Lesson Notes (11/09/2012) - Narrative Conventions and Theories

Open and Closed Narratives

Open would leave a cliffhanger and run on-and-on

Closed narrative would be a film and have an end

Multi-Stranded Narratives:

• 3 or 4 strands running at once
• They are useful as it can give the audience a break from a overused set of actors

4 Narrative Theories

Todorov: Beginning, Middle and an End... Equalibrium, Disruption, Attempt to repair, New Equalibrium

Propp: (Russian Guy) - Studied Russian folktails:

Character Functions-

• Hero and Adversiary
• Prize or Princess
• False Hero

Character functions change in soaps - Phil Mitchell can be seen as both good and bad

Barthes:

Semiotirs, meaning of signs and our understanding of them

• Action Code - Something happening - Gun etc...
• Enigma Code -Puzzle, Clue, Something your not sure about. Used alot in films.

Levi-Strauss:

Binary Opposistions (Rural / Urban, Good / Evil) more applicable to films

Settings, Representation, Mise-en-scene and Narratives

Setting:

Familiar Places (Communities, Local Pub etc...)

Representation - Stereotypes

• Archetype (Superman)
• Smart - Blazer, Trousers to show authority

Mise-en-scene:

• Props
• Low Key Lighting
• Pub - Iconography

The three sections from a Emmerdale extract

Setting:

• Familiar Place - Local Pub, Work Place
• Anger Management Class - Calm Colours, Relaxing

Representation:

• Archetype -  Man with the dog. (Bad person - Ugly, Bald, Wrinkles) Relates to Levi Strauss theory

Mise-en-scene:

• Low Key Lighting within the local pub
• Props (iconography) Bell, Beer Mats, Beer Glasses etc... (Pub)

 Narrative:

•  Anger management - Sold Car - Child not being at school (Multi-Stranded Narrative)

Action Code Narrative:

• The villian having a dog. We assume he is going to attack