This document discusses narratives and narrative structures. It defines narratives as stories that construct our lives through various mediums like nursery rhymes, bedtime stories, jokes, anecdotes, and films. It notes that narratives teach moral lessons and shape how we understand concepts like good versus evil. The document also outlines common narrative structures used in storytelling like characters, linear and non-linear formats, and realist versus anti-realist approaches. Students are assigned tasks to analyze the narrative structure of a favorite film and begin structuring their own single camera essay incorporating lessons on narratives.

1. Narratives & Narrative Structures Alex Hughes, CONEL College, January 2010 Unit 21, Single Camera Production

2. Aims & Objectives To understand what narratives are, and their importance in The World. To analyse narrative structures and identify familiar types. To apply narrative techniques to your own work.

3. Overview Narratives: Stories Narrative structures: the way stories are constructed Why are they important?

4. Narratives Stories construct our lives! Nursery rhymes Bedtime stories Jokes Images Comics Anecdotes Photography Radio Films Graphics Everywhere!

5. Nursery Rhymes Give us our moral compass Give us ‘ life lessons ’ Teach us the basics: ‘ Good versus evil ’ ‘ Right from wrong ’ ‘ Danger signs ’- Humpty Dumpty:

6. H. Dumpty “ Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, All the King’s horses, and all the King’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again .”

7. Bedtime Stories “ If you want your child to be a genius, read them bedtime stories every night ”- Albert Einstein Teach us right from wrong Fire the imagination Generally work with the hero versus villain format

8. Jokes “ A man walks into a bar...” “ Knock knock.... who’s there...” “ Why did the chicken cross the road?” “ Doctor, doctor....” “ Have you ever noticed how....”

9. Anecdotes Real (but generally ludicrous), stories Relatable to the audience Endearing to the audience Show a vulnerability from the story teller.

10. Narrative Structures The way the story is constructed Applied to film making Formulaic (“ blockbuster ”) Vladimir Propp “ Spheres of Action”

11. Characters The hero The villain The donor The (magical) helper The princess (and father) The dispatcher The false hero

12. Structures: Linear Non-linear/ Non Sequential Flashback/ flash-forward Realist Anti-realist Open ended/ closed

13. Task 1: Think about your favourite films. In small groups, analyse the narratives and narrative structure of one film and report your findings back to the group in 30 mins Discuss the characters, structure and format

14. Task 2: Begin to structure your ‘ single camera ’ essay. Think about last weeks session (single camera) Think about this weeks session (narratives and narrative structure.)