Narrative Theory

• In a narrative there must be a beginning, middle and end so that the information given makes sense 
• The story is the content of the film and the narrative is how it's arranged
• Narrative does not have to be chronological, for example trailers show narrative but not in a chronological order
• Narrative is important for controlling how the audience feels for example a film can show information from the end of the story at the beginning of the narrative which can alter audience feelings toward different aspects of the film
• Narrative is important for controlling how the audience feels – e.g. showing information (e.g. the end) before can alter audience feelings towards certain aspects of the film

Syd Field 

• First ten minutes shows everything
• Three separate dramatic sections in narrative – the setup, confrontation and resolution     
• To move the action on from one act to another there are important pieces of plot that change the lives of the characters 

Aristotle

•       Unity’ of time, place and action moving towards a logical, moral conclusion

  

Freytag

•     Every story is divided into five parts – exposition, rising action, climax, falling action & denouement / catastrophe / resolution.

Levi-Strauss 

•      Binary opposition – narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict
•      Sometimes functions at an ideological level. 
•      Narrative is based around opposites

Barthes 

•      Enigma Code – narrative functions to set up and then solve puzzles – enigmas set up throughout the film
•      Films are open to different interpretations – looking at an event from different points of view to be considered – many different characters with own perspectives. Different points of view are called narrative codes – categorised

Todorov

•     Basic structure for all narratives – equilibrium (everything is normal and ok), disruption (something happens to disrupt the calm), recognition (recognising that something needs to be done), repair (attempting to put things right) and re-instatement of equilibrium (everything ok again).

Vladimir Propp

•      Characters take on the role of narrative functions – hero, heroine, villain, mentor and sidekick
•      Theories such as Aristotle and Propp can be seen to be outdated sometimes

Narrative Conventions

·      Look at conventions of genre, character, form and time

·      Time = important – narratives do not take place in real time

-       Many conventions used to denote time passing

-       Devices that manipulate time; flashbacks, dream sequences, repetition, different characters POV, flash forwards, real time interludes, pre-figuring events

·      Location – sets of conventions associated with genre or form 

WATCH:
 NARRATIVE THEORY ANIMATION