Narrative;
– retelling a sequence of events
Today we discussed what separates human beings from other living creatures and that is our ability to communicate, process and learn from the art of story telling.
In order to read a film we must understand the three main functions of a story; Plot, Character Development and Resolution. These three components build meaning and therefore create expectations for future experiences.
Over time theories have been developed suggesting there are 17 basic elements to any story and therefore any story can fit into one of 7 plot lines. In light of this, adaptations allow for directors/filmmakers/writers to create new patterns of representations and expectations.
Mapping Story Exercise- Hunger Games
Emotional intensity:
– volunteer for Prim – middle
– fighting/ killing – middle
– rue death – intense
– only one can live – intense
– outsmart snow – peak
Sometimes we may come across a film that questions whether it is in fact a narrative? Daniel Askill’s “We Have Decided Not to Die” plays with this notion;
reasons why may not be a narrative
– absence of clear storyline
– absence of cause and effect
– absence of clear character development
reasons why may be a narrative
– traditional beginning, middle, end
– headings offer sequential journey/ cyclical nature
– character development in the sense; overcoming the conflict (cars crashing)
– Title aids plot
– making a choice > action > plot
