the world is saved. The protagonist gets their romantic interest, and all is well (Or is it?- if it is in a series of action films, there is a plot twist at the end, and the main antagonist survives somehow and is plotting revenge).
For example, in 'Taken', ex-CIA member Bryan Mills is forced to travel to Paris after his daughter has been kidnapped. There is lots of action as Bryan fights his way through Paris to save his daughter. He finds her friend dead and has to chase down the gang leader who has his daughter. After lots of car chases and shootings, he finds his daughter and takes her back home to her mother.
Drama:
The genre 'Drama' is actually more of an umbrella term. This means although it is easy to define if a movie is in this genre, it is difficult to observe a typical narrative of a drama movie. You can have a movie that is drama but is also comedy, or horror etc.
For example, both 'Titanic' and 'Black Swan' are drama movies. Yet both have very different story lines:
Titanic is based around the true story of the ship 'Titanic'. It is based around two lovers who board the boat and fall in love. All is well, until the inevitable happens, and the ship sinks, killing Jack.
However, Black Swan is based around a young girl who throws herself into getting the part in a popular ballet production. She becomes the lead of the production and the audience watches her slowly descend into madness.
Romance:
Narrative in a romantic movie is usually quite predictable. To start with the main character is introduced and we see that they are in love with somebody else. However, there is a problem between them (i.e.- the other person is married) and the main character has to fight for their love. Usually, in the end of a Romantic movie, they 'guy gets the girl', however, sometimes the movie will end on a more tragic note and one of the characters will die.
An example of this is 'The fault in our stars'. This movie is based around two teenagers who fall in love. It all seems okay and they are happy, but suddenly one of them is diagnosed with cancer and they struggle to stay together. In the end, they are deeply in love, but one of them dies and it is very tragic.
Narrative theory:
Propp:
In the early 1920's, Vladimir Propp looked in depth into the narrative of folk tales. Whilst reading many fairy tales, he observed that they were all quite similar in plot and characters. He used his research, and created a theory about the characters and their actions as narrative functions.
Typical characters that Propp found:
Tzvetan Todorov observed lots of stories and discovered that most plot lines actually follow the same route. In his theory, he states that there are 5 steps of this path:
1- Equilibrium:
The opening of the plot will show a normality, and most of the characters are doing what they should be. For example, at the beginning of the movie Taken, the main character is seen buying his daughter a birthday present, and everything seems normal, and content.
2- A Disruption (disequilibrium):
The second part of the plot features a disruption of the peace, and a problem may occur. In Taken, this is where the seemingly charming taxi driver answers an unusual phone call and appears to be telling somebody about the how the girls are alone in Paris.
3- Realization:
During this section of the plot, all the characters realize that the problem has occurred, and the plot descends into chaos. In Taken, this section is where the girls are kidnapped and the father overhears them being taken.
4- Restored Order:
This is the part of the film in which the characters try to restore order and repair the damage that has been caused. In Taken, this is where the father travels to Paris in order to rescue his daughter and her friend. He does so and restores the order to the film.
5-Equilibrium:
This is the ending of the plot, and the characters can resume their normal lives. The problem is fixed, and normality begins again. In Taken, the father takes his daughter home and treats her by meeting a famous pop star.
Barthes:
Roland Barthes was a French literary theorist, who came up with a narrative theory. He suggested that there is five codes that describe the meaning of a text:
Levi-Strauss:
Claude Levi-Strauss was an anthropologist who studied many myths of tribal cultures. He used this to examine how stories reflect the beliefs of a culture. He focused on the idea of 'Binary Opposition'. During the mid 20th century, Claude teamed up with Barthes and they came up with the idea that the way we understand particular words is not so dependent on the meaning of the word itself, but in our understanding of the difference between the word and its 'binary opposite'. Examples of 'Binary opposites' include:
Simply, his theory revolves around the idea that the conflict in the plot is based around these binary opposites. Also, these opposites are supposedly the central climax of a narrative structure. "Structure of narrative:
The story can have an open or a closed structure:
If the structure is open, it means that there is no final ending scene. It may have small cliff-hangers or apparent closing scenes, but not a finalized end. For example, many soaps on television have open endings at the end of each episode. This is because the soap will continue, even if it appears as if it has ended. this is effective as it leaves the audience with questions, so they will watch on.
A closed structure is the opposite and means that the story does end. This is more common in films and is known as closure. Usually, films have closure but particular films leave their ending open (i.e.- Inception). A closed structure is effective as it gives the audience closure and doesn't frustrate them in leaving questions.
What are the conventions of narratives in these genres:
Comedy:
Comedy can be a very unpredictable genre. The narrative in comedic films is difficult to define as each has it's own story.
For example, 'The Hangover' is a comedic film, yet it has a hugely different story line to 'Grown Ups'. Both of these films are comedy movies yet both have incredibly different plots- The Hangover is based around a group of men who were on a stag-do and have lost the groom. Lots of hi jinks occur, yet there is lots of action as they search for their missing friend. Also,Grown ups is based around a group of childhood friends who have met to spend the summer together with their families. There are lots of comedic moments, but nothing 'bad' happens.
Horror:
As a genre, horror can have quite a predictable narrative. Usually, the horror film begins with the characters venturing into an unusual and slightly scary setting (although they might not realize this at the beginning).
The situation gets more threatening and after venturing into this situation, a wave of violence and aggression is released. This leaves a large amount of the characters dead and the survivors are forced to fight back against the malevolent figure. Finally, the climax of the film provides a more dramatic fight between the characters and the figure. This can have different results, as many horror films try to make their endings unique and unpredictable. finally, it is more common in newer movies to leave the ending open to scare the audience.
