Narrative Structures

1. Narrative Structures
Linear
 Chronological order of events – this is when the narrative goes
from the start, middle then end.
 There is a single starting point, which may lead to multiple
developments and outcomes.
 Linear productionshelpsthe audience to have an
understanding of the story which makessense as the story
starts from the beginning through to the end.
Non-linear
 Eventsare out of chronological order, or in other words the
narrativedoes not follow the pattern of the events. This could
be dream sequences, flashbacks, and flash-forwards etc.
 Some television series use non-linear narratives as a narrative
hook in the first episodes, this could be an intenseor shocking
event, and then go back to the pastand show events leadingup
to what happened. A good example of this is The Missing.
 Another reason a non-linear narrativeis used is to show how
the human memory recallsevents.
Flashbacks
 A flashback is a scene that jumpsthe narrative back in time
from the currentpointin the story. Flashbacks are often used
to recountevents that have happened beforea sequenceof
events to fill in the backstory.
 Used to cohere a story, develop a character, or add structure to
the narrative.
Realist
Realist narrativesare story lines that are believable by that audience
because they appear real or a based on a true story that has
happened in the past.

2. Anti-realist
Anti-realist is a narrativethat is not realistically filmed and
structured. These dramasmay use a lot of after effects.
Ends
Open
Multiplenarrativestrandswith no clear resolution. Often seen in
soap operas. May be used to intrigue audience and let them form
their own conclusion.
Closed
A clear resolution to the narrative.
High degreeof narrativeclosure.
Technical elements
Camera
 Master shot - Used to set the scene or location
 Close up - Used to show emotion of character
 Medium shot - Shows the body language of the character
 Zoom - crash zoom can be used to give information as slow can
increase the tension
 Tracking shot - camera moveswith the action inside of a pan
movement
 Shallow/deep focus - shallow focusis when only a few objects
are in focusto the audiencewhist deep focusis everything in
focus
 High/low angle - high angle looks down aslow angle looks up.
Can show importanceof characters
Lighting
 High key - very bright light e.g. Shows something positive
 Low key - low lighting e.g. Addstension
 Naturallighting - daylight
 Hard - strong and powerfullight e.g. Addsnegative emotions
 Soft - soft lighting e.g. Addspositiveemotions

3. Sound
 Diegetic - sound that has been placed within the film. If the
character can hear it.
 Non-diegetic - the characters cannot hear it within the film but
the audiencecan. E.g. Music
 Dialogue- diegetic sound
 Music- non-diegetic
 Sound affects - non-diegetic/diegetic (used in differentpoints
for reasons)
 The mix - how all the soundsaremixed together
 Sound perspective - some soundsareincrease to a scene to add
tension, emotion or drama
Editing
 Continuity -scenes flows seamlessly
 Crosscutting/parallel editing - two pieces of film that happen
at the same time but are joined together
 Elliptical editing- a pause. Cutfrom a scene to another but has
pushed the time forward; issuingapart of the story that isn't
needed.
 Cutaways - cuts that add meaningsto the story
 Use of montage - shows of passingof time
 Split screen
Scripting, Buildingascene, Buildinga story
PropsTheory - character typein stories
Tvzetan Todorov - Suggests narrative is simply equilibrium,
disequilibrium and new equilibrium

4. Story Arcs
Purposeof a story arc is to move a character it a situation from state
to another.
Positioning of the audience
The narrativehas position the audienceinto a particular relationship
with the character on the screen
How is this achieved?
 P.O.V shots
 Editing techniques