Narrative

Narrative

The narrative is how the story is told essentially. This can be mixed up with the meaning of story which is the plot bassically. There are lots of narrative theorists.....

Todorov- He believed that a narrative should consist of a equilibrium. This means there is an equal balance of emotions and power as such(e.g. characters are happy in the scene) at the start of the film. Then there is a new equilibrium/ dis-equillibrium. This is where there is a disruption of the order of balance by an event. This happens in the middle. Then it is then restored at the end of the narrative.

Barthes- Barthes says that there are technical codes in a narrative to tell the story. For example sound, shot lengths, edit-lengths and camera angles. Also verbal codes, so what people say and symbolic codes too. For example a red rose may connote romance or love.

Propp- He says that there are certain character types and their roles within a narrative. This table (below) explains his theory. (a Picture in form of JPEG)

Beginning/middle/ end and Flashbacks/flashfowards

This is normally the main structure and easiest way to tell the story or express the plot in film. However there are extras that don't follow the beginning to end idea. flashbacks can show peoples feelings/experiences in the past but still be included in the film at different stages.