For example, in the film 'Cabin in the woods', a group of friends travel to a lakeside cabin, that is seemingly harmless, yet rather spooky. The friends then find a diary, and much to the protests of a particular character, they read it and release a darkness. As the kids begin to enjoy themselves, one of the characters dies and they are forced to fight off the zombies that are approaching. Most of the characters die,except for two who are then forced to fight their way into the mysterious facility that are controlling the zombies. They fight their way through and finally realize that they are being controlled. In a last attempt to save themselves, they refuse to save the world, and the film ends with a mysterious hand ripping through the earth.
Action:
Action movies can sometimes have quite a typical narrative. At the start of the film, the characters are introduced and we learn the opening plot of the film (what the characters are going to do in the film). Then, basically all hell breaks loose. There is a car chase and the protagonists must either escape the antagonists or chase them. Typically, somebody dies or is injured, which only makes the situation more chaotic. The ending of an action movie can be hard to stereotype, as most movies change the ending to surprise the audience, but typically, there is a big reveal and the main character gets what he wants (this is usually some form of revenge). Many action films end with the bad guy being killed and the world is saved. The protagonist gets their romantic interest, and all is well (Or is it?- if it is in a series of action films, there is a plot twist at the end, and the main antagonist survives somehow and is plotting revenge).
For example, in 'Taken', ex-CIA member Bryan Mills is forced to travel to Paris after his daughter has been kidnapped. There is lots of action as Bryan fights his way through Paris to save his daughter. He finds her friend dead and has to chase down the gang leader who has his daughter. After lots of car chases and shootings, he finds his daughter and takes her back home to her mother.
Drama:
The genre 'Drama' is actually more of an umbrella term. This means although it is easy to define if a movie is in this genre, it is difficult to observe a typical narrative of a drama movie. You can have a movie that is drama but is also comedy, or horror etc.
For example, both 'Titanic' and 'Black Swan' are drama movies. Yet both have very different story lines:
Titanic is based around the true story of the ship 'Titanic'. It is based around two lovers who board the boat and fall in love. All is well, until the inevitable happens, and the ship sinks, killing Jack.
However, Black Swan is based around a young girl who throws herself into getting the part in a popular ballet production. She becomes the lead of the production and the audience watches her slowly descend into madness.
Romance:
Narrative in a romantic movie is usually quite predictable. To start with the main character is introduced and we see that they are in love with somebody else. However, there is a problem between them (i.e.- the other person is married) and the main character has to fight for their love. Usually, in the end of a Romantic movie, they 'guy gets the girl', however, sometimes the movie will end on a more tragic note and one of the characters will die.
An example of this is 'The fault in our stars'. This movie is based around two teenagers who fall in love. It all seems okay and they are happy, but suddenly one of them is diagnosed with cancer and they struggle to stay together. In the end, they are deeply in love, but one of them dies and it is very tragic.
Narrative theory:
Propp:
In the early 1920's, Vladimir Propp looked in depth into the narrative of folk tales. Whilst reading many fairy tales, he observed that they were all quite similar in plot and characters. He used his research, and created a theory about the characters and their actions as narrative functions.
Typical characters that Propp found:
- The hero- This is usually the main character. They are a character that seeks something/someone.
- The villain- This is the main antagonist who actively oppose the hero's quest.
- The donor- They provide an object (or person) with magical properties.
- The dispatcher- They send the hero on their quest.
- The false hero- Who disrupts the hero through false claims.
- The helper- They help the hero in their quest.
- The princess- They act as a reward for the antagonist and the object of the villains plots.
- Her father- This character rewards the hero for saving his daughter.
Tzvetan Todorov observed lots of stories and discovered that most plot lines actually follow the same route. In his theory, he states that there are 5 steps of this path:
1- Equilibrium:
The opening of the plot will show a normality, and most of the characters are doing what they should be. For example, at the beginning of the movie Taken, the main character is seen buying his daughter a birthday present, and everything seems normal, and content.
2- A Disruption (disequilibrium):
The second part of the plot features a disruption of the peace, and a problem may occur. In Taken, this is where the seemingly charming taxi driver answers an unusual phone call and appears to be telling somebody about the how the girls are alone in Paris.
3- Realization:
During this section of the plot, all the characters realize that the problem has occurred, and the plot descends into chaos. In Taken, this section is where the girls are kidnapped and the father overhears them being taken.
4- Restored Order:
This is the part of the film in which the characters try to restore order and repair the damage that has been caused. In Taken, this is where the father travels to Paris in order to rescue his daughter and her friend. He does so and restores the order to the film.
5-Equilibrium:
This is the ending of the plot, and the characters can resume their normal lives. The problem is fixed, and normality begins again. In Taken, the father takes his daughter home and treats her by meeting a famous pop star.
Barthes:
Roland Barthes was a French literary theorist, who came up with a narrative theory. He suggested that there is five codes that describe the meaning of a text:
- Hermeneutic/enigma code:
- Proairetic/action code:
- Semantic code:
- Symbolic code:
- Referential (Cultural) code:
Levi-Strauss:
Claude Levi-Strauss was an anthropologist who studied many myths of tribal cultures. He used this to examine how stories reflect the beliefs of a culture. He focused on the idea of 'Binary Opposition'. During the mid 20th century, Claude teamed up with Barthes and they came up with the idea that the way we understand particular words is not so dependent on the meaning of the word itself, but in our understanding of the difference between the word and its 'binary opposite'. Examples of 'Binary opposites' include:
- Good and Evil.
- East and West.
- Young and Old.
Thanks, Emily :D
~ Noah :)
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