Narrative structure pdf
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The document defines different types of narrative structures for documentaries: linear follows events chronologically, non-linear segments by topic rather than time, and circular starts and ends in the present. It also distinguishes open from closed narratives based on resolving the issue or leaving questions unanswered, and single-stranded narratives that focus on one broad topic versus multi-stranded narratives that cover multiple different topics.
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Narrative structure pdf
- 2. What is meant by the term narrative? The way a media product is structured and organised in order to make sense to an audience.
- 3. Linear, Non-linear and Circular Linear The structure of the documentary follows in chronological order. Non-linear Structure is not in chronological order, it is segmented by topic. Circular The documentary starts where it ends, for example starting in present day, then talking about the past throughout the documentary, then ending in present day.
- 4. Open and Closed Open Closed The documentary ends with unanswered questions or the issue of the documentary is not resolved and is on-going. The documentary answers all questions and during the time it is aired there is nothing more to say on the topic.
- 5. Single-stranded and Multi-stranded Single-stranded The documentary focuses on one broad topic, rather than lots of different topics. Multi-stranded The documentary focuses on lots of different topics, rather than one topic.