AHSS*1070 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Sound Techniques, Turning Point 2, Kristin Thompson
Chapter 4: Narrative Form
-Narrative is an account of a string of events occurring in space and time
-Narratives ordered by the logic of cause and effect
-Generally focus on human characters and their struggles
-Characters pursue goals and encounter obstacles along the way
-Many narrative films involve characters overcoming obstacles on more than one level
-Filmmakers orchestrate story details in systematic way to produce meaningful and enjoyable
experience for the audience
Framing the Fictional World
-Diegetic refers to elements that exist within the world of the story
-Non-diegetic: elements that exist outside the diegesis, for example, credits and some film music
-Filmmakers use non-diegetic elements to comment on or draw attention to aspects of story
from a position outside story world
Within the Diegesis
-Filmmakers select and organize events that appear during film’s running time or screen time
-They begin with story, then make choices about which sections to dramatize (act out) on screen
Selecting and ordering events
-Fabula: complete, chronological story
-Syuzhet:abbreviated, reorganized events as they appear onscreen
Reordering Events
-Filmmakers do not simply eliminate certain details in fabula; Also manipulate order of events
-Flashbacks and flashforwards two devices for reordering events
-Repositioning events influences way the audience understands them
-Repeated events, changes in chronology, missing fabula events often reveal important aspects
of structure, character, and theme
Structure
-Paying attention to structure helps viewer organize flow of information
-Determines critical turning points that indicate a change in character or story line
-The Classical Three-act Structure:
Act One: exposition leads to turning point
Act Two: complications lead to climax
Act Three: falling action leads to resolution
Kristin Thompson suggests that many narrative films have a four-part structure:
1: Exposition leads to turning point
2: Complicating action leads to turning point halfway through film
3: Development occurs as the struggle toward goal leads to climax
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Narrative is an account of a string of events occurring in space and time. Narratives ordered by the logic of cause and effect. Generally focus on human characters and their struggles. Characters pursue goals and encounter obstacles along the way. Many narrative films involve characters overcoming obstacles on more than one level. Filmmakers orchestrate story details in systematic way to produce meaningful and enjoyable experience for the audience. Diegetic refers to elements that exist within the world of the story. Non-diegetic: elements that exist outside the diegesis, for example, credits and some film music. Filmmakers use non-diegetic elements to comment on or draw attention to aspects of story from a position outside story world. Filmmakers select and organize events that appear during film"s running time or screen time. They begin with story, then make choices about which sections to dramatize (act out) on screen. Filmmakers do not simply eliminate certain details in fabula; also manipulate order of events.
