Narrative Structures
- 2. 3 Act Structure Beginning Setup “You chase your hero up a tree” Middle Confrontation “You throw rocks at them” End Resolution “You get them down (or not)”
- 3. Narrative Viewpoint 1. Restricted Narrative 2. Omniscient Narrative
- 4. 1. Restricted Narrative • The audience know as much as the characters do • If the character is puzzled, then the audience is too and we must work out what is going on Examples: • L.A Confidential (1997): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArrhM8UbTww • The Usual Suspects (1995): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnGo6Qm0Wt8
- 5. 2. Omniscient Narrative • Where the audience knows more than the main character • Omniscient narratives create suspense rather than mystery • We are given a God like view Examples: • Shallow Hal (2001): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4j25DUQLgE • Scream (1996): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Fy-XBW3FA
- 6. Open Narratives • Open narratives are incomplete and do not have a foreseeable ending. They typically involve more than one narrative strand (multi-stranded) and have many characters. Eastenders is a good example of an open narrative.
- 7. Closed Narratives • Closed narratives are complete and have a beginning, middle and end. The narrative is resolved, or closed. Most films have a closed narrative. Although, this is being challenged by the super franchise, which has narrative elements that remain open and continue into sequels and spin-offs.
- 8. Narrative Structure 1. Circular 2. Episodic 3. Linear 1. CIRCULAR 3.LINEAR 2. EP IS ODIC
- 10. Circular Narrative • Examples: Mission Impossible 3 (2006): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLNUIU7AzTg Citizen Kane (1941): • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r0b_XeRkG4
- 11. Episodic Narrative When a narrative is broken up into events, or narrative pieces
- 12. Episodic Narrative • Examples: Forrest Gump (1994): • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvKzyYy6qvY Full Metal Jacket (1987): • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXhKpUfITV0&feature=related
- 13. Linear Narrative When a narrative is told in the order in which events happen
- 14. Linear Narrative • Examples: The Matrix (1999): • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCUhFZnxoBU&feature=related The Sixth Sense (1999): • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN13toLMHpE
- 15. Recap 1. What are the two narrative viewpoints? Give one example for each. 2. What is the difference between an open and closed narrative? 3. What are the three narrative structures?