NARRATIVE

RECAP STARTER
Genre Reading Discussion

GENRE READING QUESTIONS

• Do documentary films constitute a genre in the same way horror films do?
• Do viewers and fans play a role in shaping genres?
• Do conventions change over time?
• Are all conventions equally important in shaping genre?
• Why are genre films sometimes cliche?
• Is genre useful in categoriusing all films within a genre?
• Are some genres defined by more than just conventions? Emotional responses?

NOT A NARRATOR
What is narrative?

NARRATIVE DEFINITION

Narrative is the way the different elements in a story are organised to make meaning.

KNICK KNACK

Beginning, Middle, End
Conflict
Resolution

NARRATIVE THEORY FACT SHEETS

TODOROV

PROPP

LEVI-STRAUSS

BARTHES

VOGLER

NARRATIVE PRESENTATIONS

GROUP WORK

Research your assigned narrative theorist and apply the theory to a film example of your choice.

GROUP WORK

Create a presentation that demonstrates how you could apply your theorist to a film example.

OTHER NARRATIVE TERMS

Single-Strand Narrative

Only one story line that usually follows one characters journey.

Multi-Strand Narrative

More than one story going on at the same time.

Linear Narrative

When the film starts at the beginning and then progresses logically to the end

Non-Linear Narrative

When the film jumps forwards and backwards throughout time - piecing the story together.

Causality

One thing which leads to another then another then another.

Classic Hollywood Narratives

The happy ending.

Multiple Perspectives

The same scene but shown through the eyes of different characters.

How does this opening sequence employ any of the narrative techniques that you have learnt about today?

INDIVIDUAL NARRATIVE RESEARCH

Explain how a narrative convention is used in an example you have found for each of the narrative terms.