How stories and messages are structured.

• Narrative also naturally occurs in a range of media formats, eg. consider why a tabloid newspaper might be structured the way it is (front page ‘splash’, followed by page 3, ending with sport at the back).

Narrative is obvious in film, television and moving image advertising

• Why do many newspapers include separate supplements? • Why are they not part of the body of the newspaper? • What is the narrative voice of a newspaper?

(opinion column, regular showbiz columnists, political columnists)

Narrative in moving image

• When we watch a film/television programme/film trailer/advert, we are caught up in the story (the narrative) that it is telling and accept everything that happens on the screen as natural.

• In fact, everything that we see has been carefully chosen and arranged to appear natural (although not always, as some film-makers deliberately set out to create an unrealistic narrative).

• Despite the fact that there are many different types of stories, all narratives share certain common qualities. That is, there is an underlying structure that can be examined and analysed in each moving-image text.

Classic Narrative Structure

The beginning: fictional world set up and some element introduced to the situation that disturbs it, or introduces some disorder.The middle: the consequences of the disturbance are explored and the process of dealing with it is set in motion. When all is set to rights, the story comes to an end. The structure is designed to pull the audience into the text.

Most (if not all) stories have a beginning, middle and end – and usually in that order:

By the word ‘classic’, we mean the normally accepted way in which a story is told, thus the classic narrative structure applies to most of the moving-image texts we watch.

Equilibrium:

• Everything is in balance. Life for the characters is normal. We see life in this state, but things cannot remain as they are. An agent of change is introduced into the story.

Shrek, an ogre that seeks to live peacefully in his swamp, finds his solitude disrupted when numerous fairy tale beings, including the talkative Donkey, are forced to the swamp by order of Lord Farquaad.

Disruption

• The agent of change disrupts the lives of the characters in some way. This disruption poses mysteries. We are not sure what the outcome will be. The characters now have to adjust to this change.

Shrek decides to travel the country to see Farquaad to try to regain his privacy but Donkey tags along. The two make it to Farquaad's palace and come across a knight tournament to decide who will rescue Princess Fiona from a castle surrounded by lava and protected by a fire-breathing dragon, so that Farquaad may marry her. Shrek manages to best the other knights, and Farquaad agrees to nullify his order if Shrek goes on to rescue Fiona, a deal that Shrek agrees to.

Quest

• The majority of the story is taken up with this journey. The viewer needs to know how the characters are going to cope. The posing of enigmas keeps us guessing and watching. This phase leads us towards the resolution.

Shrek and Donkey travel to the castle. When Shrek finds Fiona, she is appalled at his lack of romanticism and, though at first, Fiona is thrilled to be rescued she quickly becomes disgusted to find out that Shrek is an ogre.

The three make their return journey to Farquaad's palace, with Shrek and Fiona finding they have more in common with each other along the way, and falling in love.

Donkey discovers Fiona’s secret. She explains that she was cursed as a child and turns into an ogre every night, which is why she was locked away in the castle, and that only a kiss from her true love will return her to her proper form. Shrek over hears them talking, and thinking they are talking about him being ugly, walks off, believing she cannot accept his appearance.

Fiona promises Donkey to not tell Shrek, vowing to do it herself, but when the next morning comes, Lord Farquaad has arrived, led by Shrek, and he returns with her to the castle, while Shrek returns to the now-vacated swamp.

Resolution

• The part of the narrative when all the loose ends are tied up. Finally, when these resolutions have occurred, equilibrium is restored.

Shrek finds that despite his privacy he is miserable, and misses Fiona. Donkey shows up to tell him that Fiona will be getting married shortly.They interrupt the wedding before Farquaad can kiss Fiona, but not before the sun sets, causing Fiona to turn into an ogre in front of everyone. Shrek and Fiona admit their love for each other and share a kiss; Fiona is bathed in light as her curse is broken, but leaving her as an ogre, a form she was not expecting but that Shrek finds beautiful.

Equilibrium

• Equilibrium: In a typical Hollywood film the ending is happy, although the characters may have suffered a great deal before triumphing.

Shrek and Fiona get married and depart on their honeymoon.

• Equilibrium

• Disruption

• Quest

• Resolution

• Equilibrium

Using this model – show how the pattern of narrative fits 3 texts you know well

How does the pattern of narrative fits the story of “Little Red Riding Hood”?

• Anna, 15, is being bullied at school because she auditioned for a reality show and made a fool of herself…

• What does Anna do next?

• Who gets involved in her quest?

• Who are the villains and the allies?

• What problems will Anna face as she goes forward?

Narrative set –up …How will the story develop?

Re-contextualise!

Look closely at the following clips:

In pairs, look for clues that might help you build a story around what you’ve seen.

What might have been in the film immediately before the clip?

What action do you think will follow – how do you think the narrative will continue?

DVD Clips 1,3,4

Develop your thoughts …

• Think about the GENRE suggested to you by the clips.

• Make notes on what you think might be some of the most important parts of the storyline.

• Describe:– The film’s possible opening– The complications that will shape events– The climax (most dramatic moment)– The film’s possible resolution.

Now watch the trailer

Group Presentation

• Choose a film trailer and note where the narrative structure changes.

• Pause the trailer to demonstrate these sections of the narrative:

EquilibriumDisruptionQuest ResolutionEquilibrium