What is a narrative?
Simply put, a Narrative is a story. We are extraordinarily familiar with narrative and narrative structure. You were most likely read to as a child, watched TV shows, read your own books, went and saw movies and told your own stories.
In Unit 2 Media, you will start to analyse the structure of these stories in both film and photography.
Codes are cinematic tools used by film-makers to construct meaning (for example, a high camera angle making a character look small and insignificant) . We Studied these in Unit 1.
They are used by the film-makers to help construct meaning for the audience.
Conventions of narratives are used to establish form and structure (for example, narratives are formed by character arcs, developing storylines, etc).
They are used by the screenwriters to form and shape the narrative during the writing process.
In Unit 2 Media, you will start to analyse the structure of these stories in both film and photography.
Codes are cinematic tools used by film-makers to construct meaning (for example, a high camera angle making a character look small and insignificant) . We Studied these in Unit 1.
They are used by the film-makers to help construct meaning for the audience.
Conventions of narratives are used to establish form and structure (for example, narratives are formed by character arcs, developing storylines, etc).
They are used by the screenwriters to form and shape the narrative during the writing process.
Conventions of narrative storytelling
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Point of View - the perspective from which the narrative events play out. Usually from the protagonist's perspective but it can sometimes change. Sometimes we as an audience can see elements that our protagonist or protagonists cant see so we understand that a character may be in danger or making a bad decision. This is called an 'objective perspective.' While other times the audience may be made to feel like they are experiencing events as the protagonist experiences them. This is called the 'subjective perspective.' Storyline Structure - the opening of the film usual established time, place, location and characters and sets up narrative possibilities (the hook!). These possibilities are developed throughout the course of the film and are usually resolved by the narrative conclusion. Most narratives operate in a 3 act structure that follows the story of the protagonist, however some films may follow multiple character storylines. Usually, the protagonists storyline will begin in equilibrium, where their world is relatively normal for them. Then a problem or conflict may occur and throw the protagonist's storyline into disequilibrium. Character Development - A character's personalities traits, motivation and desires are often established in the opening of a narrative. Quite often, their motivations will drive their actions and propel the storyline forward. As the film progresses, the character will usually face some kind of challenge (a dangerous situation? a love interest? an unfulfilling life?) and the Character usually will need to learn to overcome their challenge by growing and developing. We call this the character arc. Good character arcs are usually defined by wants and needs. What a character 'wants' is usually external and drives motivation (to win a game or to slay the dragon, etc). However to get to what a character wants, they often need to gain something they truly 'need'. A character need is internal and is essentially the heart of the film (for example, to win the game the character needs to learn to embrace teamwork, or to slay the dragon the character needs to learn how to believe in himself.) Cause and Effect - the logical pattern of one action causing a resulting consequence. Good writing will follow the 'therefor structure' which suggests "THAT happened THEREFOR, THIS happens." Every action should have a logical consequence. Structure of Time - the temporal structure of a Narrative. Overall, a narrative is usually linear (from one point in time to another) circular (from the end of a story, back to the beginning and then to the end again) or non-linear (events play out any temporal order) Individual moments can have their own expressive structure of time. events may speed up or slow down, shots may linger for a long time (extended temporal duration) or they may repeat often (increased temporal frequency) |
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The 3 Act Structure
ACT 1 - Set up time, place and character. begins in equilibrium (or status quo)
EXPOSITION - Revealing details of a narrative. This can be done visually and/or verbally.
INCITING INCIDENT - The first small event that propels the storyline forward. often called 'the hook' - the beginning of disequilibrium.
THE MACGUFFIN - an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance. It is what the characters 'want'.
ACT 2 - The confrontation. Here narrative possibilities are developed.
1ST PLOT POINT - The protagonist must leave their comfort zone
1ST PINCH POINT - The protagonist learns and develops - however the antagonist challenges this progression
MIDPOINT - By here, the protagonist usually understands the path to equilibrium. The MacGuffin may now become obvious
PINCH POINT 2 - A reminder of pinch point 1, however the stakes are increased
ACT 3 - The resolution. storylines are concluded. Character arcs are completed. Loose ends are tied up.
PLOT POINT 2 - Here, the protagonist learns their last lesson. the end is in sight.
THE CLIMAX - The protagonist confronts the antagonist.
