Narrative theory

1. Narrativetheory Unit g325 - Section a –q1b

2. What is narrative? • Narrative is not just ‘storyline’ • It involves deeper issues of how the text is structured and organised and how the audience makes sense of it. • For your video you need to consider how the narrative is structured and what techniques are used to achieve this structure. • You should also look to apply some narrative theory to your analysis.

3. Narrative structure Open Structure: The audience are left to wonder what happens next and make sense of it themselves Closed Structure: Definite ending – clear conclusion for the audience Circular Structure: The narrative begins at the end events (often with the climax). The audience are taken on a journey arriving back where they started. (e.g. Pulp fiction) ? !

4. Narrative Structure (continued) • Linear or non-linear structure?- often music videos are non- linear as they involve montage editing; sometimes they will contain a linear narrative element to them. • Single strand or multi-strand structure? Single strand = one narrative thread; multi- strand = several narrative threads

5. Filming/ editing techniques to achieve the narrative Structure • Editing- ordering of different narrative elements; use of transitions such as fades/ dissolves to indicate passage of time; use of post production effects to indicate flashbacks/ flashforwards; titles to explain changes in time; montage editing; continuity editing • Camera- close ups on key characters, key props; establishing shots of location; also consider what is deliberately hidden from the camera • Sound- use of sound bridges to show transitions between scenes; important sound motifs to highlight key features; voiceovers to introduce the story • Mise en scene- use of light, props, costume, settings etc to reveal key events in the narrative

6. You need to be able to apply the work of three major theorists to your video: • Craig Davis • Roland Barthes • Tzvetan Todorov • Claude Levi-Strauss Narrative theorists * You will only need to know one or two for your exam*

7. Craig Davis • Music video narratives involve either: • illustration- the images in the video match (illustrate) the lyrics/ meaning of the song. • amplification- the images in the video are related to the lyrics/ meaning of the song, but involve creative interpretation, unusual and maybe surreal ideas. Amplification is often demonstrated by the music video ‘auteur’ or creative director. • disjuncture- also created by ‘auteur’ directors these videos are completely abstract and have no obvious link to the music, lyrics, song title or artist. In this sense they are a point of ‘disjuncture’ from the song.

8. Barthes Barthes describes narrative as a series of codes that are read and interpreted by the audience Barthes has been an influential narrative theorist. He describes a text as: "a galaxy of signifiers, not a structure of signifieds; it has no beginning; it is reversible; we gain access to it by several entrances, none of which can be authoritatively declared to be the main one” What he is basically saying here is that there is no one way of interpreting a text. Individuals will interpret texts in different ways by decoding a variety of narrative codes: • Action Code • Enigma Code • Symbolic Code • Referential Code

9. Barthes Codes Action Code: (proairetic code) something the audience knows and doesn't need explaining e.g. someone being wheeled out on a stretcher tells us they are going to hospital Enigma Code: (hermeneutic code) something hidden from the audience (creates intrigue) Symbolic Code: Something that the audience recognise through connotations or something that symbolizes a more abstract concept e.g. a darker than usual room of a murder scene could symbolize the depth of darkness and depravity Cultural Code: (referential code) Something that is read with understanding due to cultural awareness (e.g. youth culture use certain words that are understood by that culture)

10. TODOROV Todorov describes narrative as going from equilibrium to disequilibrium back to an altered equilibrium • Equilibrium • Disruption • Conflict • Resolution • New Equilibrium

11. TODOROV Equilibrium: (sets the scene) Everyday Life Disruption: (complication) Something happens to alter the equilibrium Conflict: (climax) Trying to solve the problem (seek resolution) Resolution: Problem is sorted New Equilibrium: (satisfactory end) Back to normal (but never the same)- a new normal

12. LEVI-STRAUSS Levi-Strauss describes narrative as created by constant conflict of binary opposites Love – Hate Black – White Man – Nature Light – Darkness Peace – War Protagonist –Antagonist Movement – Stillness Civilized – Savage Young – Old Control – Panic Strong – Weak Man – Woman Wealth – Poverty Mankind – Aliens Humans – Technology Ignorance - Wisdom “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, “Avatar”, “Terminator” “The Dark Knight” “Slumdog Millionaire” Can you match them?

13. Complex narrative structure Today’s narratives have become increasingly complex as producers know that audiences have a greater sense of media literacy when it comes to making meaning of the text and reading the signs. There are often numerous plot twists and surprises that keep the audience intrigued with carefully spun storylines. Films such as “Memento” (Nolan,2000)which weaves the story in reverse gives the audience a similar experience to the protagonist who has short term memory loss, as they try and fit the clues together through the use of restricted narrative. Unrestricted Narrative: What the are assumed to know e.g. thriller there will be a crime so they will be expecting it Restricted Narrative: The information that is withheld from the audience