DO THIS ESSAY!!! Apply theories of narrative to one of your coursework productions

Narrative

§All media texts tell stories. The structure of these stories is called the narrative.

§A story must have verisimilitude (appear to be 

real) in order to engage us – how does your 

c/w have verisimilitude?

§It might seem more obvious to apply narrative

 theory to a film (see next 2 slides), but if you

created a magazine you need to consider the 

following:

§How is your magazine structured? How does

 the front cover lead the reader into the

magazine? How does the contents page lead the 

reader into the rest of the magazine?

 Consider enigma codes (Barthes) used in all 3

 aspects of your c/w. Analyse your dps in 

 to Todorov’s theory.

Opening sequences and


 narrative 

  

To introduce character (Propp)

• Establish narrative structure (Todorov)

• Captivate audience/interest

• Establish core themes (Levi Strauss)

• Introduce core iconography

• Establishes audience expectation

 through use of

generic conventions

• Establish sense of enigma (Barthes)

Narrative conventions of opening

 sequences

Predominance of action codes

 (Barthes)

• Significance of soundtrack –

 establishing mood

• Use of titles as credits/ event

 signifiers

• Pace

Analysing Narrative; The Micro Elements

Technical Code – camera angle, intensity of lighting, editing, music

Verbal code – how words, music or anything verbal creates a meaning for the audience

Symbolic code – consider Barthes and his denotation and connotation. The symbolism of the props, costume, location, body language etc

Structure – narrative structure; consider Todorov’s narrative structure (Equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium; or restoration of the equilibrium- BEGINNING OF FILM SEE EVERYONE LIVING A NORMAL LIFE, SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THEY OVER COME OR BEGIN AGAIN)

Character – Consider Prop’s character functions; what role does each character plain the moving the story on?

Narrative Conflict – any story involves a conflict, how have you represented and introduced this conflict through your trailer? Consider Claude Levi-Strauss and his theory of Binary oppositions ( GOOD VS EVIL)

Micro	Own example	Macro	Theory
Technical Code	Camera angle. High angle – to make character look like a victim, show vulnerability	Representation Genre Audience	Barthes
Verbal Code	Lack of verbal language suggesting and building suspense, uncertainty of character - not offering the audience too much information	Audience Representation
Symbolic Code			Barthes
Structure	Non-linear	( did you challenging audience’s understanding of trailer narratives)	Todorov Cause and effect Equilibrium
Character	Reflected by mise en scene (specific reference to use of costume/props to represent the character and their role)	Representation Audience	Propp Barthes
Narrative Conflict		Genre	Levi-Strauss

Apply theories of narrative to one of your coursework productions

Micro	Own example	Macro	Theory
Technical Code- camera angle, intensity of lighting, editing, music	Camera angle-	Representation Genre Audience	Barthes
Verbal Code- how words, music or anything verbal creates a meaning for the audience		Audience Representation
Symbolic Code-consider Barthes and his denotation and connotation. The symbolism of the props, costume, location, body language etc			Barthes
Structure- narrative structure; consider Todorov’s narrative structure (Equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium; or restoration of the equilibrium)		( did you challenging audience’s understanding of trailer narratives)	Todorov Cause and effect Equilibrium
Character – Consider Prop’s character functions; what role does each character plain the moving the story on?		Representation Audience	Propp Barthes
Narrative Conflict – any story involves a conflict, how have you represented and introduced this conflict through your trailer? Consider Claude Levi-Strauss and his theory of Binary oppositions		Genre	Levi-Strauss