Film studies narrative

‘Super 8’ (J.J. Abrams, USA, 2011)

‘Moonrise Kingdom’ (Wes
Anderson, USA, 2012)

Narrative

Refers to the development of a
’story’, the roles and relationships of the
characters within it, the situations and
dilemmas they confront and the methods
utilised for problem-solving within narratives.

Lesson Objectives: To be able to discuss the messages, values, and themes of ‘Super 8’ and
‘Moonrise Kingdom’.



Narrative
For a film to be a ‘narrative’ it must present us with a series of events in ways that
suggests connections between one event and the next. Narratives must be made up of
parts that are related, usually in a ‘cause-and-effect’ way.
Narration – how the story is told.




Story and Plot

Story refers to the events of the narrative (what happens), whereas
plot refers to how the story is presented in terms of order and
narrative logic. ‘the story is the what in a narrative that is
depicted…and the plot is the how’ (Chatman 1980). The most
significant way plot shapes story is through chronology – the order
in which the story is told.




Classical Hollywood cinema
A series of narrative conventions emerged out of the classical
Hollywood period (1930s-1940s) which prioritise entertainment and
so seek to arouse and maintain the audience’s interests. Hollywood
narrative codes aim to make the story easily understood by the
audience, as a result they developed a sophisticated set of
conventions that guide the viewers through the story. Classical
narrative codes are transparent because they want to keep the
viewer’s focused on the story, so the audience maintain focus on
what is happening rather that how it is being told. Classical
Hollywood narrative codes aim for invisibility




Classical narrative codes are transparent because they want to
keep the viewer’s focused on the story, so the audience maintain
focus on what is happening rather that how it is being told.
Classical Hollywood narrative codes aim for invisibility.




Maybe the single most important and most influential element of
cinematic form that characterizes classical Hollywood cinema is
continuity editing. The most important goal of continuity editing is
to make the cut invisible. This is achieved by devices such as the
shot / reverse-shot or the eyeline match, and other match cuts.
The editing is subservient to the flow of the narrative and is usually
constructed in a way that it does not draw attention onto itself.




Narrative Theory

Propp – character functions – hero, villain, helper, etc.
Todorov – equilibrium, disequilibrium, resolution.
Vogler and Campbell – the Hero’s Journey.




Propp – character functions – hero, villain, helper, etc.




Todorov – equilibrium, disequilibrium, resolution.




Vogler and Campbell – the Hero’s Journey.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_SuA8zEWAs#t=252
The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative identified by the
American scholar Joseph Campbell that appears in drama,
storytelling, myth, religious ritual, and psychological
development. It describes the typical adventure of the archetype
known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great
deeds on behalf of the group, tribe, or civilization.




The Hero's Journey Outline
1.
THE ORDINARY WORLD.
2.
THE CALL TO ADVENTURE.
3.
REFUSAL OF THE CALL.
4.
MEETING WITH THE MENTOR.
5.
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD.
6.
TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES.
7.
APPROACH.
8.
THE ORDEAL.
9.
THE REWARD.
10. THE ROAD BACK.
11. THE RESURRECTION.
12.
RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR.


Narrative
Chronologicalvideos used to
show past events.
Cause and effect,
psychologically
motivated
characters,
classical
Hollywood
narrative style.



Narrative
Can we apply the
different narrative
theories to ‘Super
8’?
o Propp
o Todorov
o Vogler and
Campbell


Narrative
Action is chronological but significant elements
of the story are told in flashback, and some
foretelling is used.
Cause and effect used but less obviously
communicated.
Often breaks Classical Hollywood narrative by
subverting invisible style, e.g. narrator, selfconscious editing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8i2rb_u4A


Narrative


Which narrative theories can
be applied to ‘Moonrise
Kingdom’?
• Propp Character types
• Todorov
• Vogler and Campbell


Film studies narrative

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