Narrative Theory

Narrative Theory

In As Media, we have been investigating into the world of narration and stories. We have looked at the differences between a 'Narrative' and a 'Story' and how a story is set out. We learnt how these stories are set out by looking into 5 different theories from 5 different theorist.

Narrative: The way in which a story is meant to be told. It is an organised way of how the story will be told by or how something is set out to be.

Story: A sequence of events which is know correctly as the plot.

How to analyse a Narrative?

When analysing a narrative, we analyse the construction of the story (i.e.: the way it has been put together, not the story itself). You also need to consider what the story is about in its most basic term, the 'Theme'.

Narrative Theories

Theory 1: 

Tzvetan Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov believed that a story is always told in the same 5 order:

Equilibrium- where everything is balanced or at the normal

Disequilibrium- Something comes along to disrupt the equilibrium

Recognition of disruption- Something or someone notices the problem

Attempt to repair disruption- Something or someone does something to try and solve the problem

Resolution/ New equilibrium- Start of a new equilibrium or back to the normal 

Theory 2: 

Syd Field

Syd Field believed that a story is made out of 3 act and within each act there are parts, in act 1 it is 'Set-Up', Act 2 is the 'Confrontation' and act 3 the 'Resolution'. Also in this paradigm there are two plot points, these plot points change the plot of the story into another direction.

Act 1:

This part of the story introduces the main character, the dramatic premise, and the dramatic situation.

Main character- the person in the story who has a need/objective to fulfill and whose actions drive the story 

Dramatic premise- what the story is about 

Dramatic situation- the circumstances surrounding the action

Act 2:

Obstacles--In the second act, the main character encounters obstacle after obstacle that prevent him from achieving his dramatic need.

First Culmination--a point just before the halfway point of the film where the main character seems close to achieving his or her goal/objective. Then, everything falls apart, leading to the midpoint.

Midpoint--a point approximately halfway through the film where the main character reaches his/her lowest point and seems furthest from fulfilling the dramatic need or objective.

Act 3:

Climax (Second Culmination)--The point at which the plot reaches its maximum tension and the forces in opposition confront each other at a peak of physical or emotional action.

Denouement--The brief period of calm at the end of a film where a state of equilibrium returns.

Theory 3: 

Vladimir Propp

Vladimir says that each story will always have 8 character types in the story, these character types are:

The Hero- leads the narrative, usually looking for something 

(Batman)

The Villain- Conflict with the hero, they always try to stop them 

(Joker from Batman)

The Donor- Gives the hero something to help them to complete the quest 

(Uncle Ben from Spider-man)

The Princess- Prize or reward for the hero 

(Princess Fiona from Shrek)

The Helper- Helps the hero on his journey, usually in the form of a side-kick 

(Robin from Batman)

The Princess' Father- Offers a reward to the hero

(The Sultan)

The False Hero- Takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess

(Prince Charming from Shrek)

The Dispatcher- Character who sends the hero on his journey

(Lord farquaad from Shrek)

Theory 4: 

Claude Levi- Strauss

Claude believes that every story is set around a 'Binary Oppositions'. A Binary Oppositions is a conflict between two qualities or terms (i.e.: Good vs Evil, Boy vs Girls, etc), Every story must have a binary oppositions.

Theory 5: 

Roland Barthes

Roland's theory was that narrative works with five different codes which becomes active to the audience, these codes are:

Action- Narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action (i.e.: Shoot-out)

Enigma- Narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle or riddle to be solved. Works to delay the story's ending pleasurably

Symbolic- Connotation, the descriptions that is linked or associated with specific symbols

Semantic- Denotation, the meaning that is linked or associated with the narrative

Cultural- Narrative device which the audience can recognise as being part of a culture (i.e.: a 'made man' in a gangster film is part of the mafia culture).

Jelly Babies:

Looking into these narrative theory, mainly focusing on Tzvetan Todorov's theory, we wanted to create our own little story and use each dilemma of Tzvetan Todorov's theory within it. These jelly babies will tell a story by using Todorov's theory: An Equilibrium, Disequilibrium, New equilibrium.

4 jelly babies friends, happily enjoying each others company

One day, the black jelly baby got fed up with rest of the jelly babies

The black jelly baby isolated himself from everyone

In the night the black jelly baby went back to the city to kidnap one of his former friends.

The orange jelly baby is taken by the black one to his hideout

 The black jelly baby eats the orange jelly baby's head

The orange jelly baby's friends find their friend's corpse

The other jelly babies find the black jelly baby sleeping

The jelly babies eat the black jelly baby's head off and carry his corpse away

Exploring Different Shot Types

In As Media Studies, we have been focusing on the different shot angles and sizes that are used for effects in media. We were told in the lesson to take pictures of the different angles to get use to it and the effects they give to the audience.

Slanted/Dutch Angle

A slanted angle shot was an unfamiliar angle to me because I have not seen or used this angle too much. The angle is an unusual shot but would be used in films that show intoxication or disorientation or usually in a story where the character is in a world that is not typical but in a place that is weird, strange and unusual. This angle shot would normally be found in 'Action' and 'Fantasy' genres, it allows the audience to see the effect that the character is in, making it seem that the character may have never been in this sort of state before and show a sense of unsteadiness. 

