How stories and messages are
structured.
Narrative is obvious in film, television
and moving image advertising
• 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).
• 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
Most (if not all) stories have a beginning, middle and
end – and usually in that order:
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.
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:
• Shrek,
Everything
in balance.
for the characters
an ogreisthat
seeks to Life
live peacefully
in his
is normal.
see life disrupted
in this state,
things
swamp,
findsWe
his solitude
whenbut
numerous
fairy
taleremain
beings, including
the talkative
are
cannot
as they are.
An agentDonkey,
of change
forced
to the swamp
by order
is introduced
into the
story.of Lord Farquaad.
Disruption
Shrek decides to travel the country to see Farquaad to try to
regain his privacy but Donkey tags along. The two make it to
palace
come disrupts
across a knight
tournament
• Farquaad's
The agent
of and
change
the lives
of the to decide
whocharacters
will rescue Princess
castle surrounded
in someFiona
way.from
Thisa disruption
posesby lava
and mysteries.
protected byWe
a fire-breathing
so that
Farquaad
are not sure dragon,
what the
outcome
will may
be.
marry her. Shrek manages to best the other knights, and
The characters now have to adjust to this change.
Farquaad agrees to nullify his order if Shrek goes on to rescue
Fiona, a deal that Shrek agrees to.
Quest
Donkey discovers Fiona’s secret. She explains that she was
Shrek and Donkey travel to the castle. When Shrek finds Fiona,
cursed as a child and turns into an ogre every night, which is why
she is appalled at his lack of romanticism and, though at first,
she was locked away in the castle, and that only a kiss from her
Fiona is thrilled to be rescued she quickly becomes disgusted to
true
lovemajority
will return of
herthe
to her
proper
form. Shrek
over hears
• find
The
story
is taken
up with
this
out that Shrek is an ogre.
them
talking, and
they
are talking
about him
being
journey.
Thethinking
viewer
needs
to know
how
theugly,
The
three
theirshe
return
journey
tohis
Farquaad's
palace, with
walks
off,make
believing
cannot
accept
appearance.
characters
are going
tomore
cope.
The posing
of
Shrek
and Fiona finding
they have
in common
with each
Fiona
promises Donkey
tous
notguessing
tell Shrek, vowing
to do it herself,
enigmas
keeps
and watching.
other
along the way,
and falling
in love.
but when the next morning comes, Lord Farquaad has arrived, led
leads with
us towards
the resolution.
by This
Shrek,phase
and he returns
her to the castle,
while Shrek
returns to the now-vacated swamp.
Resolution
Shrek finds that despite his privacy he is miserable, and misses
Fiona.
Donkey
shows
tell him thatwhen
Fiona will
getting
married
• The
part
of up
theto narrative
allbethe
loose
shortly.They interrupt the wedding before Farquaad can kiss Fiona,
ends are tied up. Finally, when these
but not before the sun sets, causing Fiona to turn into an ogre in
have
is other
front resolutions
of everyone. Shrek
andoccurred,
Fiona admit equilibrium
their love for each
and share
a kiss; Fiona is bathed in light as her curse is broken, but
restored.
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
happy,
although
the on
characters
may
Shrek and
Fionaisget
married
and depart
their honeymoon.
have suffered a great deal before triumphing.
How does the pattern of narrative fits the
story of “Little Red Riding Hood”?
•
•
•
•
•
Equilibrium
Disruption
Quest
Resolution
Equilibrium
Using this model – show how the pattern
of narrative fits 3 texts you know well
Narrative set –up …
How will the story develop?
• 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?
Re-contextualise!
Look closely at the following clips:
DVD Clips 1,3,4
What might have been in the film
immediately before the clip?
In
pairs,
lookdo
foryou
clues
thatwill
might
help
you
What
action
think
follow
– how
build
a story
what you’ve
seen.
do you
think around
the narrative
will continue?
Develop your thoughts …
• Describe:
– The film’s possible opening
– The complications that will shape events
– The climax (most dramatic moment)
– The film’s possible resolution.
•• Think
GENRE
you
Make about
notes the
on what
yousuggested
think mighttobe
by
the of
clips.
some
the most important parts of the
Now watch the trailer
storyline.
Group Presentation
• Choose a film trailer and note where the
narrative structure changes.
• Pause the trailer to demonstrate these
sections of the narrative:
Equilibrium
Disruption
Quest
Resolution
Equilibrium