narrative 3 part structure.

Narrative - 3 part structure

Narrative and its 6 codes

The 6 Narrative Codes:

• Technical Code
• Verbal Code
• Symbolic Code
• Structure
• Character
• Narrative Conflict.

Technical Code:   This refers to all aspects of narrative construction that involve technical decision making. Therefore anything to do with camera angles and movement, lighting , props , shot framing and composition : design , layout and editing.

Verbal Code:   The use of language, written and spoken- and signs learnt in graphics. We learn a lot about a narrative from what we are told in this way, but the best narratives show not tell leaving the audience to draw their own conclusions.

Symbolic Code:  These are signs contained in the narrative that we decide as being significant and have meaning. E.g. a ragged coat worn by a character may mean that they are poor and possibly hungry.

Structure:   Russian Theorist , Tzvetan Todorov suggest6s that all narratives follow a three part structure. The simple formula can be applied to virtually all narratives about a beginning middle and end.

Character: Todorov came up with his theories after making a study of Russian folk tales- there is usually just a hero + villain.

• Protagonist = hero (most screen time)
• Antagonist  = villain (gets in protagonists way)
• Heroine = prize for the hero = feminine heroine = male protagonist.
• Father = An authority figure who offers a reward tot he hero for completing their quest.
• Helper = helps the hero = side kick
• Donor = gives the hero something - a clue or power- which helps them complete their quest.
• Mentor = Teaches and guides the hero.

Narrative Conflict:
As well as Aristotle deciding that 'all drama is conflict' in the 4th century BC, 20th century theorist Claude Levi-Strauss suggested that all narratives had to be driven forward by conflict that was cause by a series of opposing forces. he called this the theory of Binary Opposition, and it is used to describe how each main force in a narrative has its equal and opposite. Analysing a narrative means identifying these opposing forces

light/dark	good/evil	noise/silence	youth/age
right/wrong	poverty/wealth	strength/weakness	inside/outside

and understanding how the conflict between them will drive the narrative on until, finally, some sort of balance or resolution is achieved.

narrative,enigma story and plot

Narrative:

Narrative is the order in which a film is told. In terms of Media and films narrative is the coherence/organisation of media texts (eg. the story). The human brain needs narrative to make sense of things. We connect events and make interpretations based on those connections. Narrative is correlated with genre as some genres have typical story-lines. (Beginning, Middle and End)

Narrative Enigma:

The purpose of this engages audience attention, maintains curiosity and interest within the narrative chain of cause and effect. (It is essential that you create enigma when making your own Opening Title Sequence - OTS). Enigma is something that can be seen as mysterious and creates curiosity. 

Difference between the narative story and narrative plot:

A narrative story is what happens in the film which includes a backstory as well as those projected the story whereas a narrative plot is the order in which the story is told.

For example the series of events from a narrative story could be in this order:
Crime Conceived
Crime Planned
Crime Committed
Crime Discovered
Detective investigates
Detective Identifies criminals

However, the story events could be re-arranged in a different sequence to make the narrative more interesting, for example the plot could be:

Crime Discovered
Detective investigates
Detective Identifies criminals
Crime Conceived
Crime Planned
Crime Committed

Genre Hybrid and sub genres

 

Film Genres

 

 

 

 

 

Film genres are identifiable types, categories, classifications or groups of films that have similar techniques or conventions such as:

 

• Content
• Subject matter
• Structures
• Themes
• Mood
• Period
• Plot
• Settings
• Recurring icons
• Stock Characters
  
• Narrative Events
• Situations
• Motifs
• Styles
• Props
• Stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neale (2003) points out that generic norms and conventions may be recognized and understood by audiences, readers and viewers. Genre frames audience expectations, whereby viewers bring a set of assumptions with them and anticipate that these will somehow be met in the viewing experience. This brings audience pleasure. The demands of commercial practices necessitate that generic forms must somehow ‘guarantee meaning and pleasure’ in order to locate and retain a sizeable audience to justify a return on substantial investment. 

 

 

 

 

 

How genres have changed overtime.

 

 

Genres change and develop because of changes in the culture or historical period in which the genre is being produced. The Western solo hero who was popular in the 1940s and 1950s evolved into the group of heroes in the 1960s and 1970s with Rawhide and Bonanza—shows that reflected a shift in the workplace to that of the group in the corporation or company during that time. And, with the increasing interest in urban crime and international espionage in the 1970s and 1980s, the Western was replaced by the police/detective and the spy/thriller genres.

 

 During the Great Depression, audiences flocked to movie houses to view Hollywood romantic comedies as a way of escaping the grim realities of everyday lives characterized by poverty and deprivation.  During the 1990s, with the increased production of films and the control of media conglomerates over the types of films being made, an increasing number of formulaic genre films were produced. Film studios needed to attract large audiences in order to make a return profit on the millions they invested in high-production, special-effects films, so they turned to safe, familiar genres and sequels.

Hybrid Genres





 

a genre in fiction that blends themes and elements from two or more different genres. As opposed to the (literary and political) conservatism of most genre fiction. They are three or more genres or a mixture of sub-genres.