THE TWIST - the path to equilibrium is not as straightforward as it seemed.
RESOLUTION - return to equilibrium
EXPOSITION - Revealing details of a narrative. This can be done visually and/or verbally.
INCITING INCIDENT - The first small event that propels the storyline forward. often called 'the hook' - the beginning of disequilibrium.
THE MACGUFFIN - an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance. It is what the characters 'want'.
ACT 2 - The confrontation. Here narrative possibilities are developed.
1ST PLOT POINT - The protagonist must leave their comfort zone
1ST PINCH POINT - The protagonist learns and develops - however the antagonist challenges this progression
MIDPOINT - By here, the protagonist usually understands the path to equilibrium. The MacGuffin may now become obvious
PINCH POINT 2 - A reminder of pinch point 1, however the stakes are increased
ACT 3 - The resolution. storylines are concluded. Character arcs are completed. Loose ends are tied up.
PLOT POINT 2 - Here, the protagonist learns their last lesson. the end is in sight.
THE CLIMAX - The protagonist confronts the antagonist.
THE TWIST - the path to equilibrium is not as straightforward as it seemed.
RESOLUTION - return to equilibrium
MacGuffins
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3 Act Structure Explained
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Genre
The term 'genre' is a French word that refers to belonging to a style or category. For example, narrative films tend to belong to the following genres:
Each genre has conventions (or 'tropes') that reoccur often in that genre (for example, jump scares in horror films!) This is what makes genres so familiar - because they rely on familiar tropes. Sometimes they can even subvert or play on audience expectations!
Film genre heavily influences the making of (production), marketing and dissemination of (distribution) and audiecne engagement with (consumption) of media narratives and films.
- Horror (slasher, psychological, monster, gothic, grindhouse, comedy, etc)
- Action (war, spy, martial arts, blockbuster, etc)
- Drama (crime, romance, legal, film noir, etc)
- Comedy (teen, slapstick, satire, physical, dark, etc)
- Adventure (journey, fantasy, quest, medieval, etc)
- Fantasy (mythical, magical, creature, etc)
- Noir (neo, tech, traditional, crime, etc)
- Western (spaghetti)
- Animation (claymation, stop-motion, hand drawn, cgi, etc)
- Thriller (psychological, action, crime, political, legal, etc)
- Science Fiction (dystopian, alien, tech, space, etc)
- Romance (historical, comedy, teen, etc)
- Musical (rock, broadway, classic, etc)
- Children's (comedy, action, drama)
- Documentary (animal, crime, observational, expository, etc)
- Historical/Period (epic, war, biographical, etc)
- Foreign (Asian, European, Latin American, French, etc)
- Classic (black and white, silent film, etc)
Each genre has conventions (or 'tropes') that reoccur often in that genre (for example, jump scares in horror films!) This is what makes genres so familiar - because they rely on familiar tropes. Sometimes they can even subvert or play on audience expectations!
Film genre heavily influences the making of (production), marketing and dissemination of (distribution) and audiecne engagement with (consumption) of media narratives and films.
Production
Pick a genre listed above that you are interested in. Do some research to discover:
- What are the common storyline tropes? (think about film conventions!) List as many as you can and give famous examples from other films.
- familiar 3 act structure?
- character stereotypes
- common storylines?
- usual locations and settings
- common use of language/terminology (how characters speak)
- What are the common cinematic tropes? (think cinematic codes!) List as many as you can and gives famous examples from other films.
- how is camera commonly used?
- what are the familiar editing techniques of the genre?
- what are the sfx/music cliches of the genre?
- what colours are common to the genre?
- how are these types of films usually lit?
- what do the actors usually look and sound like within the genre?
- what familiar mise-en-scene are we used to seeing. Think background items, costumes, etc.
Distribution
- What are the most famous films that define the genre? Try to list as many as possible.
- find a film poster for each film - what do you notice about marketing? graphics? fonts? taglines? release dates? ages and gender of actors? Who is this film made for?
Consumption
When considering genre it is important to consider how audiences engage with, consume and read that particular genre
Audience Engagement
- What types of audiences typically consume this genre? what is their geographic, demographic , psychographic? Why do they engage with these genres? What do they hope to feel?
Audience Consumption
- How do audiences typically watch these genres? by themselves? with friends? what are their viewing habits? binge watching? cinema? at home?
