LO3 narrative

 

narrative 

in the exam it could say narrative or narratology 

what is the difference between story and narrative: story is a series of events, narrative is looking at how that story is told. 

To be able to understand how narrative structures are followed in your chosen film product (P)

To be able to apply narrative theory to your chosen film product. (M)

To be able to apply examples from your film product to support or challenge narrative theory (D)

EXAM QUESTIONS!

6* Analyse how the production techniques are used to create meaning in a media product you have studied. (12)

MICRO – MACRO 

6*  Analyse the concepts of ‘narrative’ in a media product you have studied. (12)

MACRO - MICRO

production techniques - media language 

Key theory : Tim O’ Sullivan et al. (1998) said - All media texts tell us some kind of story.

theory: Tim O'Sullivan (1998) - said for representation to work , there has to be a shared recognition of people and places. All representations therefore have ideologies behind them. (quote the highlighted) 

what messages and values (ideologies) does Rim of the world stereotype or challenge for the audience?

- the character Dariush conforms to the stereotype of being rich as he is mean and expects everything to be done for him instead of doing it himself.

- The children in the film are heroic protagonist succeed in saving the world where as the adults as the c adults are shown as prunes characters with high angle shots, they don't succeed and instead die.

- The good vs evil stereotype of dark and light is conformed to by the mis en sen of the dark evil antagonist aliens and the brightly coloured heroic protagonist children. 

- stereotypical location of things going wrong at a summer camp

Key theory : Pam Cook (1985) said - Genres fulfil audience expectations by following predictable patterns. meaning everything in the narrative results in the problem being solved 

- enigmas (problems) that are resolved in rim of the world 

the aliens invade the planet : they put in the key and al problems are resolved 

the main antagonist gets killed by the fire from a rocket while chasing Alex : wide shot of alien being burned, close up of Alex's emotion, red lighting from fire connotes danger. 

(find dialog from this sean and camerawork lighting)

Key theory : Tzvetan Todorov (1977) said - all narratives have key stages to them 

Stage 1:  A point of stable equilibrium.  (everything's fine)

Stage 2:  This stability is disrupted by some kind of force, which creates a state of disequilibrium (problem)

Stage 3:  Action directed against the disruption.  (addressing the problem)

Stage 4:  Restoration of a state of new equilibrium. (a new state of balance)

stage 1 equilibrium : Alex goes to outdoors camp e.g. Rim of the world because his mother thinks he is to closed off and separated form the world. This is proved by Alex saying ' there's a reason my mom sent me to outdoors camp'. light happy music slow tempo

stage 2 disrupted : explosion's in the sky aliens invade space ships 'the dragon capsule lands' alien is first seen in the summer camp kills the astronaut and chases the children.

stage 3 act against disruption : the kids get the key to GPL buy themselves with minimal help from people around them.

stage 4 new equilibrium : The kids get the key to GPL and ... (finish)

Rim of the world follows Todoroves theory, 1977

Key theory : Claude Lèvi-Strauss (1958) Binary Opposites e.g. good versus evil !

juxtaposition between two things good v evil , men and women , young vs old 

Alien : dark. mid, point of view shot high angle of killing the astronaut connotes power/dominance.

juxtaposition of Zhenzhen to Alex challenges stereotypes she is stronger/ more dominant/ calm and collected.

challenged stereotype of young vs old, the children are wiser and survive the alien. Bothe the astronaut and military man are in a high angle shot where they die.

Key theory : Vladimir Propp(1928) - all narratives have stock characters 

villainous antagonist - alien it attacks and invades the planet we see it killing multiple people, man from prison cell.

heroic protagonist - Alex, Gabriel, Dariush, Zhenzhen

supporter/ side kick - Dariush

princes/ prince - Alex 

Key theory : Roland Barthes (1977) Narrative codes:

enigma codes: something in the film that keeps us guessing 

- space ship is in emergency mode and we here a raw.

action codes: what is happening in the scene informs what will happen in the next.

- alien hand comes out of the pool to grab the side this action code allows the audience to understand the alien is still alive.

- military tank explodes the military failed to save the world from invasion.