Reflection
Audio Player
week 5
In this week, we learnt about different structures of narratives. For example, linear narratives and nonlinear narratives. In the weekly assignment, we were asked to use different structures to narrate the same story with the groupmates. I chose to use a circular narrative structure because I felt it best supported the story’s theme, which is sci-fi. Also, circular narrative can bring up a feeling to the audience that the story never ends, lost in the memory. In the story, it begins and ends with David waking up, first in an alien world, then in hospital. I was exhausted by the waking up scene, using circular structure to connect the whole story.
The circular form heavily influenced my creative decisions. Narratively, it allowed me to play with emotional resonance by looping key motifs, like David’s confusion and his connection to Lily. In sound design, I reused similar audio cues—like the hospital monitor beeping and ambient whispers—to create a sense of déjà vu, making the story feel like a memory repeating itself. These choices helped blur the line between reality and illusion, enhancing the surreal quality of the story.
Among all the sketches our group produced, I personally found the non-linear narrative the most compelling after mine. Its fragmented timeline created suspense and required the listener to piece things together, which was engaging. However, I preferred the circular narrative for its emotional pacing and satisfying sense of return. Some group members leaned toward the linear sketch for its clarity, while others appreciated the unpredictability of the non-linear one.
This week’s focus on narrative structure really expanded my appreciation for storytelling, especially in audio. I now understand that structure isn’t just how a story is told—it’s what gives it rhythm, emotion, and meaning. In audio media, where time and sound are so closely linked, the shape of the narrative becomes an essential part of the listener’s experience.