POV Shot (Point-Of-View)

The POV shot is an angle that I have seen before, it is used to show that the storyline of the film is been told through a character eyes. This shot is effective as it makes the audience put themselves in the character's shoes and makes it able to see what they see. This sort of angle shot is not used so tough in films and TV shows or dramas however it is quite good to use in a horror film, where the character would be recording their experiences through a camera because POV does a great job of engaging the audience, it make it quite scary for the audience as they would feel like this is all happening to them. 

High Angle

A High angle shot is used to show parts of the character's surrounding, not revealing too much and managing to keep the character in a position that show he is still important to that scene. This angle is different to Birds Eye View because it allows the audience to see the character's body language, facial expressions and props that they may be using whereas Bird Eye View would be higher up and would only be focusing more of the environment and would not be able to see the character the same as a high angle shot would. High angle shot  is used usually to show weakness or just little within a scene as the camera is high and makes the character look small and not as superior to the camera view.

Extreme Wide Shot

Extreme Wide Shot captures the character inside a large spaced area. It does not show the character too clearly and tends to make them blend into the surrounding. This angle would be good for scene where the character goes into a place that is new and has many things happening inside the environment, this would be perfect for 'Fantasy' films as they normally let the character meet different worlds and places more than other films and usually has a lot of features happening in these worlds.

Bird Eye View

Bird Eye View is similar to 'High Angle' but show the of the character's head. This image is not the best at showing the full effect of the angle shot however is ok to show the difference between a 'High Angle' and this angle. Bird Eye View is effective if you are looking to show an overall look of an environment, it allows the viewer to get an understanding of where some features of the environment is and how close or far it is away from the character. This angle is good for things like car chases as it shows where the criminal is and the person chasing them, it shows the complexity of the surrounding that the characters must go through.

Over The Shoulder Shot

 Over The Shoulder is an angle that focuses the camera over a character's shoulder. It is usually used in conversations as the camera show what is in front of the character. The angle make it seem like someone is standing behind and is peering over the character's shoulder, this could make the audience feel like they can be that person who is peering over this shoulder, making the feel more engaged within the scene.

Low Angle 

Low Angle is the opposite of 'High Angle', it makes the character seem more superior and powerful than the camera. Low Angle focuses the camera upwards so that you are able to see the characters face and body, while revealing the background and what is above the character. This shot would be good to use when someone or something is below the main character, it give attention and dominance to this character as he stands over the weak. 

Worm Eye View

Worm Eye View is the extreme version of a 'Low Angle', this angle does well to capture the character's body and face while capturing things that may be above them. This camera angle like 'Low Angle' make the character in the focus look powerful however this angle exaggerates the effect much more. This camera angle is good if using it within a conversation between characters that may not be exactly equal physically and mentally. Example of this would be between a child and an adult, it shows the audience the way a small child would see a big adult, creating power that the adult may have over the child.

 Close-Up Angle

 Close-Up is a very popular camera shot when it comes to media. Close-Up focuses upon a character's face, it allows the audience to see the character's facial expressions and details clearly. This camera shot is good in 'Horror' as it show how the character is feeling at that moment but the expressions they show and gives off different feelings to the audience as they also have to witness the character's fear and makes them feel a bit uneasy as well.

 Two-Shot Angle

Two-Shot is an angle that get two people into the frame. Two-Shot Angles are usually used in a conversation between two characters, this angle lets the audience know that the characters within the frame have some sort of relationship between them. Two-Shot are used all around media however works best in 'Romance', This is becasue it frames the two characters within one, adding attentions upon them and intensifying the relationship that the two characters may have.

Introduction to Sound

Sound

Dialogue:

Conversation between 2 or more people.

Diegetic Sound:

The noises within a scene. The sounds that the character can hear at that moment in the scene.

Non-Diegetic Sound:

Sounds that the character cannot hear.

Sound Motif:

A sound that becomes associated with a person, thing or programme. Every time you hear the sound then you hear the sound then you can associate with something.

Synchronous Sound:

The visual seems to move with the sounds.

Contrapuntal Sound:

Sound that does not match what you can see, it sounds inappropriate and does not fit the feel of the visual.

Voice Over:

A narrator who talks over a scene.

Ambient Sound:

Everyday noises that you can hear in the background of a scene.

Sound Perspective:

From a character’s perspective or view.

Mode of address/Direct address:

The narrator addresses the audience directly.

Sound Bridge:

Sound that lead in or out of a scene, it is a sound transition.

Introduction to Editing

Editing

Cut:

Replacing one shot instantly with the next. This is usually seen in 'Action' films as it is a fast pace transitions.

Crossfade/Dissolve:

A slow paced fade from one shot to the next.

Shot, Reverse shot:

The ricochet of the shot between two people or a pervious scene.

Jump cut:

A jump cut is a transition between two shot which appears to 'jump' forward in time.

Graphic Match:

Cut in film editing between wither two different objects, two different spaces or two different compositions, in which an object in the two shots graphically match.

Cut away:

Cut away is the shot of something however cut of one scene into something else (i.e.: shot of someone looking at what is happening.

Parallel editing:

A technique which cuts between two separate events that are occurring at the same time within the context of the film.

Match on action:

A cut that connects two different views of the same action at the same moment.

Montage:

Collection of different scenes of a production.

Wipe:

A transition that clears the current scene off and replace with a new one.