Narrative

What is Narrative?

• a story or plot
• narrative is the way the story is organised

Elements of Narrative

• Time: how time is organised. Real time=1hour30minutes long film has a story which undergoes throughout 1hour30minutes e.g. High Noon. Chronological=Chronological period from start to finish of a 1hour30minutes film can be over a long period of time e.g. Raging Bull covers 25years
• Closure: how the film ends. Are we left on a cliffhanger(no closure) or are we given all the answers we need so we leave the film not wondering what happened. All loose ends are tied.
• Enigma: mystery. Wonder what will happen to the person or in the following events. Always problems that the characters need to solve. This is what makes a film interesting and is why we watch them.

Classical Hollywood Narratives

• linear: in order, the story follows the correct order of events e.g. Avatar
• few, if any, sub-plots
• tendency towards closure
  

Theories of Narrative

1. Todorov

• equilibrium: the start of the film is in equilibrium, nothing is wrong.
• distruption: something happens to distrupt the equilibrium. Creates enigmas-why has this happened, who has done it, what will happen now?
• resolution: all enigmas are resolved
• new equilibrium: order is restored, we finish the film feeling satisfied.

Example-The Big Heat 1953: a family is sat at the table for breakfast talking about the day ahead(equilibrium). The mother leaves and gets into the car, which then explodes(distruption). Enigmas created-who has done this and why, what will the father do?. He finds the man who planted the bomb, getting his revenge(resolution). He then returns to his job(new equilibrium).



Some films may have only one enigma. These are normally at the end of the film, leaving the story open for a sequel.

2. Propp

• analysed folk stories
• 8 key character roles:

1. The Hero/Protagonist
2. The Villain/Antagonist
3. The Donar/Provider(gives the hero a magic item)
4. The Helper(helps the protagonist)
5. The Father->male or female (has more experience and gives the hero their wisdom)
6. The Dispatcher(sends the hero on his mission)
7. The Princess(does not have agency)
8. The False Hero(appears to be on the Hero's side, then we find out they are on the side of the villain)

3. Levi-Strauss and Binary Oppositions

Levi-Strauss argued that a stucture of narratives was a dependence on oppositions. (A conflict between two qualities or terms). These binary oppositions can form the basis of narratives, eg young and old, male and female.

For example, Gender-narratives can be organised through binary oppositions of gender stereotypes.

Gender stereotypes-Masculine:

• professional
• strong
• rational
• competitive
• independent
• aggressive
• ruthless
• ambitious

Feminine:

• domesticated
• weak
• emotional co-operative
• communal
• passive
• sensitive
• supportive

Constructions of gender roles in narratives lead to a series of binary oppositions

Dominant vs. Subordinate

Dominant:

• male
• white
• middle-aged
• hetrosexual
• able-bodied

Subordinate:

• female
• other ethnic groups
• working class
• the young, the old
• homosexual, bisexual
• disabled

Example - The Western:

• homestanders
• christain
• domestic
• weak
• feminine
• garden
• inside society

against:

• native americans
• pagan
• savage
• strong
• masculine
• wilderness
• outside society

Example- The wars in Iraq and Afganistan:

• east
• barbarism
• feudal
• despotism
• fundamentalism
• backwards 'dirty' weapons

against:

• west
• civilisation
• modern
• democracy
• freedom
• modern 'clean' weapons

Questions that can occur are:

To which side would we apply the concepts of 'good' and 'evil'?

Does it depend upon the point of view of the observer?