Representations:
> Narrative Structure
-
Linear:
·
Have a clear beginning, middle and end.
·
They follow a chronological timeframe.
·
Action A leads to action B which leads to action
C etc.
-
Fragmented (non-linear)
·
Disrupted or disjointed narratives. e.g. one is
Joyce's family, one is Hopper and one is Scientists etc.
·
They do not have a clear beginning, middle and
end.
·
Events / actions may be shown out of
chronological order and not in the order they would naturally occur in, so C
might happen before A does.
·
It is a narrative technique that can help to
show parallel stories, a story within a story, dreams and so on within the same
episode or sequel.
·
They are seen to more closely replicate the way
the human mind works.
·
They make the audience participate in the story
to try and piece the story together.
-
Restricted:
·
We experience the story through the senses and
thoughts of just one character.
·
This is almost always the main character
(protagonist).
·
The narrative cannot tell the audience things
that the main character does not know, we find things out in the story at the
same time as the character.
-
Omnipresent:
·
A panoramic, all seeing, view of the world of
the story, not just one character's point of view.
·
Provides the point of view of many characters
and their experience and feelings within the story.
·
Helps the audience see a broader background to
the story, from a number of contexts.
·
Used for telling stories in which the context,
views and feelings of many characters are important.
-
Narrative endings /Closed endings:
·
TV dramas traditionally feature one character's
story or point of view in an episode, which comes to a resolution at the end of
the episode.
·
The character's story can exist as one unique
story in one episode.
·
A story is unravelled before an audience, and
then ultimately brought to a conclusion.
·
The following episode will feature a different
story
-
Open endings
·
When an episode or season ends on a cliff
hanger.
·
A story-telling technique.
·
In films, open endings can be unsatisfying for
audiences.
·
In long form TV drama, open endings indicate there
will be a continuation of the 'story', or possibly a resolution, in the next
episode.
-
Academic ideas about narrative:
·
Todorov : Equilibrium theory
·
Strauss : Binary Oppositions
> Enigma Codes:
· Roland Barthes. e.g.
· Where does eleven come from?
· Why did the man get taken?
· What took him?
· Why did Benny get shot?
> In relation to Stanger Things:
· The events in the episode occur in a fragmented structure due to the multiple storylines in one episode.
· The structure helps me to understand the story due to the flashbacks to give some background / context e.g. Joyce in Will's tent. Also, just the background information e.g. Hopper's history shown through the picture in his office and when the teacher asks about his child.
· The structure helps me to engage in the drama before it unfolds because it makes me want to find out what happens to the characters.