 

 

 

 

 Sub Genres


These are identifiable sub classes within the larger film genre, with their own distinctive subject matter, style, formulas, and iconography.
 For example:

Adventure Sub Genres:



 

 





Define genre

Genre- refers to the method based on similarities in the narrative elements from which films are constructed.

What is a thriller film?

What is a thriller?

Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods, giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror. Films of this genre tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced.

 

The suspense is terrible," says Gwendolen in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), before adding, "I hope it will last." This witticism contains an intriguing paradox. Why is it that we both fear and enjoy being frightened? Alfred Hitchcock always thought it started in a mother's arms, when she says 'Boo!' to her child, who is first startled and then delighted. In the cinema, this sensation might have originated in the first public screenings of films by the Lumière brothers in 1895. "A train appears on the screen," wrote Maxim Gorky in a memorable newspaper review. "It speeds straight at you - watch out! It seems as though it will plunge into the darkness in which you sit..." Some audiences did indeed flee the theatres in terror, but they must have returned, because the cinema had soon established itself as the most popular mass medium of the early twentieth century.

The link I have used helps to re-imbed the feeling of emotions, excitement and exhilaration through the variety of old, classic thrillers provided. Recent examples have tended to lack that political and social edge and have been slick but relatively conventional in their dramatic strategies.

Audiences went to the cinema not simply to see but also to feel something which they would not ordinarily experience in real life. At one extreme, they were enthralled by the ingenuity of the dog in Rescued by Rover (1905) as it discovers the whereabouts of a kidnapped child.

 

Rescued By Rover 1905.

 



39 Steps 1935

                         Classic Hitchcock thriller about spies, secrets and Scotland.

 

	Defence of the Realm (1985)
	Tense 80s conspiracy thriller about a nuclear near-accident.       Inception







Textually Analyse OTS

What is representation?

Storyboard

Representation of men and women in thrillers

Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements.



The Game: OTS

Summary: Where do all the pieces fit? In David Fincher’s 1997 thriller The Game, it’s not just Nicholas van Orton puzzling through the clues — it’s us, too. From the get-go, we’re given hints of what’s to come. There’s a subtle tinkle of glass as dark puzzle pieces, designed by Richard ‘Dr.’ Baily, reveal the studio logos and the title. Then, a fuzzy look into a family’s history. A piano plays softly and the cellophane jumps from scene to scene, an invitation to private moments and intimate gatherings — but there is something uneasy there, too. Something fraying at the edges.

Age-  The men and women shown in this OTS are all of similar age, although children shown, it seems very family orientated. Their is a wide variety of ages to small children to elderly people. The camera looks down on the children and elderly people showing that they are vulnerable whilst the camera is mostly looking up on the men.

Ethnicity- . The people are predominantly white showing how it is set during a time where black people were not as socially accepted. It sets the scene and tone as he is having a flashback and seeing his family's history it gives a more in-depth understanding of the character.

Sexuality- In this OTS all the men seem to have wives and children, to me back where it was set was a time where making family's and having children was extremely important, homosexuality was not as socially acceptable. It is also shown that family means a lot as in the beginning of the flashback a clip is shown of who I assume is him with his father, both wearing suits and looking very similar. This shows that the men especially take having children very seriously as they want to keep the family name.

Class and status-  As the flashback occurs they are all clearly of the upper-class as their are servants and expensive clothing which was only usually worn by upper-class back where it was set, The men were of superiority to women also as shown the women are the ones who will have to look after the children whilst the men do the more hands on work. In the OTS children are seen watching performances by the servants showing they are almost above them as the servants were most probably not getting paid for it.

Physical ability/Disability-  Everyone seems very able and well although men are seen smoking as back then no one really knew the real risks, you also had to be wealthy to be able to smoke, this may alter their physical ability, but no one really seems unable or have any clear disability.

Regional Identity-  The family he has grown up with must be identified by others as an extreme upper-class family with money and wealth, back in that time there was many few houses very big so to have one you must have been very privileged.

Gender-  In the OTS the men are viewed as higher as they are shown seeming very relaxed whilst the women are cooking, looking after the children making sure they are well while the men are more social and are do most of the talking whilst the women take more of a backseat, this shows the social-class back in that time.

Summary:

How men are stereotypically perceived in thrillers?

Men are usually represented as the more powerful people in thrillers usually main characters who are fighting against people and seem to be the more physical and mentally able gender. They are viewed as the 'hero' and you find most people usually want them to do well. They take a more active roll compared to women due to the stereotypical feeling that men are better physically than women. Mainly seen as protagonists.

 

 

How are women stereotypically perceived in thrillers?

 

 

 

Women are seen very differently than men, they are viewed as innocent and pure, the men usually help women during these films women very rarely get a main role in a thriller movie, they are seen as more passive and rarely have to solve problems etc. They usually feature in the more romantic side of films e.g. the girl the guy loves.

Representation media terminology.

Media Dictionary